Been a very busy year this year! We're set to close on the farm in November, we've got some good deer showing up, and I had some good drone pictures taken yesterday and wanted to share.
As I observe deer movement and look at these pictures, I see things I need to do to make this small farm more efficient. The first picture was part of the bigger corn field last year, i had little time to do much with it with two children under two. But it got screened with sorghum Sudan/ Egyptian wheat mix, and split with a grain sorghum/sugar beat mix. Planting was far too heavy on the grain sorghum, so im not sure how many sugar beats actually grew once it canopied. The field had alot of desirable forbs and clovers that came in naturally, but im planning on returning it to corn with a bean plot inside. Bringing the corn all the way to the barn to help screen the house. The corn and beans will be left standing all year, i believe this will be the ticket because these ag deer love their crops.
The pictures progress to the left from there, all shot with the drone facing the east. The field in the back of the property is getting select spots disced in late winter and sprayed with cleth early at spring green up. It is mostly goldenrod and some cool season grass that smothers sections. Also getting a soil sample and amending the soil to get the best regrowth possible.
There are roughly 75 conifers planted in patches and strategic spots hiding back there, a mix of Norway spruce, red pine, white pine, red cedar, and loblolly. I didnt cage nor care for them this summer due to lack of free time. The drought has claimed a few im positive, but that's ok. It's a learning process.
The 4th picture down has a bright green patch towards the right (south) side of the field along the trees. This was my test spot on how the soil would react to clearing a small black locust Grove. I should have planned better, because it has turned into a more attractive food source than my fall plots. (Turnip, clover, winter pea mix)
The 2nd to last picture is a diverse planting of switchgrass(rc bigrock 50% and cave and rock 50%), partridge pea, and cone flower that frost seeded into bean stubble. I didn't have much of a plan on how I spread the seed, I wanted it random with regen in the rest of the field. I may disc and amend the soil in some spots there as well.
I'm pretty proud if the clover plot in that picture aswell. A mix of red and ladino that was planted with rye last year. I was planning on it being screened with "weeds" but I think the drought we had limited growth as it only got to 3 or 4 feet tall. I'm thinking of planning ornamental grasses and caged white pines to block the view of the house there. Maybe a berm? Any guidance on doing a berm would be appreciated.
Also planning on dragging some mature locust trees into the fields for structure/ perching spots for birds to distribute seed. Ive got plenty to cut, has anyone used down trees for cover? I love all the discussions on this forum, please feel free to give ideas and what you have had success doing.
