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10 registered members (Koba, fur_n_feathers, 10mm, tucker07, CAL, Lonster, BCLC, BeakBuster1500, Narrow Gap, 1 invisible),
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Food plot newbie, info please...
#2619791
10/26/18 04:22 PM
10/26/18 04:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184 Pelham, Alabama
280REM
OP
3 point
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OP
3 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184
Pelham, Alabama
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I hope this is the right forum for this. I have bitched enough to the man in charge of the club that he's put me in charge of food plots. It was too late this year to do it all right when he gave me that responsibility. I did manage to get him to double the fertilizer this year. In years past they'd used about half what was needed.
The club is Lowndes Co. 2700+/- acres. Lots of clearcuts/planted pines, very little hardwood left except in the "ditches" in the clearcuts mostly. Biologist has said we have very good natural browse. We have numerous feeders that we keep stocked with corn around the property from September through February. We have several food plots. About 25 of them. Range in size from .25 Acre to 2.3 acre. Most are .30 to .5 acres. Total acreage of food plots is @ 22 acres. Our deer seem to rarely use them. We, in the past, planted a 3 way mix Wheat/Oat/Rye. As I said, they've skimped on fertilizer in the past, and from satellite photos you can see ours are not near as lush as neighboring green fields. They've never limed as far as I know.
So, I want to do it right next year, and am looking for advice on what resources to go to, and find out what I need to do for next year.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2619801
10/26/18 04:28 PM
10/26/18 04:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489 N. Bama
257wbymag
Boo Boo Head
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Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
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Depending on what part of lowndes co you may not need lime. Matter of fact PH may be too high as is. Need a soil test first and foremost. Then you can plan accordingly based off that
Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!! My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty I'm the paterfamilias
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 257wbymag]
#2619821
10/26/18 05:03 PM
10/26/18 05:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 9,571
BPI
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 9,571
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Depending on what part of lowndes co you may not need lime. Matter of fact PH may be too high as is. Need a soil test first and foremost. Then you can plan accordingly based off that What he said. After soil samples ( per field ) are sent off , they should tell you what to add to the soil. You will pay to get them right, but it will be worth it in the long run.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2619945
10/26/18 07:40 PM
10/26/18 07:40 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,618 Clanton
Turkey_neck
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,618
Clanton
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Yeah you could very well have a pH of 7-7.5
Would walk over a naked woman to get to a gobblin turkey!
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: AU338MAG]
#2620191
10/27/18 03:36 AM
10/27/18 03:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,414 Scottsboro, Al
jbatey1
Lucky Bastage
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Lucky Bastage
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,414
Scottsboro, Al
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Buy the seed with the picture of the biggest buck on the bag. Unless you aren't managing for trophy buck. If you just want numbers of deer, but the bag with the most deer on it. Like a few of the guys above said, do a soil test and start there. I'm sure someone can let you know how to go about the soil test and etc
The fool tells me his reasons; the wise man persuades me with my own.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: Joe4majors]
#2620408
10/27/18 10:12 AM
10/27/18 10:12 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,619 Alabama
Rmart30
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,619
Alabama
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Set up a few utilization cages so you’ll have a better idea of growth and browsing pressure. This and i would also change what you are planting. Id for sure add clover, diakons, and a mix of greens, chicory etc. It wouldnt be that much more to get some different things in the plots for them to eat. iirc diakons planting rate is 5-10# per acre @ $60-75 a bag. a 5# bag of greens mix shows to plant a full half acre and was $7 this yr. one bag of it would do quite a few plots. Crimson clover is about 5# a acre when added to a mix. When you ratio and mix those in with what you are already planting its not much more cost and gives more variety in the plots.
Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching - even when doing the wrong thing is legal. Aldo Leopold .. (except when it comes to trailer tags)
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: Joe4majors]
#2620993
10/28/18 02:38 AM
10/28/18 02:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 10,331 coffee county
goodman_hunter
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 10,331
coffee county
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Set up a few utilization cages so you’ll have a better idea of growth and browsing pressure. Is that similar to an exclusion cage?
For without victory, there is no survival
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: goodman_hunter]
#2621078
10/28/18 08:39 AM
10/28/18 08:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,615 Lake View, AL
Joe4majors
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,615
Lake View, AL
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Set up a few utilization cages so you’ll have a better idea of growth and browsing pressure. Is that similar to an exclusion cage? I’ve heard it both ways. Not sure which is more appropriate.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: AU338MAG]
#2621634
10/28/18 10:05 PM
10/28/18 10:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184 Pelham, Alabama
280REM
OP
3 point
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OP
3 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184
Pelham, Alabama
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Buy the seed with the picture of the biggest buck on the bag. I like this advice. ;-) Soil test to be done.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2621807
10/29/18 07:23 AM
10/29/18 07:23 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,650 Lincoln, Alabama
blumsden
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,650
Lincoln, Alabama
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Soil test, soil test, soil test. Throwing money at something before you know the problem, is foolish. If the ph is really low, your fertilizer is not going to help. Low ph binds up the fertilizer in the soil and won't let it release. After you get your soil amended, plant any mix you like. Next year put a few exclusion cages in a few fields to show how much the deer are eating it down.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2622299
10/29/18 05:48 PM
10/29/18 05:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,183 Central to South AL
Stickers
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,183
Central to South AL
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Agree with above- spend $ on plenty of right fertilizer. Deer will find the more nutrient rich plots, regardless of what id planted there.
WDE
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: GKelly]
#2630259
11/06/18 02:06 PM
11/06/18 02:06 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,441 Sumter County
sumpter_al
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,441
Sumter County
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you can buy a soil ph tester for less than $10 one ton of lime per acre will raise ph 1 point ive not seen many plots around here ever be too high in ph unless it was over limed add enough to get it around 6.8 and remember it takes several months to a year to completely work. plant it and fertilize it dont overthink it your growing a food plot not a cash crop. if the ph aint right your wasting money on fertilizer Come up to Sumter county and Ill show you plots that have never had a single drop of lime on them and some are as high as 7.9. Cant get wheat to grow in them at all. They do love yellow sweet clover and my bees love it so I guess ill keep with that.
I love my country, but don't trust my government.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: sumpter_al]
#2630455
11/06/18 06:16 PM
11/06/18 06:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4,597 Elmore county
GKelly
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4,597
Elmore county
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you can buy a soil ph tester for less than $10 one ton of lime per acre will raise ph 1 point ive not seen many plots around here ever be too high in ph unless it was over limed add enough to get it around 6.8 and remember it takes several months to a year to completely work. plant it and fertilize it dont overthink it your growing a food plot not a cash crop. if the ph aint right your wasting money on fertilizer Come up to Sumter county and Ill show you plots that have never had a single drop of lime on them and some are as high as 7.9. Cant get wheat to grow in them at all. They do love yellow sweet clover and my bees love it so I guess ill keep with that. then put sulfur to it my point was you dont need every single nutrient perfect on every greenfield youll run yourself crazy get the PH right plant it 2 bags triple 13 to one bag seed hit it with nitrogen in november youll have good fields
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2630485
11/06/18 06:43 PM
11/06/18 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489 N. Bama
257wbymag
Boo Boo Head
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Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
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2 bags of triple 13 per acre ain't much plant food. I'll just stick to more fertilizer on well maintained dirt.
Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!! My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty I'm the paterfamilias
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 257wbymag]
#2630681
11/06/18 08:45 PM
11/06/18 08:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4,597 Elmore county
GKelly
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4,597
Elmore county
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2 bags of triple 13 per acre ain't much plant food. I'll just stick to more fertilizer on well maintained dirt. guess it depends on the seed you use but most of out fields are about 1/3 -1/2 acre we use one bag seed per field and 2-3 bags triple 13 per field and they are knee high. when the acorns dry up and frost hits theyll be mowed down to the ground by the deer
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2630725
11/06/18 09:06 PM
11/06/18 09:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489 N. Bama
257wbymag
Boo Boo Head
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Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
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Still not much plant food
Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!! My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty I'm the paterfamilias
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2631134
11/07/18 09:55 AM
11/07/18 09:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489 N. Bama
257wbymag
Boo Boo Head
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Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
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Now that's what I'm talking about there!
Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!! My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty I'm the paterfamilias
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: catdoctor]
#2631227
11/07/18 12:16 PM
11/07/18 12:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 18,047 North AL
AU338MAG
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 18,047
North AL
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On 13 total acres of food plots, we drilled 78 pounds of wheat and 78 pounds of oats per acre. Used spreader to put down 350 lbs. of triple 17 per acre. Dam son. That's fertilization right there.
Dying ain't much of a living boy...Josey Wales
Molon Labe
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 257wbymag]
#2631313
11/07/18 01:38 PM
11/07/18 01:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184 Pelham, Alabama
280REM
OP
3 point
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OP
3 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184
Pelham, Alabama
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2 bags of triple 13 per acre ain't much plant food. I'll just stick to more fertilizer on well maintained dirt. Before me taking it over, they'd been using half that. That recommendation came from the local Co-op as the "general rule of thumb" without having soil testing. Next year, we will be more prepared.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2631328
11/07/18 01:49 PM
11/07/18 01:49 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752 Awbarn, AL
CNC
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752
Awbarn, AL
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Holding optimal levels in the soil and efficiently recycling nutrients long term is what should make you say…. “Dayum!”……Not throwing out a chit load with each planting. What I mean is…..I may have only added ¼ of that rate…..but if my K levels were already in the 180-240 lbs/ac range then I’m golden. I may not add any P because my soil levels are already 75 lbs/ac….. I’m still good to go…….I actually haven’t added any fertilizer other than some N…It's more about how well you can hold the nutrients and deliver it to the plant than how much your throw out of a spreader. There's no telling how much is just washing off into the ditch with a lot of plantings....
Last edited by CNC; 11/07/18 01:54 PM.
We dont rent pigs
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: jdfarm23]
#2631538
11/07/18 05:20 PM
11/07/18 05:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752 Awbarn, AL
CNC
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752
Awbarn, AL
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CNC, you know how how bad that Russell county sand is. We need to work on soil improvement big time, cause right now we can’t hold any nutrients whatsoever. Hence the 500 lbs/acre Are you adding all of that in one application?
We dont rent pigs
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2631568
11/07/18 05:50 PM
11/07/18 05:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865 Pike Road, AL
jdfarm23
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865
Pike Road, AL
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Depends on the spot. Some of our fields are in spots that are hard to get to, especially after a rain, so we put it all out at once in those. The fields that are easier to get to usually get a dose at planting and a dose and another dose a few weeks later before a rain.
Our fields look great every year and always hold a ton of deer. I have no complaints with them. But if you have a suggestion that can save me some money or that you think will improve them, then I am all ears. This is just the way we have always done them.
Last edited by jdfarm23; 11/07/18 05:57 PM.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: jdfarm23]
#2631617
11/07/18 06:36 PM
11/07/18 06:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752 Awbarn, AL
CNC
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752
Awbarn, AL
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Depends on the spot. Some of our fields are in spots that are hard to get to, especially after a rain, so we put it all out at once in those. The fields that are easier to get to usually get a dose at planting and a dose and another dose a few weeks later before a rain.
Our fields look great every year and always hold a ton of deer. I have no complaints with them. But if you have a suggestion that can save me some money or that you think will improve them, then I am all ears. This is just the way we have always done them. There’s a more efficient way of going about it…..but it would really require you to change your whole management approach away from heavy tillage. Applying your fert in smaller doses spread out over time would help some..... but long term you need to build up organic matter in that sand so that there’s something to hold the fert other than just sand. Sand has almost zero holding capacity.
Last edited by CNC; 11/07/18 06:36 PM.
We dont rent pigs
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: CNC]
#2631624
11/07/18 06:46 PM
11/07/18 06:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865 Pike Road, AL
jdfarm23
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865
Pike Road, AL
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Depends on the spot. Some of our fields are in spots that are hard to get to, especially after a rain, so we put it all out at once in those. The fields that are easier to get to usually get a dose at planting and a dose and another dose a few weeks later before a rain.
Our fields look great every year and always hold a ton of deer. I have no complaints with them. But if you have a suggestion that can save me some money or that you think will improve them, then I am all ears. This is just the way we have always done them. There’s a more efficient way of going about it…..but it would really require you to change your whole management approach away from heavy tillage. Applying your fert in smaller doses spread out over time would help some..... but long term you need to build up organic matter in that sand so that there’s something to hold the fert other than just sand. Sand has almost zero holding capacity. We talking about throw n mow?
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2631650
11/07/18 07:28 PM
11/07/18 07:28 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752 Awbarn, AL
CNC
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752
Awbarn, AL
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I’m just talking about the principles of soil health and proper soil function……But yes, going to a no-till method is what it will boil down to on sandy soil. You could try very light tillage but I’ve found it to be so fragile that even the lightest tillage is harsh on sand.
We dont rent pigs
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2631754
11/07/18 09:04 PM
11/07/18 09:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752 Awbarn, AL
CNC
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,752
Awbarn, AL
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A lot of being more efficient with fertilizer also has to do with erosion control and water infiltration. The problem in a lot of your tilled fields is that they have poor soil structure and they form a crust on top……..thus resulting in poor water infiltration……When that happens, then you start getting a lot of runoff…..which then results in your top soil and nutrients also running off with it. A chit load of fertilizer just gets washed into the ditches and streams every year. Erosion is not hard to recognize.
The only way to really correct this issue of run-off, erosion, and nutrient loss is to keep the water from building up steam and running off in the first place……. and instead have it soak up in the ground. This comes through improving the soil structure so that the soil is porous and has air space for water to easily infiltrate through…..It comes through leaving a thatch layer of hay across the top of the soil to take away the energy of the falling rain drops before it hits the soil surface….also to help stop/slow down any surface runoff so that the water has more time to be absorbed and doesn’t cause erosion. If you control where the water goes then you keep your nutrients and topsoil in the field instead of the ditch.
Last edited by CNC; 11/07/18 09:06 PM.
We dont rent pigs
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: jdfarm23]
#2632427
11/08/18 03:15 PM
11/08/18 03:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184 Pelham, Alabama
280REM
OP
3 point
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OP
3 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 184
Pelham, Alabama
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500 lbs/acre of 13-13-13 right here Honestly, I don't think you can over do it, but I'm sure there comes a point of diminishing return too.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 280REM]
#2632526
11/08/18 05:09 PM
11/08/18 05:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865 Pike Road, AL
jdfarm23
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 865
Pike Road, AL
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You are probably right. And I am all for a better way of doing things. Been talking to CNC about some things we can do to improve the soil. But until we get to that point, I’ll just keep putting out what the soil samples call for, which has been a lot unfortunately. But I’m not gonna skimp on the fields. Too much time and money goes into my place to half ass the fields
Last edited by jdfarm23; 11/08/18 05:10 PM.
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: 257wbymag]
#2643804
11/18/18 01:47 PM
11/18/18 01:47 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,150 Satsuma, AL
Robert D.
12 point
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12 point
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,150
Satsuma, AL
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Depending on what part of lowndes co you may not need lime. Matter of fact PH may be too high as is. Need a soil test first and foremost. Then you can plan accordingly based off that This PLUS make sure who ever in your club is in charge of planting READS them and fertilizes accordingly. Don't ask me why I say this. Wish I didn't know
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Re: Food plot newbie, info please...
[Re: timbercruiser]
#2654326
11/27/18 08:18 PM
11/27/18 08:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 937 Bremen
RiverWood
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 937
Bremen
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When I planted m plots in Pike county they recommended using 250# per acre of 15 - 0 - 15 instead of the old triple 13 and my plots seem to be a lot prettier this year, but we have had ample rain. Phosphorus (P) middle number builds up in soil and doesn’t move or leach out of fields like nitrogen and Potassium do. P build up is common in fields that have ever had manure applied. So the recommendation with no P is common. Another reason to soil test
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