Last Minute Foodplot

[Fetz]

I'm in central IL. Farmers almanac says first frost will be in about 30 days. I have a .5ac section of pasture that I'd like to turn into a food plot. I have never done a food plot before but I have a tractor, sprayer, and flail mower and my local seed supplier has winter wheat for $22/50lb. There's rain in the forecast this weekend (in 5 days). If I spray gly today, then broadcast and mow/roll before it rains, do I have any chance of success?

I like to say prior preparation prevents poor performance but I usually don't listen to my own advice.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

The success of your food plot will probably depend as much on how well you can kill off the pasture as much as what you are actually planting.

Just make sure that you use a high rate of glyphosate with ammonium sulfate and a non ionic surfactant or crop oil. You are only going to get one shot at spraying out the pasture.

For what it's worth, I would also add in some crimson clover and medium red clover. It will be a little bit more money but if you get a later fall, you will have a slightly better food plot.

 

[jsasker007]

Cutting it close but I think you've got a decent chance. If you were broadcasting rye I'd say you won't have any problems. jmho

 

[bigboreblr]

Wheat is the toughest of the cereal grains to broadcast/roll and get it to grow. Rye is the easiest with oats not that far behind. I have never used seed oats. Just buy a bag of whole feed oats and has treated well everytime. Don't even test germinate some of the seed anymore, it just works. I usually mix some oats in with rye. Deer like it better.

2nd vote for heavy gly spray and adding some clover. I'd even put some turnip and radish if you can get the seed in time.

 

[Fetz]

The feed store I called said they also had turnips that I was considering mixing in as well. I will see what else they gave available. Unfortunately the Rural King and Farm n Fleet near me are pretty weak on food plot seed so my options are a bit limited. Definitely plan on a more diverse mix in the future.

 

[Fetz]

Wheat is the toughest of the cereal grains to broadcast/roll and get it to grow. Rye is the easiest with oats not that far behind. I have never used seed oats. Just buy a bag of whole feed oats and has treated well everytime. Don't even test germinate some of the seed anymore, it just works. I usually mix some oats in with rye. Deer like it better.

2nd vote for heavy gly spray and adding some clover. I'd even put some turnip and radish if you can get the seed in time.

Are you saying I should just buy oats that are intended for horse feed? I'm totally down to try that.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

If you get a good kill you shouldn’t have a problem. You have plenty of time. Only concern will be if it actually rains.


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[SD51555]

If you get a good kill you shouldn’t have a problem. You have plenty of time. Only concern will be if it actually rains.


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This.

And don’t forget the chicory.


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[Prairie Acres]

Winter wheat will grow just fine. Most farmers are just starting to plant it here in Southern Wisconsin. I plan on planting it this weekend but would be fine waiting a couple more weeks if I couldn't get to it.

 

[bigboreblr]

Wheat grows fine, but you need the seed into the soil a bit. I planted some this year. Spread the seed and did 3 passes with a ATV tow behind disc. Not too much residual thatch above it either.

Horse oats grow just fine. Make sure they're whole oats. Rolled oats are crushed to death. Although never actually tried rolled oats.

Seed oats are like $30+ whole feed oats are like $15-17. I would spend a few extra bucks for seed rye vs feed rye. Feed rye by me is not cleaned. Has a good bit of dust, bits of stalk, even some corn and soy beans in it too. Not sure about weed seed. No real problems I have noticed. I do spray gly, but don''t sweat a few weeds like I used to. I have embraced a few over the years. Plantain in particular. They're like kale to deer by me.

Every feed oat bag I have bought has been pretty clean. The rye I buy is about $12-13 a 50lb bag a 5 minute drive away, vs $20 and adds about an hour to my commute home. However, the fancier rye place has cheap deals on fertilizer bags, so I go there every other year and make the daily driver a low rider.