Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Food Plots

I'm planting some food plots as soon as season ends. Nothing huge, maybe a half acre plot in one location and some small kill plots.

What is the best place to get food plot seed and not cost an arm and a leg?
I'm wanting to plant some clover, soy beans, and some grains. My thoughts anyway.

We are going to have the state wildlife biologist come out and help us make decisions on what to do.

I use the local co-op for my seeds for the most part. If you can’t plant at least 3 or 4 acres in one spot I’d avoid soybeans. They’ll be wiped out in a day or two. Less if you have hogs. Cereal grains are for fall/winter.
I am planting chicory and clover in a couple places and I’ll probably put IC peas in another.

I like Hancock seeds they have free shipping on most stuff. Got some clover on sale not long ago.

1/2 acre of beans is a waste of time. Try to get a perennial clover stand established.

As others have said, beans may be a waste of time. Don't plant them early if you do. Beans like heat.

Thanks everyone for the info. I'm definitely going to get clover going, that is for sure. I may not waste time on the beans. It's just that it is Timber company land and i'm limited on where i can plant and how big of a plot i can plant.

If you want to plant beans on a 1/2 acre plot, you need to do a mix. Do buckwheat, sunn hemp and a mix of clay peas and soybeans. The buckwheat and sunn hemp provide the cover for the beans and peas to establish. When I have planted this mix, the deer cannot possibly eat it down. Below is a pic of a screen shot I took off a video of me mowing down the above mix on a half acre plot on my lease. I am driving a 1026R with a flail mower on the back.

Sunn hemp grows an inch a day. My deer absolutely pound it. Also a heavy planting of whitetail institute power plant will work. I'd put 50 pounds on half an acre. You need to wait until soil temps are 65 degrees. Next fall, come in and plant some durana or whitetail clover with your fall crops.

I’m looking to order seed from Hancock next fall. Had good success?

im going to check my local co-op and get a 50 lb bag of clover. I got 3 small plots ( total maybe 2 acres between the 3 plots) and get 3-4 bags of fertilizer and go to it!

Where are you located Shaneomac2?

Let me know how much that clover goes for.

im in hueytown and will do sir!

Please keep this thread going- I’m interested in the clover prices as well. Could you plant now and have it ready for turkey season?

Dubie, I'm not sure but i would think not. Ground needs to warm up some.

Which Co-op do you use. Closest one i know of is in Jasper

was buying from hiilcrest feed and supply in tuscaloosa

I go to universal, which is called Greenpoint Ag now.

I have not had good luck planting clover this late and having a good crop in the spring. It takes time for it to develop a good root system. I planted alot of annual clover this past fall, and this cold snap we had last month burnt the fields down. I have clover coming back, but its mostly established clover I had already there best I can tell. And its not anywhere close to what it looked like before the cold burnt it.

Lockjaw, I like the idea of this. I kinda like the idea of planting some clover in the center of my plot and spread this around the outside edges. Would give them cover. What are your thoughts on that...

Peas or beans can be planted in smaller plots. But it’s gonna require a lot of extra work. Gonna have to fence it all in and spray em to keep the weeds out. We’ve done it and it works but it’s time consuming. We will either plant beans or may go to a chicory clover mix. Prices will dictate what we can do so it’s a wait and see thing for now.

Lockjaw. Thanks for the suggestion. That field looked amazing! We will all be planting before you know it. I think I am going to try you way. Looks productive!