Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Update: Titan beans just keep chugging away under very heavy deer browsing pressure. A dozen deer are in this 3.5 acre field every day.
TITAN FORAGE SOYBEANS
- Thread starter Mennoniteman
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Mennoniteman
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If I may ask,, what is your normal seeding rate per acre, and what is your planter row spacing?
I plant them with a Great Plains 706NT on 7.5” spacing. I’ve tried everything from 140,000 to 280,000 seeds per acre (1-2 bags), and they only survive if they are fenced. Forage or ag beans doesn’t matter - without a fence, nothing survives. Granted, I have a very high deer density, so my results are not unexpected.
I’m going to try your Titan beans next year, but they will be mixed with something else.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
They are not magical but they are more robust in continuing to grow when browsed heavily. What will you mix with?
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
These Titan forage soybeans are above knee high on August 1st, still being absolutely pounded by our deer herd, they are well up above the bottom of a deer's stomach. My only regret is not seeding two bags per acre, where I seeded them in the highest densities is where they are doing the best. They also have much better weed suppression in the thicker spots.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Note: I said earlier in the thread that I'm going to seed 2 bags per acre again this year, then at planting time my thrifty Swiss-German heritage kicked in and I second guessed and compromised at 1.5 bags per acre. The first plan you make is almost always the best one, as was the case here. Next year I'm going to try a test acre at 2.5 bags, and definitely nowhere less than 2.These Titan forage soybeans are above knee high on August 1st, still being absolutely pounded by our deer herd, they are well up above the bottom of a deer's stomach. My only regret is not seeding two bags per acre, where I seeded them in the highest densities is where they are doing the best. They also have much better weed suppression in the thicker spots.
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Mennoniteman
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Titan Forage beans went through a mild drought in late July and didn't get as tall as last year, but the bean pod production was on par with last year, there's more pods hanging than ag beans, but slightly smaller bean size than ag beans. Since they dried down the deer are hammering them hard.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I planted a bag of these beans in my half acre or so plot at home MM, but they didn’t make. We had so much rain and cool temps in May and June all my spring/summer plots failed except the buckwheat and it didn’t do well. That’s not gonna keep me from trying them again though.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
I've followed after you Texas foodplot guys for a long time and eventually I came to realize that the gulf coast states' growing seasons and growing conditions are so vastly different from zone 6 that I hesitate to give much input, because it's all so foreign to us. About the only thing that we have in common is that in the middle of the summer heat is a bad time for planting and in mid-summer we are always only 7 days away from a drought. But I'm always intrigued to read along.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
This year was the very first time that I’ve had beans or peas fail. I’ve had them eaten to the ground in six weeks, and burn up in a couple months, but never have I had them fail as I did this year. I laid it on the cool, wet ground but I truly don’t know if that’s what caused it, it’s just my best guess.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
BEANS GOING DOWN TODAY
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Drill drive box gear 2, seed cup setting 2, seeding rate 35.
Tractor gear B-4 (Eighth out of twelve): planting speed; 3 MPH (can plant at speeds up to 5 MPH, but 3 MPH places seed more consistently)
7 bags for 3.5 acres=2 bags per acre.
Here I am pictured making a short pass to empty the last few leftover seeds, over the field that has already been planted.
Planted on Friday the 13th, then it rains a good shower right away, just an hour after I finish. Is this a good omen or what?
Tractor gear B-4 (Eighth out of twelve): planting speed; 3 MPH (can plant at speeds up to 5 MPH, but 3 MPH places seed more consistently)
7 bags for 3.5 acres=2 bags per acre.
Here I am pictured making a short pass to empty the last few leftover seeds, over the field that has already been planted.
Planted on Friday the 13th, then it rains a good shower right away, just an hour after I finish. Is this a good omen or what?
Last edited:
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Titan forage beans are up, six days after planting
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
I’ve bet this year’s success on these. I got 8 acres in today (broadcasting them). It’ll be interesting to see if they can handle my short growing season and still produce grain. I have little doubt the forage will be hammered. If it looks like they will not produce, I’ll broadcast a bunch of rye and brassicas. Crossing my fingers.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Did you disc them in?
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Yes. Timing was good, supposed to get 1/2” of rain tonight.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Titans are looking okay despite the turkeys and crows pounding they ever since they peeked out of the soil, and now, just as they made it past that stage, the deer have found them. There's a lot of gaps in the rows from turkey damage, but since they were double seeded there's still a good population. But to survive they have to outgrow the deer browsing pressure. I am waiting to see which side wins.
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Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
I got 8 acres planted spread across 6 plots. Germination was fast in damp plots, slower in drier plots. I noticed they were getting nipped at ground level and assumed the deer were doing their thing. I went out tonight to check on them and to my surprise, watched a young bear methodically nipping every plant it came across. After watching for several minutes, I stepped in the open from a hundred yards waived my arms and started shouting. The young bear politely ran off…. Sadly, I didn’t have my phone with me. I’m not sure what will become of the plots….
