I have 5 acres (3 acre and 2 acre fields) in Central Wisconsin with a high deer density and some commercial ag in the area. I am fortunate to have a 5' genesis drill and roller crimper with my end goal to always have something growing in my plots (buffalo system/release method).
Two years ago I planted forage beans and they got heavily browsed which prevented a canopy from keeping weeds at bay. The deer wiped out most of the beans and the pods that I did get were filled with undeveloped beans. I broadcasted rye into the beans but weeds continued to be an issue and I did not have a good stand of rye the following spring. On to plan B.
Last year I switched to Green Cover Seeds summer blend and then drilled in their fall release but did not have ideal results. My summer blend seemed to have a lot of weeds and only the brassicas seemed to do well. The fall blend never really took off but again, I was dealing with a lot of weeds due to poor coverage from the summer blend. I am not sure that our growing season has enough time to fully implement two plantings of Green Cover's blends- that's my hunch anyway. On to plan C.
This year I am planning on planting RR ag beans and fencing them off. I would like to either drill in or broadcast rye into the stand this fall to suppress weeds in the spring and offer additional food this fall. I will also include some other fall plants but have not decided which are best.
For those who have successfully implemented this system, do you recommend broadcasting your fall planting as the beans leave start to yellow or would you run a drill through the beans? Does anyone have any fall blends that they like? Leaning towards rye and brassicas but worry that may be too late for brassicas.
I feel like I am getting closer to my desired results but still not quite there! Thanks in advance for any help!
Two years ago I planted forage beans and they got heavily browsed which prevented a canopy from keeping weeds at bay. The deer wiped out most of the beans and the pods that I did get were filled with undeveloped beans. I broadcasted rye into the beans but weeds continued to be an issue and I did not have a good stand of rye the following spring. On to plan B.
Last year I switched to Green Cover Seeds summer blend and then drilled in their fall release but did not have ideal results. My summer blend seemed to have a lot of weeds and only the brassicas seemed to do well. The fall blend never really took off but again, I was dealing with a lot of weeds due to poor coverage from the summer blend. I am not sure that our growing season has enough time to fully implement two plantings of Green Cover's blends- that's my hunch anyway. On to plan C.
This year I am planning on planting RR ag beans and fencing them off. I would like to either drill in or broadcast rye into the stand this fall to suppress weeds in the spring and offer additional food this fall. I will also include some other fall plants but have not decided which are best.
For those who have successfully implemented this system, do you recommend broadcasting your fall planting as the beans leave start to yellow or would you run a drill through the beans? Does anyone have any fall blends that they like? Leaning towards rye and brassicas but worry that may be too late for brassicas.
I feel like I am getting closer to my desired results but still not quite there! Thanks in advance for any help!