Fall plots and lack of rain

[Creek chub]

Here in southwest VA it’s bone dry with no rain in the forecast. I’m beginning to wonder if I should wait until there’s a chance of rain before I seed. After this weekend I’m traveling for two weeks and hate to wait. I guess it’ll be ok to seed Saturday though. Plot seeds won’t grow without rain but I guess weeds won’t either, hopefully

 

[THE LLC]

Plant without rain, turkeys and doves eat it all. Down here we have to deal with drought through September and October, then when rains return in November it is with cold air that makes plantings struggle. Stunts things like rape, radishes, crimson clover, and arrowleaf. Plant in August before summer thunderstorms end and army worms eat it up. Thank God, Georgia started allowing baiting.

 

[Drycreek]

I generally plant the first part of September come hell or (hopefully) high water. The only crops I’ve ever completely lost was my one and only TnM attempt and that’s because the hogs ate all the seeds.

That said, it’s mighty dry right now with no rain in sight.

 

[Jason Broom]

Some folks trust the weather man; I put my faith in a higher authority. Plant when you should and then lay your burdens down. When the rains do come, forecast or not, you will have prepared your fields for success. It's not like any of this was going to happen any other way.

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[THE LLC]

Good advice. But turkeys and doves will devastate the best laid field if it doesn’t rain. I say save the money and just bait!

 

[Jason Broom]

More and more states are banning the use of bait, because of the point source disease vector it creates. Food plots may some day be restricted for the same reasons, even if there is a distinction not well-understood. This is why long-term habitat improvement projects, like TSI, NWSG stands, and mast-producing trees/shrubs eventually begin to make the most sense to those who really want the best for their land.

 

[THE LLC]

Food plots will never be restricted—unconstitutional any way you cut that. Baiting solves a ton of issues.

 

[Creek chub]

I guess I’ll go ahead and seed at least one and maybe two small plots and hope we get a rain shower or two even though it’s not in the 10 day forecast. Worst case scenario, I’ll have to reseed in a few weeks again and will broadcast winter exclusively and hope my clover seed sprouts at some point

 

[THE LLC]

I hate September and October.

 

[X-farmerdan]

Some folks trust the weather man; I put my faith in a higher authority. Plant when you should and then lay your burdens down. When the rains do come, forecast or not, you will have prepared your fields for success. It's not like any of this was going to happen any other way.

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This! Up there^^

 

[Chainsaw]

It was looking pretty bleak here three weeks ago; There were no rain possibilities in the long term forecasts. It has rained three times since then with one of them being a one to 1.5 inch rainfall event depending on exactly where in town the property was. Late summer planted food plots are doing just fine. If we had followed the forecasts as Jason stated we wouldn't have any food plots in this case. And to top it off due deer are not over grazing the plots; actually one had to look hard to find food plot plants browsed in our plots today. Conversely on a nearby property with full canopied woods the food plot there today showed signs of very heavy browsing.

 

[wsucoug]

What is the planting method? Usually the seed will just lay there until the conditions are right. Birds can be an issue...but heavy thatch or conventional tillage can help protect the seed. You can also up the rate 30 percent for extra piece of mind. I had a dormant plot that was seeded and rolled on Aug. 21st last year. Things didn't really get going till snow flew.

 

[wsucoug]

Aug 21
Middle of Oct
November 10th
End of May.

This was only seeded at 25 pounds an acre for soil building.

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[Creek chub]

What is the planting method? Usually the seed will just lay there until the conditions are right. Birds can be an issue...but heavy thatch or conventional tillage can help protect the seed. You can also up the rate 30 percent for extra piece of mind. I had a dormant plot that was seeded and rolled on Aug. 21st last year. Things didn't really get going till snow flew.

Just broadcasting rye into standing millet. Mowing the top half and pulling a drag harrow behind four wheeler. Then spraying with gly

 

[Ed Brodt]

Same here in Central Kentucky. Planted turnips, radish, and some clover this past Thursday. No rain in 10 day forecast. What ever happens we will throw some wheat and rye in late September early October. Also run a couple of feeders from now thru January. Something will work.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Plant without rain, turkeys and doves eat it all. Down here we have to deal with drought through September and October, then when rains return in November it is with cold air that makes plantings struggle. Stunts things like rape, radishes, crimson clover, and arrowleaf. Plant in August before summer thunderstorms end and army worms eat it up. Thank God, Georgia started allowing baiting.

You're welcome to move to Pennsylvania. The conditions for food plots are better here. But we don't have any good sweet tea. No fish frys. No southern boil. No collard greens or grits. And none of that "ya'll come back soon" southern hospitality.

 

[THE LLC]

I don’t know. I spent four days in western New York a couple weeks ago and I believe I’d do just fine there. Except maybe for the Communists in Albany screwing everybody over.

 

[Drycreek]

Ain’t ever set foot in Pennsylvania, but if there’s no good ice tea and no fish frys, now that gives a Texas boy pause. Offset that though with the fact that I ain’t ever liked collard greens or grits (ugh), and I really don’t care if “y’all come back soon” I might could get along (for a visit) in Pennsylvania, as long as the Hershey plant would give up some free samples. If not, I’m out !

As for NY, the STATE looks pretty, but the CITY is a no go. Hank Jr. said it best, “Just send me to hell or New York City, It’d be about the same to me....”

 

[THE LLC]

I would agree with that. STAY OUT of what they call "Down State". Boy if that ain't appropriate.

 

[g squared 23]

With throw and mow, I plant when I’m supposed to because I’ll have a thatch layer to protect from the birds.

Since I’m not tilling anything in, I’ll try to time my fertilizer application before a rain so I don’t lose the N.

We had an insanely dry July but an above average August, so when we get that first frost in a month or so that knocks back the warm season weeds, the brassica plot should pretty good.


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