Vitalize

[Buckhunter10]

Also- I ordered a hydraulic top link for my tractor a few weeks ago. I think that will help me adjust on the fly a little bit with the seeder set up and help prevent myself from seeding too deep.

Took words out of my mouth! I was thinking of that for others. That top link adjustment is critical - especially on units that are not independent row like a GP or PH. My tar River is similar - so you’ll always be righting the balance of weight distribution.

My buddy - chemical engineer and as smart a man I know - helped to a video on this in my barn. Even if you don’t have a tar river - this might help understand some of the nuisances to “balancing” the cut and cover of furrow.

 

[Buckhunter10]

I am absolutely going to do exclusion fences this year! I do think I might have more pressure than I realize. Man- keep up the good work, love the short videos. I also had never read your Ohio farm tours thread. Lots of good stuff in there!

Also- there is something to be said for keeping it simple, both for the plotter and for your company. You gotta trust your gut on that and make a decision if that is going to be worth the extra trouble. Maybe try it as an “off the menu” item for fall planting one year and see how it goes?

Thanks so much man! That thread dates back to the qdm days - wish I didn’t lose all that info!! It is still a huge work in progress but we’ve killed a few good bucks and plenty of does for good table fare! Just need to wax a few more!!

Seriously appreciate the kind words!

 

[Buckhunter10]

Hey all page is updated with planting instructions.

I am reaching out for help with ?s. I believe I have an opportunity to interview an animal scientist- specific to ruminant animals.

I have several questions but wanted to ask yallwhat you think?

Some of mine are
1. How does an incomplete or “funny protein” impact a ruminant digestion post consumption relative to plant grown in healthy but non synthetic focused systems?
2. How does a ruminant naturally balance itself?
3. Do you feel the ideas of brassicas being toxic to ruminants hold weight or is the sulfur toxicity exprsssed naturally selected or not due to circumstance?

Etc.

What’s do yall want me to ask!!?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Ok Buck, I'm paying attention. How do you think Nitro Boost would perform on newly tilled old pasture? Does it provide a draw to Turkey's as well in your experience? And how do you terminate it for a fall planting and plant into for someone who doesn't own a drill?

 

[Buckhunter10]

Ok Buck, I'm paying attention. How do you think Nitro Boost would perform on newly tilled old pasture? Does it provide a draw to Turkey's as well in your experience? And how do you terminate it for a fall planting and plant into for someone who doesn't own a drill?

Hi Luke -

I will say that the Carbon Load coming out of the ground in the Spring is a larger draw to Turkey due to the height, seed heads forming, etc. I don't turkey hunt but my one buddy does and the farm is loaded with birds - so my perception might be skewed. However, our customers seem to reiterate this experience.

As for the Spring/Summer planting of Nitro boost, I do think birds will be attracted to it, but it'll be more so later in the growth stage. As the varying levels of crops get out of the ground, it is a fantastic habitat for bugs—which turkeys love. I don't ever want to falsely promise something, so if your goal is to shoot birds over it, I would plant the CL in the Fall and let it mature through your turkey season. The clovers, grains, and bugs will be plentiful and attract many birds.

NB will perform very well in a newly tilled pasture. I'd like to look at a soil sample, as many times, these soils can need help from a base saturation balance perspective. This will not necessarily impact yield in year one, but in my experience, it can help with drought tolerance, weed suppression, aggregate structure, etc. The biggest issue you will fight with a summertime planting on a newly tilled field is weed competition. So, ideally, you would increase the seed rate to help with this potential issue. Ol pastures tend to have fescue, orchard grass, johnson grass, etc. This can be difficult to overcome, but not impossible. That comes down to the grower's goals and openness to herbicide, physical termination methods, or tillage to mitigate this weed pressure.

As for termination - there are several options.
1. When a field is relatively clean in NB, several just broadcast the carbon load before rain and walk away. The warm annuals naturally die off as the photoperiod shortens, and the cool-season annuals flourish.
2. light incorporation, then seed and pack
3. Broadcast and mow—This is a cool tool because when you have more sorghum and Sudan, studies have shown 8-10X root expansion, which can help most soils from a nutrient sequestration perspective and compaction breakup perspective.
4. Spray off the NB with gly and then Seed the fall Cabron load into it. Some then mow/roll after that to cover seed.

Thank you all for the opportunity to share some info. I do appreciate it.

I hope this is helpful.

Albert

 

[Buckhunter10]

As the yearly reminder - military and first responders we at Vitalize Seed respect you all greatly and we do offer a discount. Please message us for the code.

 

[Catscratch]

As the yearly reminder - military and first responders we at Vitalize Seed respect you all greatly and we do offer a discount. Please message us for the code.

First class!

 

[Buckhunter10]

First class!

Thank you!!

 

[Buckhunter10]

My BIL helping spread some Vitalize Seed (clover, chicory, oats).

We use this blower to spread the seed. We will then come back in Fall and spray off the grasses/oats with clethodim.

We will then use the Clover+ to overseed into this plot also in the Fall.

This 1-2 clover/chicory punch will absolutely leave us with a clean and loaded perennial clover field - that will last years and continue to help us to reduce the pressure on our core destination plots - those are planted in our NitroBoost and Carbon Load.

Shoot more deer
Or
Grow and make more food
Sometimes do both!

 

[Buckhunter10]

Here at Vitalize Seed, we are passionate about Soil and, of course, seeds! However, when managing whitetails and habitats, our vision goes far beyond the former listing.

We often discuss the importance of running chainsaws to increase data collection, whether through exclusion fences, camera surveys, or other methods.

We believe in planting more food, making more food (with a saw or RX fire), or harvesting more—sometimes all three.

That is to say, the observational analysis that is done is never done. Every year, we must review our findings and continue measuring, changing, and adapting our implementation strategies to ensure we hit our hunting, soil, and habitat goals.

On this farm, we have noticed that various species are being eaten and eaten hard. This browse pressure includes everything from BEECH (a typically undesirable species in this region of the US) to extremely heavy feeding on our Carbon-Load food plots and everything in between. Identifying which species are typically browsed in your area vs. those that are not can help determine your current density and available top-quality nutrition ratio.

By identifying non-target species that have shown preference, not in a singular location, but across several acres, combined with the above data points, we can gather substantial information to determine where our time is spent.

On this farm, we are adding more Vitalize Clovers 1-2 punch on every trail and open area that we cannot access with the tractor and additional food plots in Nitroboost and Carbon Load.

We are also running saws to the maximum of our physical wherewithal, and that time will allow. Lastly, we will increase doe harvest significantly from last year to reduce the social and nutritional stress that is bound to occur at this population density on the landscape despite the previous and ample habitat work.

These observations were not the case just 2-4 years ago. This plan is forever evolving, and I hope you find it interesting how we go about our data collection and habitat plan.

Get outside and enjoy the outdoors!

Albert