Upstate Obsession
- Thread starter Elkaddict
- Start date
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Time for a quick update. 2 of our 3 corn/bean plots are great. The third has me stumped. It's on our best soil but our germination was about 20%. No clue what the problem was. We followed the same process: disc in amendments, broadcast seed, lightly disc and cultipack. To save the plot, I broadcast in radishes today. Interestingly, the edges did well but the interior is sparse to non-existent. I'm hoping the perimeter corn at least creates cover that encourages daytime use. I'm dissapointed.
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
I'm hoping so CTM--been a very rough year+ health wise. Can't wait to see what these bucks do with another 6 weeks plus. The biggest of those bucks had 24" beams last year so he has a ways to go yet, He appears to have added some mass. This is what he looked like last year.
farmhunter
Well-Known Member
all looking good - nice to see the local bucks - mine are all hanging out next door in the bigger farm fields for now -
1/2 my plots have at least some issues - this mega rain in May/June really caused some issues.
1/2 my plots have at least some issues - this mega rain in May/June really caused some issues.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
I always have a "back-up" plan for a summer planting failure......simply turn it into a fall annual plot when the time is right. I had to do that 2 years ago and I tend to do it in corn plots where the corn isn't going to produce grain. Cereal grains and brassica to help fill in the gap and provide some diversity. Sometimes you just have to roll with what mother nature throws your way. Looks like your bucks are in good shape as well.
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
J-bird, if the radishes flourish I'll care less about the grain production in this disaster of a plot (I'll still have 3+ acres of corn and beans and 41/2 acres of various brassicas. If the corn around the perimeter grows and hides 3/4s of an acre of radish and soy beans, it will be worth it. If the radishes aren't really popping, in a couple of weeks I'll till it under and try my hand at an acre of alfalfa just for variety.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
Well it's good that you still have a fall/winter grain source for your deer as well as the other brassica.
If the radishes don't work for you - do you still have time for a cereal grain mix of oats/wheat/rye maybe add in a crimson clover?
Alfalfa is one of those plantings that seem to require the right conditions (both environmentally and deer number wise) to really do well without being a PITA. Don't get me wrong it can be great....but it can also be a lot of work if your deer numbers don't consume enough of it the where you have to clip/mow it and all that mess.
Matt Galati
Member
Elk - what you are accomplishing is unbelievable.
You have a lot to be proud of. As someone from the area that Elk is managing, deer like this are once in a lifetime for most...
You have a lot to be proud of. As someone from the area that Elk is managing, deer like this are once in a lifetime for most...
