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Need help with first food plot, please.

A

ayr_aca_cs

New Member
Looking at starting my first food plot next year. I have been doing a lot of reading and now I think that I am more confused than when I started. Just would like to hear some opinions what might work best for my first try. I would like to start in the spring to try and draw the deer most of the summer. The plot would be on 70 acres, but it can only be a 1 acre plot because of CRP contract. I live in NW Ohio the soil has a lot of clay. I would also like to put something in then to attract the deer through the fall and beyond. Is there a combination of seeds that could accomplish this with out have to do 3 or four different plantings and working of the ground? Is there something that I could broadcast as an over seed without breaking a CRP contract and still grow as a forage for deer? Thanks for any help you can give, I am really excited about trying food plots.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to start in the spring to try and draw the deer most of the summer. </div></div>

White clover is by far the easiest food source you can plant in the spring and will work very well on heavy clay ground.

I would encourage you to read thru our thread on Clover via the Food Plot Links for all information on how/when to plant clover. It will include info on soil testing, lime requirments, seeding info and more.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I would also like to put something in then to attract the deer through the fall and beyond. </div></div>

Clover will attract very well up into late November and if they have no other food sources it could very well attract them into the new year. Generally however it is not the "ultimate" late winter food source.

For that reason, regardless if you have one acre or 10, it usually works out best to divide your plot and being new and starting out, plant 1/2 to clover and 1/2 to cereal grains like winter rye.

If tilling and planting is a problem due to lack of equipment or time constraints then you may decide to stick soley with clover.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is there something that I could broadcast as an over seed without breaking a CRP contract and still grow as a forage for deer? </div></div>

What is currently in your CRP?? Is it brome, fescue or Native Grasses? Sometimes you can give it a light discing and broadcast some clover or alfalfa seed into it if it is already in cool season grasses.

It depends on how your CRP contract is written and what species are allowed so you might wnat to determine that first.

We're glad to have you on our forum and hopefully we can help answer more of your questions. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
The CRP is on a friends land so I am not sure about the specifics of his contract. He doesn't think that he can break ground. Here is what is on the CRP; switchgrass, indiangrass,
and bluestem along with wildflowers. I guess they are warm grasses. Would there be anything that I could try to over seed with that would not be choked out by what's there? thanks for the help with the food plot info.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ayr_aca_cs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The CRP is on a friends land so I am not sure about the specifics of his contract. He doesn't think that he can break ground. Here is what is on the CRP; switchgrass, indiangrass,
and bluestem along with wildflowers. I guess they are warm grasses. Would there be anything that I could try to over seed with that would not be choked out by what's there? thanks for the help with the food plot info. </div></div>

My farmer converted some of his over to CRP and my clover is considered to be one of the plants he can put in there.
As far as breaking ground I am not sure because my clover was already there. Let us know what happens.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ayr_aca_cs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The CRP is on a friends land so I am not sure about the specifics of his contract. He doesn't think that he can break ground. Here is what is on the CRP; switchgrass, indiangrass,
and bluestem along with wildflowers. I guess they are warm grasses. Would there be anything that I could try to over seed with that would not be choked out by what's there? thanks for the help with the food plot info. </div></div>

There are differing mid-contract managment options, some of which include disking lightly and over seeding with clover or alfalfa but that is only every 5 years.

You can try frost seeding some clover seed into any bare or thin spots without tilling or disturbing the NWSG (warm season grass) but beyond that your kind of limited.

One acre out of 70 seems kind of small, CRP contracts generally allow up to 10% with a maximum amount overall. So it is possible he maybe able to plant more then one acre?
 
Of the 70 acres only part is CRP, he has some woods on the north and south end, and then two ponds that he put in. There is a mowed path all the way around the CRP and a mowed path through it, do you think frost seeding some clover in those areas would work? Would that even be helpful to drawing and feeding deer? I was also thinking of putting up a feeder to help also, since at this time I am limited in food plot size.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> do you think frost seeding some clover in those areas would work? </div></div>

All I can say is give it a try, if you plant clover, deer will eat it. The question is, if there are thin areas that the clover can compete with the NWSG and forbs,

Clover seed is 4-5 bucks a pound, frost seed 4-8#'s per acre so you aren't going to be out much to try.
 
Is it best to plant just white clover or a mix? What types of white are the best to use? and when frost seeding when do you put down fert or lime?
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ayr_aca_cs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it best to plant just white clover or a mix? What types of white are the best to use? and when frost seeding when do you put down fert or lime? </div></div>

I would suggest reading thru our clover thread which can answer all your questions:

All about Clover

I prefer white clover because it is shorter and easier to manage the red clover, but red clover and alsike can be mixed with whites.

Red clover will get taller and very heavy and requires more frequent clipping so just keep that in mind.

You will see different varieties and seed sources in the clover thread but many of us have had great success with Alice, KopuII and Jumbo Ladino white clovers.

You can apply lime anytime now along with P&K depending on your soil tests. Lime needs to be on ahead of time as it takes time to work but fertlizer you have the option of applying it now or when you till and plant. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
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