Upstate Obsession

[Elkaddict]

Time for another update. I got my corn and beans in. As usual, we broadcast the seed. As you will note, they are a bit thin in some areas. With our deer numbers, I doubled the amount of bean mixed into the corn hoping the deer would focus on them. It appears to be paying off! With all of the young beans, they’ve left the corn alone. As you may be able to see, we had an explosion of lambs quarter last year. It was so prevalent in our brassicas, I thought we got a bad batch of seed. We are now fighting it in the corn. It appears harder to kill than grass and many of our other weeds.

 

[Elkaddict]

I’ve been so busy working remotely that I didn’t get last fall’s grain/clover/chicory planting sprayed this spring to kill the rye/triticale. This 1.5 acre plot is predominately an archery hunt in early October so 4’ tall grain was not an option. I mowed it as high as I could to have as little trash on top of the young clover as possible. In places where the tractor tires had matted the stalks, I heavily overseeded before heavy rains. I’m actually really excited to see how this works out. I’ve noticed that mature bucks feel a lot more comfortable feeding in areas where they don’t feel as exposed. I’ve also seen how well the clover does when partially protected. I anticipate a very lush clover/chicory spot mature bucks will feel comfortable in.

 

[Mennoniteman]

View attachment 19269 View attachment 19270 View attachment 19271 Time for another update. I got my corn and beans in. As usual, we broadcast the seed. As you will note, they are a bit thin in some areas. With our deer numbers, I doubled the amount of bean mixed into the corn hoping the deer would focus on them. It appears to be paying off! With all of the young beans, they’ve left the corn alone. As you may be able to see, we had an explosion of lambs quarter last year. It was so prevalent in our brassicas, I thought we got a bad batch of seed. We are now fighting it in the corn. It appears harder to kill than grass and many of our other weeds.

Lambsquarter has type of wax on the leaves, so it's very important to put the right adjuvant into your herbicide mix to allow the active ingredient to work.

 

[Elkaddict]

As noted, this was rye/triticale planted las fall. I noticed their were two distinct growing heights. I’m assuming the triticale grew a little slower and shorter. Thoughts?

 

[Elkaddict]

I finally got our first stand of brassicas in. This is 1.5 acres of Winfred brassicas and rutabagas. I hope to get another 5 acres of the same mix in the next week or so. In addition to being exceptional forage, I’ve found these can be planted in late June without a risk of maturing too soon. Update: the above photo is two weeks later. As usual when I broadcast, a little thick in some areas, a little thin in others. Deer are already on them.

 

[KSQ2]

As noted, this was rye/triticale planted las fall. I noticed their were two distinct growing heights. I’m assuming the triticale grew a little slower and shorter. Thoughts?View attachment 19276

Our awnless wheat is also quite a bit shorter than the winter rye. Heads look fully developed and have a lot of seed though.

 

[Mennoniteman]

As noted, this was rye/triticale planted las fall. I noticed their were two distinct growing heights. I’m assuming the triticale grew a little slower and shorter. Thoughts?View attachment 19276

Rye is always a much taller grain than most of the other types of cereal grain. Wheat is of a medium height and barley and oats are genrally shorter. Since triticale is a cross between wheat and rye it will be a little shorter than rye.

 

[Elkaddict]

Rye is always a much taller grain than most of the other types of cereal grain. Wheat is of a medium height and barley and oats are genrally shorter. Since triticale is a cross between wheat and rye it will be a little shorter than rye.

Yes, by how green it is, it would also appear a little slower to mature.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Yes, by how green it is, it would also appear a little slower to mature.

Triticale matures a week later than wheat and two weeks later than rye assuming the same growing conditions. Barley and oats mature earlier than rye.

 

[Elkaddict]

Been super busy but still got another 5 acres of Winfred/Rutabaga planted. We are supposed to get 11/2” of rain the next 4 days so the planting was timely. I’ll get our last 1/2 brassica plot planted next week. 2 weeks from now, I’ll plant left over brassica seed on the edges and in the thins spots of our corn plots. The deer love the security of the corn and really go to town on it. I’m pleased because it’s using up the fertilizer the corn can’t get to. Tonight as I was bushhogging some weed clover plots, I counted 23 deer. They’re content to feed within 30 yds of me when I’m on the tractor. We should have enough groceries for the winter: 41/2 acres of corn (the beans are all but gone), 7 acres of brassicas, and 4 acres of rye/triticale. If that’s not enough, the browse is in outstanding shape. Here are some pics of the most recent plantings.

 

[Elkaddict]

I’m trying something new on in two different 1/2 acre plots. I’ve generally left ground that was rotating from brassicas to fall grain/clover/chicory un-planted. Clearly not good for the soil and not providing any nutrition for the deer. By the time the fields are dry enough to do anything, I’m too busy getting my corn/beans in. I planted buckwheat in mid June for a couple years with great success but grew tired of paying for shipping. I guess the cost helped me rationalize doing nothing. This year, I’m planting clover/oats now. The third week of August, I’ll throw out triticale/rye and mow the oats. I should have plenty of tender grain for the bow opener and something the deer can dig for before the snows pile up too deep. The clover should be far enough along to provide meaningful forage as well late summer and fall. While I’ll undoubtedly have more weeds planting this time of year, it will be sprayed and disced under early June for a late June brassicas planting. Has anyone attempted this? Perhaps I’m being pound foolish..... Thoughts?

 

[Buckly]

I used to do exactly what you’re doing. I didn’t like seeing the plots with nothing in them. I found that with our very short growing season it was just to much bother to plant in June and then plant again in August or September. So I gave it up. I just learned to live with an empty plot in the summer. I always had a certain amount of perennial clover around anyway for the summer. But, it never hurts to experiment and do different things. I just found it was too much bother for the short time frame. Keep us posted.

 

[rusty1034]

I’m with you Buckly. I’ve tried doing buckwheat as an early summer cover crop, but it doesn’t amount to much.

I think next year I’ll just leave the plots bare until I plant brassicas in mid July.

Right now I’m waiting for a forecast of rain before I scratch some seed in the plots.


Rusty

 

[farmhunter]

As noted, this was rye/triticale planted las fall. I noticed their were two distinct growing heights. I’m assuming the triticale grew a little slower and shorter. Thoughts?View attachment 19276

I've never had any other grain match rye for height - I remember tritical being close to winter wheat for height - nice mix.

 

[Elkaddict]

Trouble in paradise: This litter of coyote pups has taken up residence at one of my waterholes visiting daily. I’ve got a treestand 25yds away. Unfortunately, NY law protects coyotes from 4/1 to 9/31. They’re already harassing the deer.

 

[Elkaddict]

Brassicas have taken off. On the left is a section of oats/clover. Labor day weekend, I’ll broadcast rye and mow the oats. There is a treestand in the hedge row adjacent to the clover/oats. At this stage, I’m amazed at how weed free the clover appears.

 

[Buckly]

Not good. The coyotes I mean

 

[badgerfowl]

Trouble in paradise: This litter of coyote pups has taken up residence at one of my waterholes visiting daily. I’ve got a treestand 25yds away. Unfortunately, NY law protects coyotes from 4/1 to 9/31. They’re already harassing the deer.View attachment 19428View attachment 19429 View attachment 19430

Coyote lives matter apparently. Hopefully you have a lot of target practice on 10/1.

 

[farmhunter]

brassica are growing fast! I got a lb of rutabaga to mix in with my turnips this week -
curious to see how they grow side by side.

 

[Elkaddict]

Farmhunter, all I planted brassica wise this year was a mix of Winfred/rutabagas. That’s how sold I am! Deer are already on them. I’ve already got leaves 10”+ in length.