This is my first year trying these methods. So I checked one of my fields today that I did a side by side test with. Bout a half acre I did the conventional spray disk cover method and the other 1.5 acres I did spray throw and mow. There ain't a nickels worth of difference in them. The only noticeable thing is the TnM has some dead weeds that made it through the mowing that are brown and contrast the green. I'm pretty sure the deer will not care about that. This saves me a ton of time. With three small kids that's worth a lot to me. I am definitely not saying it's the best way for everyone, I'm saying it's the best way for me. I would recommend trying it if you're strapped for time to work on plots.

Also, from everyone I've talked to that does it this way and a lot of articles/threads(including this one) I've read, I anticipate it just getting better as the thatch layer grows into richer top soil.

Exactly why I do it. Plots look great.

I think a lot of folks will be drawn to this type method for that very reason. However, I’m betting that over the course of the following 3,4,5 years…..Most folks will have their eyes opened more and more to the overall benefits. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes so to speak. Your nutrient recycling is likely to improve greatly….your water cycle is very likely going to greatly improve as well….your microbial community is gonna come to life……plant growth will improve…..Instead of destroying the system and starting over again every year, you’re about to start building on top of each rotation….improving a little with each one. All of us who are planting like this should form a game plan in the back of your mind where you’re always thinking about the next rotation and what you need to tweak to keep things building and improving.

CNC, I know you'd a bigger fan of just letting vegetation do its own thing during the summer, but if someone did want to try a throw and mow approach for some type of warm season plant, what would you suggest might do well? I assume the smaller the seed the better. I think sunn hemp would do well, but I wasn't thrilled with the results from last year. I didn't make a very good "hay" for the fall planting, the deer didn't know what to do with it, and it was a pain to mow when 8+ feet tall. I'm guessing the answer would be "it depends," but I'm curious as to your thoughts for something to start experimenting with.

Millet would be a good option…..You could probably even grow two crops of it. We planted some really late in the summer this year just for erosion control purposes on some bulldozer work. I was surprised to see how heavily the deer browsed it. They mowed the tops of out of it after it first came up. It still made a nice stand though.

I’ve done three TnM fields this year and I’m quite impressed with the results. I seeded them about the same rate I do my disced fields and I honestly think I had better germination on the TnM. This is my first attempt but I’ll definitely be doing it more in the future. My fields look great.

Awesome!......

I do millet, sorghum, peas and beans. They do fair considering my deer won't let the peas/beans grow.

Easy on the sorghum with a mix, though, maybe 2-3 lbs an acre. Five max.

I throw iron and clay peas in the standing fields mid to late May, I’ve never had bad germination doing this. The fields are tall and help shield from being eaten by turkeys/ birds. By mid June there are no differences between the fields that are disked and the ones that I just broadcast them in. You could bush hog them after the first rain after putting them out and probably make it even better.

I've done cowpea's, sunflower,millet and milo this way, but hands down the best in Buckwheat. You can triple crop it, it produces a lot of P for your soil and deer eat it, but don't destroy it. Good for turkeys and the bee's love it when it flowers. Once it goes to seed, cut it and it will reseed itself and grow back. Free seed! Who doesn't like that? Dove also like it. You can mix in millet if you like or cowpea's or sunflowers.

They still hammered buckwheat here about like sunflowers or cowpeas....granted I have a reasonably high density.

I don’t disagree with blumsden very often…..but I’m gonna have to present an opposing opinion on the buckwheat……..If you’re someone just getting started with T&M and you’re field is not in good shape……I think you will be better off to go with millet on you’re first summer rotation……Here’s my reasons why…..

As I’ve already mentioned….my experiments with buckwheat showed that the deer would eat the chit out of it. I’m sure that’s gonna be deer density and plot acreage dependent. That’s not so good if you’re wanting to end up with biomass at the end. Also buckwheat is a succulent broadleaf sort of like clover but bigger. When we’re talking about producing long term soil organic matter you need high C:N grasses. A crop of green buckwheat being added back to the soil if acting as a feeder crop to the next rotation in line….not really building long term soil organic matter. Here’s a video that explains the differences in growing biomass to feed the next crop versus growing biomass for long term OM.

One other reason I would prefer millet for someone who is just getting started is because it has a very tiny seed. It’s much more likely to do well in those “less than ideal” situations that many folks are dealing with in the beginning. It’s also pretty dang cheap.

CNC - Have you ever experimented with something like fixation clover or frosty berseem clover for producing biomass?

Harold, my understanding of the question from Joe, was that he wanted to throw and mow a summer plant for deer. Deer don't eat millet. I totally agree that millet, for beginners, is easy and will provide the grass that will do well for fall T&M, but I thought he was wanting to T&M for deer this summer. Deer decimate sunflowers, pea's and other legumes, but I've found that they browse buckwheat up here, but you can mow it, let that feed the soil while another crop is growing, then mow that. I'm talking about 1 acre or larger fields. Small fields I would just let grow up naturally, they are not large enough to feed deer.

I agree with you…..I’m really answering a little bit different question than what Joe asked…..

Don’t think deer won’t eat millet though…..They’ll browse the tops out after it emerges just like cereal grains…I just watched them do it on our new lease a couple months ago. It surprised me too.

I haven't......I'm hoping now that more people are giving this method a try that more stuff like this will be experimented with.

Mine are starting to fill in pretty good now. I hit them with some fertilizer this afternoon.

Ours are kicking it at the house and the deer are hammering them. Saw 2 does a fawn and 3 racked bucks yesterday afternoon in this one.
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Crappy Android phone sorry for the crappy pic.