Small plot of soybeans ???

[Jeff H]

I have approximately 1 acre for a food plot. The rest of my 100 acres is woodland. Very hilly and lots of oaks. I usually go the route of Fall plots only. I usually go with PTT, WR, and clover in this plot. In addition to this I have approx 1/2 acre in ladino clover and a 1/4 acre micro plot in the woods that is mostly grass now with a little clover. The clover plots get hit real hard through the summer. Without an exclusion cage you would think it's a failed plot. There is no agriculture in my area for miles. Some cattle pastures and a couple food plots but no agriculture. I have a brush hog but no tractor (long story). I rent a 4wd tractor usually twice a year for my needs. I am strictly throw and mow working with a 4 gallon backpack sprayer and bag seeder. I also have Sericea Lespedeza that I'm battleing from leaving the field fallow for 2 years. I beat it down last year with chemicals but as of yesterday it's coming back.

This year I want to try and do a Spring plot that will shade out the SL and to try and draw in deer for early season bow hunts. I love bow hunting while deer are still in summer patterns.
I love the idea of soybeans for a plot as they can be an early and a late season draw. I would still be able to broadcast my typical Fall plot mix into it in September, October and it should take pressure off my small clover plot during the summer. I also believe that they would shade out any SL if I can keep the deer off them with the plot saver that I have. I don't have the money for an E-fence.
Here are my concerns with this plan:
1. Can I establish a decent soybean plot using the throw n mow process? Winter wheat is knee high now. This would be the thatch I would mow down over the soybeans.
2. Can I keep the deer off it with a plot saver? I've had success with it using sunflowers in past years.
3. Will I need optimum soil to grow soybeans? No soil test yet but its on a ridge top in the rocky Ozarks region. Not great soil.
My other option would be to plant a milo,sunflower mix in strips with buckwheat filling in the blanks. This is probably the safest route but what can I say, I like life on the wild side !
Any and all opinions welcome.
Jeff

 

[cutman]

If plotsaver protected sunflowers, it would probably work on soybeans as well. In my experience a 1 acre soybean plot would be gone days after emergence with no protection.

I would probably plant a forage soybean (RoundUp ready or not is up to you), protect with plotsaver plus milorganite if you can swing it, and throw down some potash now if you can. Beans can grow ok if just broadcast, but I would wait til several days of rain are in the forecast, and I would go heavy on the seeding rate (100 lb/acre).

 

[tlh2865]

I personally don't see how this would work with the goals you have laid out. If your deer are butchering 3/4 of an acre of clover right now, then I would expect them to mow the beans faster than they can grow. Then they will be back on your clover in no time. So your clover is going to get hit just as hard all summer, and you'll basically loose whatever time and money you put into the beans on top of that.
If you wanted to plant the beans and keep the deer out until early season then you could do that, but I don't think they would last very long at all as soon as the deer got access, and then you wouldn't have anything to draw them late season.
I feel your pain on this one, I have wanted to plant beans for the past three years, but I just don't have the plot acreage to do it. My advice would be to plant something on it that can handle the grazing pressure.

 

[Elkaddict]

I've seen what deer do to a 1 acre plot. I'd not attempt again. With limited acreage like you're describing, I put that 1 acre into a LC rotation (1/2 grains clover 1/2 brassicas). I'd seed it heavy and give your throw and mow a chance. I think you'll need to find a way to pack the seeds after broadcasting, even if its methodically driving over with your truck, atv or rented tractor.

 

[Satguy]

I don't think think the throw and mow will work with the soybeans as you have to plant it 1-2 inches deep. I could be wrong maybe somebody else can confirm.

 

[Mennoniteman]

I'm surprised that your winter wheat is knee high now with the grazing pressure that you have. While this is thinking outside the box I would try the beans in a light mix of oats, this will help protect the beans from being grazed to nothing immediately.

 

[Jeff H]

Thanks for all of the responses, please keep them coming. It's giving me a lot to think about.

 

[Doe Shooter]

Cow peas are very prolific growers and work well in the throw and mow method

 

[Jason Broom]

Mono-cultures are for farmers. I like your idea of tall grasses (milo, sunflower) and buckwheat to shade out the LS, but I'd go with sorghum-Sudan grass cross, as deer don't eat it the way they do sunflowers. Whether that succeeds or fails (is over-browsed), I would follow it up with a dose of gly and then go with the LC rye+4 option. The lack of ag fields in your area means you need to go with the most proven solution for fall plots. Soybeans and corn aren't bad choices, in some situations, but they are rarely the best choice. Let us know what you decide to do and how well it performs.

Since you rent a tractor for your plots, why not lightly disc in the larger seeds, for better germination?

 

[Jeff H]

Mono-cultures are for farmers. I like your idea of tall grasses (milo, sunflower) and buckwheat to shade out the LS, but I'd go with sorghum-Sudan grass cross, as deer don't eat it the way they do sunflowers. Whether that succeeds or fails (is over-browsed), I would follow it up with a dose of gly and then go with the LC rye+4 option. The lack of ag fields in your area means you need to go with the most proven solution for fall plots. Soybeans and corn aren't bad choices, in some situations, but they are rarely the best choice. Let us know what you decide to do and how well it performs.

Since you rent a tractor for your plots, why not lightly disc in the larger seeds, for better germination?

Jason I'm glad you chimmed in. I've always appreciated your view and your approach to things. I don't know a lot about sorghum sudan grass but I'll definitely look into it. I've had some experience with milo so there's a certain comfort level to it for me. My property and surrounding area is mainly hardwood forest which offers little late season food. After the acorns are gone the majority of the deer leave, or at least they go somewhere that I can't find them. The appeal of beans is the early season draw+ late season food. Milo offers late season food, but no attraction for early season. I like the 2 for 1 aspect of the beans but I think the odds are against me with limited acreage and equipment.
As for disking, I used to have a disk but it was stolen. The place where I rent the tractor does not rent disks. I'm also afraid that disking this field would release the SL seed that I'm battling right now. I think for now I'm going to stick with throw and mow. I like the no till aspect of it and I've had pretty good success with it. Here is a picture of the field last July. It was a SL mono culture:


I ended up mowing it high, spraying with Pasturegaurd, then using the throw and mow to plant buckwheat.


I then used the buckwheat as thatch for my Fall mix. It worked out great but I have to keep at it or the SL will take over.

 

[Blizzard Ridge]

Unless you have bigger fields of beans nearby I think you might as well drive down the road and throw your bean seed out the window. I have small bean plots but I let the beans around me get up and growing before I plant mine. It gives my beans a chance to beat the heavy browse and reach canopy. Without that relief I don't think yours would have a chance IMO

 

[Jeff H]

Here's something to ponder. I normally don't do Spring or Summer plots. IF I didn't have SL to try to smother and IF I planted 1 acre of beans and the deer ate them to the ground why would that be looked at as a failure ? I would have fed them more than than if I had done nothing right ? Then plant my Fall plots as normal.
I'm not likely going to do this as I need something to smother the SL, but don't be surprised if I have a test strip worked in somewhere just to satisfy my urge to experiment.
Jeff

 

[Jason Broom]

Plant a RUR soybean, spray with gly to control the SL, then if you find the deer wipe em out, assess how they're doing in late August and prepare to put in the LC rye mix.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Doe Shooter]

Plant a RUR soybean, spray with gly to control the SL, then if you find the deer wipe em out, assess how they're doing in late August and prepare to put in the LC rye mix.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Beans are cheap enough. Why not try it. If they do mow the beans down ,at least you fed them for a while.

 

[swat1018]

Many of my summer bean plots fail from too much pressure, drought, etc. Like others have said, I don't sweat it. I just follow up with a fall plot when they don't make it. Still keeps deer eating good for a bit........

 

[JohnL48]

I have had very good success with a clover and chicory mix for a summer plot. Always have deer in it and very easy to establish. It should also last 3 to 5 yrs

 

[Jeff H]

I have had very good success with a clover and chicory mix for a summer plot. Always have deer in it and very easy to establish. It should also last 3 to 5 yrs

I've considered that as there is already clover mixed from last Falls plot, but I don't think it would shade out the SL. Maybe one day when the SL is suppressed I can do the LC mix. As well my neighbors have clover , but no one has beans!
I could use Pasture guard to kill/suppress the SL but I'd prefer to not go the chemical route if I don't have to. I used the last of mine last year and would have to buy a gallon of it at $200. It works but it's pricey.
Maybe today I'll do a cost analysis of my options. Thanks to everyone for their input. I really appreciate it.
Jeff

 

[whiskeybent]

I have a 3/4 acre plot behind my house I row plant in soybeans every year. I put a electric fence up and leave it til they are 4 feet tall or so. When I take the fence down they are wiped clean in less than a week. I do have a good deer population here, though.

 

[Jeff H]

I have a 3/4 acre plot behind my house I row plant in soybeans every year. I put a electric fence up and leave it til they are 4 feet tall or so. When I take the fence down they are wiped clean in less than a week. I do have a good deer population here, though.

What do you spend on a 3/4 acre plot of beans?

 

[whiskeybent]

What do you spend on a 3/4 acre plot of beans?

As far as cost of fence? The fence was probably $250 but it can be reused every year, so not much per year.