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 The goal of wildlife food plots is to provide year around nutritional food sources and succulent forages that will help to attract wildlife to your property at certain times of the season. Using any of our seed blends has several advantages over most single-species plantings. First, all plants won't grow well in all situations and soil types. Using a seed blend increases your odds for success since some of the seeds will do well in almost any situation. Next, with our seed blends, the plants will mature and increase palatability levels at different times and rates. This means that your window of quality wildlife forage is longer and your plot site will offer a longer period of attraction.
Food plots require planning, time, some money and a certain amount of sweat equity. Before you begin your projects, consider enlisting the help of your local USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Woodland Stewardship Plans, Wildlife Habitat Plans, and Conservation Plans can be written exclusively for your property by your local NRCS technician at no cost to you – the taxpayer. No matter how you choose to proceed with planning, you will ultimately need to select the food plot site locations on your property which best meet your individual goals.
In order to determine the size, locations and total acreage for your food plots, consider the following:
- 5% to 10% of your total acreage should be devoted to food plots.
- Several small plots are better than one or two large plots.
- Secluded spots work best.
- Use edges – choose plot locations with “cover” on at least two or three sides if possible.
- Consider planting tall cover crops (like corn) on the edges of plots that do not border wooded areas (this will add seclusion to your adjacent plot sites – as well as offering additional nutrition).
- Your food plots will need a minimum of three to five hours of full sunlight per day.
Perform a soil test to determine your fertilizer and lime requirements (This all-important step can mean the difference between your plot's success and failure). Check with your local Sate Extension Office, Farmer's Coop, or try Midwest Laboratories of Nebraska, USA - a well-renowned lab (www.midwestlabs.com). Once you acquire the test results (usually within a few weeks) you need to analyze the results with your local agronomist. The pH level of your site should be between 5.8 and 7.3 – Anything in the 6-range is acceptable. Plan to use low nitrogen fertilizer (3-21-21 or something similar) for the clover-based seed blends since high nitrogen will only promote weed growth. Use high nitrogen fertilizer (15-15-15 a.k.a. "starter fertilizer") for the brassica-based seed blends.
Choose the specific seed blend for each of your plot sites. Consider annual blends versus perennial blends (both blends have their pros and cons). Consider spring planting (more favorable for higher forage yields) versus a fall planting (more favorable for attractant plots since vegetation seeded in mid-August will be shorter, but lush and tasty to wildlife by mid-October) . Determine the quantity of seed needed for your plots (send me the approximate dimensions of the site and I will do the math for you) and then place your seed order well in advance of your planting date (nothing is more frustrating then to have great planting weather with no seed on hand). Prepare your seed bed via a chemical application of a herbicide if necessary (spraying should be completed at least two weeks prior to planting).
Wait until the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees F. Optimal Spring planting dates are April 15th to June 1st. Optimal Fall planting dates are July 25th to August 10th here in southeastern Minnesota.
Use a small disc, chisel plow, "section" of a farm drag, etc. to till the ground and firm up the seedbed. Spread pelletized lime and fertilizer as determined by your soil test results. A general rule of thumb is to apply 9-23-30 fertilizer at a rate of 200#'s per acre and lime at a rate of 300 #'s per acre. Lightly disc or drag the soil to "work in" the pelletized lime and fertilizer into the soil.
Broadcast spread or drill the seed - simply set the broadcaster to “2” on most spreaders or about 1/8 of an inch, (better to have the setting too small and overlap then to run out of seed) and then follow up by culti-packing, lightly discing or dragging the soil to achieve the recommended ¼” to ½” planting depth as well as good seed-to-soil contact.
Seeding Rates are as follows for broadcast applications:
Drilling applications, deduct approximately 10% seed requirements.
If your soil conditions are extremely dry, may we suggest waiting to plant seeds until rain is in the forecast. The worst thing that can happen is that there is sufficient moisture to germinate the seed but not enough to keep it growing. Remember, you're only planting a plot once per year, so DO NOT RUSH IT!
With a little luck, the wildlife will keep your clover-based plots mowed for you, but if not, consider mowing your plots mechanically (set your mower height to 8 inches) two or three times per season. This mowing will encourage new, thicker, more tender growth within your perennial plots – thus attracting and holding more wildlife on your property over a longer period of time. In the absence of adequate soil moisture, consider delaying mowing until rain is in the forecast. Drought conditions will hinder your plot’s ability to regenerate.
Keep records on plot locations; soil test results; dates; weather conditions; applied amounts of lime, fertilizer, and seed; and visible results. Use exclusion cages if possible.
"How-To" Steps for Planting Food Plots on YOUR "Back Forty"
| Step #1 = Chemical Site Prep (possibly the most important step!) |
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| Step #2 = Wait 2 to 3 weeks for chemical (glyphosate and 2-4D works best) to work and then dissolve |
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| Step #3 = Prepare seedbed with light tillage |
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| Step #4 = Broadcast apply fertilizer and lime based on soil test results |
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| Step #5 = Lightly till the soil in order to "work in" fertilizer and lime |
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| Step #6 = Broadcast seed or drill desired seed blend |
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| Step #7 = Lightly till the toil in order to "work in" the seed |
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| Step #8 = Cultipack the soil for maximum seed to soil contact |
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| Step #9 = Pray for rain! |
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PLANT IT AND THEY WILL COME!
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