Spring plot planting started

[River-X]

Thanks to our weather being a bit more mild than usual in April, I took advantage of it and got a head start on some of my food plots. I am going to attempt posting pics with some descriptions for you. I am in South Central Wisconsin, about 40 miles north of Madison. ( Zone 5 ). As always, comments, suggestions and questions are not only welcomed, but encouraged! Thanks for looking.
Chris

 

[River-X]

The picture in my opening post shows the two plots on the south end of the field. Picture was taken looking due North. This field has been in a cattle feed mix of about 1/3 alfalfa with. 2/3 Timothy Grass For the past 5 years. Deer use it heavy during spring and occasionally during summer. I am leaving the areas around the plots in that mix but did fertilize and lime the whole field to boost production of the old cattle forage and also the new plots.
The plot on the right side of the photo was seeded with oats and chicory with clover blend ( perennial ), heavier with the chicory for this plot. The plot on the left, alongside the Ranger is straight Buckwheat for late spring/early summer feed. Our area has vast amounts of cash crop soybeans and corn so it helps to throw something different out there to the deer.

 

[River-X]

In this picture, just below the tower stand you can see a smaller winding plot. This will be planted near the end of May with a blend of sweet peas and soybeans and kale. I should have mentioned that I keep this farm for kids hunting only. All of us adults hunt on a different farm down the road a few miles. This way the kids are near the house and it is a bit more controlled as far as neighboring properties are concerned. One of my boys may try bow hunting this fall and that plot may help bring deer a little closer.

 

[River-X]

Here is a look at the largest plot. This photo was taken looking down towards the previous pictures from the East. This plot was seeded in oats and a clover blend. Main purpose for this plot is the destination feeding plot. When mixed with the surrounding Timothy/alfalfa, deer tend to bed in the grass, feed in the plot and grass, and then bed back into the grass. We cut the Timothy only once a season, usually mid May once all the corn and bean planting is done and things slow down a tad. By the time October hits, that grass is a medium density and about 4 feet tall. Deer can walk through it easy, but can totally disappear in it. I didn’t add any chicory to this larger plot so that I can tell when they move to eating that more than the clover. It just helps with figuring out what their targeting so I can make notes about dates for future reference.
let me know what you think or what you may have done differen. I am still debating about doing some screening strips to hide our approach to the stand.
Chris

 

[Bassattackr]

Very cool!

- I've also thought about using oats as a nurse crop to establish white clover / chicory in spring whenever I miss the frost seed window. Let us know how that turns out!

- My only other thought was access to the tower, which you've already addressed. EW always a good short term option.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Very cool!

- I've also thought about using oats as a nurse crop to establish white clover / chicory in spring whenever I miss the frost seed window. Let us know how that turns out!

- My only other thought was access to the tower, which you've already addressed. EW always a good short term option.

I'm trying oats and BW as nurse crops for 2 kinds of clover this spring as well. Actually I am seeding them today (yep I know it's late, but just haven't had time) if the rain holds off. I'll have to let you know how it works, being so late I am just hoping the oats and BW do well for an overseed of brassicas in the fall.

 

[River-X]

Thanks for the replies guys! Yeah, I know spring planting clover isn’t as productive as fall planting, but I will see how it goes. I can always change em up to fall brassica plots if they fail miserably.

 

[Bassattackr]

I'm trying oats and BW as nurse crops for 2 kinds of clover this spring as well. Actually I am seeding them today (yep I know it's late, but just haven't had time) if the rain holds off. I'll have to let you know how it works, being so late I am just hoping the oats and BW do well for an overseed of brassicas in the fall.

Perhaps a good application for TnM, you'll have a decent crop of oats coming up as well.

 

[River-X]

That’s why I’m also trying the buckwheat. I would like to try that method but need to get some thatch developed. Great idea!

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Perhaps a good application for TnM, you'll have a decent crop of oats coming up as well.

That was the thought....wait till late July, run it over with a hare (unless I can jury rig a cultipacker till then) burn it down with gly then plant some brassicas

 

[River-X]

A bit of a follow up on our food plot thread. Bassattack asked for a “let us know how that turns out” regarding using oats as a nurse crop in a spring clover planting. I think it worked real well! Keeping in mind that we had a few prolonged periods with no moisture at all through the majority of late spring through summer.
The oats came up quick as expecited. This created a bit of that mini rainforest effect to keep moisture in the field down low near where the clover was germinating and starting out.
I let the field go until the oats were fully headed out but the seeds weren’t quite dry ( or so I thought ).
I mowed the plot and had clover with a few broadleaf weeds, but no grass competition.
A second mowing came near the middle of august to help kill back some broadleaf weeds.
This plot received two light fertilization’s and NO chemical weed control.
this is what it looked like on Sept. 23, and since then it has grown and is very lush, but does have a bit of regenerated oats in it from some seeds that were obviously mature already before I mowed it.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Most of the farmers in my area plant their alfalfa in the spring with a nurse crop of oats. If you're able to mow I don't see any problems with it.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Oats are a great fall draw, I would welcome them.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

This is a plot from the spring that I frost-seeded into with some additional clovers...in the drought last fall I added winter rye which never really came up...we got a large, early snow that hung around most of the winter and I think the rye that never germinated in the drought came up strong in the spring...the field was 5 feet tall with rye when we mowed it for the first time in June and had some taller broadleaf weeds growing when we mowed it in late august...now all that's left is a real pretty clover plot that has deer in it almost 24 hours a day...this plot is such a combo of GRO seed mixes including GOLD, ELITE, overseed blend and mass builder and some additional seeds from Merit (aberlasting and fixation balansa clover and chicory) along with the classic whitetail blend....those have all been planted in the last couple years in different combinations and at different times (spring/fall) and the plot is doing very well...only upkeep scheduled is to maybe spray next spring to get rid of the broadleaves and to mow the winter wheat that will hopefully pop up next spring (or maybe even some this fall)..

 

[Bassattackr]

Great some volunteer oats came back too! Win - win!

Nice work, thanks for sharing.

 

[River-X]

I was quite pleased with the outcome. I agree that the volunteer oats are certainly not a problem and can only help diversify that plot. I would highly recommend using the oats ( they are very cheap ) as a nurse crop if you plan or find yourself trying to establish clover via spring planting vs the more common fall planting.