I started hunting land in the "true" Black Belt two years ago. I'm talking soil pH too high. I was told I could plant soybeans in 8.0+ pH where there was just natural growth grasses and such... and I also planted the bottoms toward the timber where creek drainages are located (still native grasses and no timber) and the soil is about 7.1 - 7.3 pH. I tell ya, the soybeans struggled in the higher pH area but did well in the lower areas close or on the edge of timber/creek areas where the soil pH was lower... like just barely over 7. I learned my lesson there! I just don't plant in 8 pH or higher and try to avoid the high 7 areas.

But in many of the lower-lying areas we plant which are by timber and creek drainages, the ground just stays so wet during the winter and it drown out my usual cereal grains.

I have always gotten good advice from the boys at WMS in Eutaw, AL and they said to plant Black Oats, Triticale, and clovers which are Frosty Berseem and Fixation Balansa. Those grains and clovers will do fine in lower-lying areas where it stays wet. And, I was very happy with how the BO, T and the FB/FB clovers did. BUT... Wow!! This past spring, OMG... the FB and the FB clovers CAME ON!!! I mean they surpassed any clover I've ever planted. Clovers were knee high and there were signs of utilization. I planted many acres of food plots and put FB and FB clovers in them all and I could not believe how well these clovers did... did in the around 7 pH areas. Not so well in the upper areas where pine trees grow where the soil pH is around the high 5's. I'm liming these food plot this summer.

Anyway, I will be planting Frosty Berseem and Fixation Balansa again this fall. I looked at my food plots last week and the clovers were struggling so maybe this rain helped! And, it also looked like the Ladino clovers were doing better than the the FB and the FB clovers, which is no surprise there. But NTL, I was happy with FB and FB clovers as they did very well in the fall and especially in the spring.

But the bottom line is: pH matters no matter what you plant!! If you're a true QDM guy, you know this already.

Disclosure: I have no ties to WMS or anything I mentioned here. I just love to give credit where it's due and I love QMA and food plotting! And I appreciate the time the Bumgardner boys at WMS gave me. I met them at the deer show in B'ham and they were very nice and helpful. So, whatever it's worth!