As mentioned previously it has been a wonderfully wet summer and the clover fields are all still looking great. Last week I mowed most of them and since then have received more rain. Today we sprayed them all ~ 40 acres of just clover fields...with Select a grass specific herbicide.
I also started putting together my fall planting list. Just an opinion but I believe the fall plots with appropriate mixes do more to grow healthy deer than the summer plots. Certainly you get more bang for the buck. They are going strong during the winter stress period helping bucks recover from the rut. Then the clovers are really on fire in spring helping get bucks and does off to a strong start.
It looks like I have about 5 different mixtures going in for different reasons.
For the fields that I alternate between soybeans or peas and winter covers:
100lbs elbon rye
50 lbs wheat
5 lbs radishes
3 lbs kale
10 lbs crimson---there is already a good seed crop of crimson or I would add more
I may add 25 lbs of buckwheat to one of the fields that I think needs extra attention [clay]
Several fields have a good Durana stand. For them:
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs Red clover
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory...for the fields that don't already have them
One field was in beans this summer and was disappointed in results. Another field needs invigorating.THus I'm converting them to something new. For them;
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs arrow leaf
10 lbs red clover
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory
My dove field in summer sun flowers: There will be Lots of legumes to fix nitrogen
100 lbs elbon rye
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs crimson clover...already a great seed bank of crimson so doesn't take much
20 lbs austrian winter peas
5 lbs radishes
And lastly, the field where the big 12 pt. with kickers has been feeding is a Durana clover field. The buck lives on our common property line and is seen as often on my neighbors property as mine. So I am spicing up that field with everything to try and attract him. I will also add fertilizer there to sweeten things up. For that field:
50 lbs. wheat
50 lbs sweet blue lupines [if I can find them ]
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory
And as mentioned probably 300 lbs/acre balance fertilizer with nitrogen. First time I've used fertilizer in 3 yrs. but all is fair in hunting and war....or something like that.
I'll fine tune that as we start putting order together and confirm price and availability but that is a good overview.Planting will start no earlier that Sept 10 then dependent on moisture. Using No till though doesn't take as much moisture.
I also started putting together my fall planting list. Just an opinion but I believe the fall plots with appropriate mixes do more to grow healthy deer than the summer plots. Certainly you get more bang for the buck. They are going strong during the winter stress period helping bucks recover from the rut. Then the clovers are really on fire in spring helping get bucks and does off to a strong start.
It looks like I have about 5 different mixtures going in for different reasons.
For the fields that I alternate between soybeans or peas and winter covers:
100lbs elbon rye
50 lbs wheat
5 lbs radishes
3 lbs kale
10 lbs crimson---there is already a good seed crop of crimson or I would add more
I may add 25 lbs of buckwheat to one of the fields that I think needs extra attention [clay]
Several fields have a good Durana stand. For them:
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs Red clover
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory...for the fields that don't already have them
One field was in beans this summer and was disappointed in results. Another field needs invigorating.THus I'm converting them to something new. For them;
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs arrow leaf
10 lbs red clover
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory
My dove field in summer sun flowers: There will be Lots of legumes to fix nitrogen
100 lbs elbon rye
50 lbs wheat
10 lbs crimson clover...already a great seed bank of crimson so doesn't take much
20 lbs austrian winter peas
5 lbs radishes
And lastly, the field where the big 12 pt. with kickers has been feeding is a Durana clover field. The buck lives on our common property line and is seen as often on my neighbors property as mine. So I am spicing up that field with everything to try and attract him. I will also add fertilizer there to sweeten things up. For that field:
50 lbs. wheat
50 lbs sweet blue lupines [if I can find them ]
5 lbs radishes
2 lbs chicory
And as mentioned probably 300 lbs/acre balance fertilizer with nitrogen. First time I've used fertilizer in 3 yrs. but all is fair in hunting and war....or something like that.
I'll fine tune that as we start putting order together and confirm price and availability but that is a good overview.Planting will start no earlier that Sept 10 then dependent on moisture. Using No till though doesn't take as much moisture.
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