Winter Crops

Biologic Trophy Oats (45 lb.) - Plants 1/3 Acre $40 Cold tolerant

Possible MIxes

Cooper's Summer Wet Area Mix
Ideal For Summer Wet Areas. Ideal for deer, turkey, quail, dove, and duck. Buy 50 lbs. for only $79.95This is the best you can buy. It has a full 10 lbs of aeschynomene in it along with tyrome forage soybeans, buckwheat and japanese millet.

Contains:
30% Forage Soybeans
30% Buckwheat
20% Aeschynomene
20% Japanese Millet

50# = $80 plants one acre

http://www.cooperseeds.com/pages/deer/ssmixes.html

Sweet Grass amd Clover

Sweet Spot Northern Mix
High Sugar Grass Mix for Irresistible Food PlotsComposition 27% AberAvon HSG Perennial Ryegrass 27% AberDart HSG Perennial Ryegrass 14% Winter White Clover 14% Tolten Medium Red Clover 8% San Gabriel Birdsfoot Trefoil 5% Purple Top Turnips 5% Six Point Chicory Planting InformationPlanting rate: 15 lbs. / half acreProduct packaged in 15 lb. bagsSoil PH: 5.5-8.5Cold tolerances: Zones 4- 7 find your zoneIn climate zones lover than 4, may not overwinter. Persistence can be greatly increased if plants are insulated by a snow cover.Heat tolerances: Zones 4- 7 find your zoneIn climate zones higher than 7, portions of the mixmay perform as an annual. It may also be necessary to use Pasture Sweetner in the early fall.Benefits:
Increases animal mass and rack size
Animals are naturally attracted to high sugar grasses
Environmentally friendly:
24% less feed nitrogen lost in urine and fecesWhat the experts are sayingAccording to certified wildlife biologist and deer expert Kent Kammermeyer, "as a deer mix, Sweet Spot™ with its clover, chicory and high quality grass is as good as it gets. The protein levels are high and so are the digestibility and total palatability. The high digestibility rate is important because it ensures the deer is utilizing needed protein and nutrients instead of high fiber content of forages which pass through the animal with reduced benefit." High Sugar Grasses work especially well for deer with their complex 4-stomach digestive system, aiding in protein absorption. According to Kent, "This mix also works as an all-around blend, benefiting and attracting wild turkeys, wild hogs and rabbits." 15# for a 1/2 acre =$40 to $70
http://www.cooperseeds.com/pages/deer/ssmixes.html


Durana Clover Seed - 10 LBSDurana is one of the new varieties released by Pennington Seed that has both yield increases and provides longer lived more persistent stands. Expect this clover to live several years longer than other older types in similar climatic conditions. Very expensive 5-8# per acre 10# = $87
http://www.seedland.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Seedland&Product_Code=CLOV-DURANA-10&Category_Code=

Legume - Summer protein Crops

BridsFoot Trefoil - This is a perennial legume that can survive for years but is not heat tolerant. It is very tolerant of poorly drained , lowland or acidic soils-All sorts of wild life enjoy this food plot crop 95-125 days - should be inoculated. 10# per acre $65

Sunflowers - black - same as buy for birds. Grows 2 to 3 ft. tall with a small head full of black seed. Plant 1/2 inch deep Can mix this in with other Legumes or spread along edges - Deer will eat thousands of the heads. Buy at FF

Soybeans - Plants with the corn - deer will eat this in llate summer as corn matures. Biologic - Roundup ready - Never seen beans - Deer eat tops off all. Buy as part of Boilogic 45# one acre $150

Buckweat - Not sure of value to deer as cattle ete all - Grows about 2 ft. tall with beautiful blooms - Can shade out other plants if seed too dense.

http://www.cooperseeds.com/viewitem.php?prod=722

http://www.seedland.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Seedland&Category_Code=WG-SV

Millet

Pearl, Brown, Japanese and others

Japanese - 2-4 ft tall Matures 45 to 60 days. Plant in areas prone to flooding. medium to heavy soils

Brown - Grows 2 to 3 ft., a heavy seed producer. Matures 60 days after emergence

Pearl - Sometimes called cattail millet. Non-legume. Grows 6 to 10 ft. tall - Better for drougt as likes well drained soil

Not really a deer food but they will eat it - Plant some for possible ducks.

http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/info/japanesemillet.html

Joint Vetch

Joint Vetch (AKA: Deer Vetch or Aeschynomene)
Type: Warm season reseeding annual legume
Uses: Aeschynomene is also known as deer vetch or American joint vetch. Used in Food plots for deer, turkey, rabbit, and quail.
Joint vetch is best suited for moist, fertile soils as it is much more tolerant of wet conditions than drought. It is known to have moderate shade tolerance.
These plants can reach 3 to 5 feet tall when mature and are generally very high in protein and quality for deer. Aeschynomene's attractiveness to wildlife will persist into the fall months until first frost, making it a favorite of bow hunters.
from -http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/info/aeschynomene.html

2010 Goals

1) Properly Prepare Soil with Lime
2) Better fertilize to speed growth (short growing season)
3) Use round up ready crop this year to control weeds
4) Try Millet, Joint Vetch, bird'sfoot Trefoil and LAS1 clover in wetlands
5) Put sweet grass in places where want to keep grass
6) Plant fields in strips to;
a) vary maturity of crops for short growth plants like millet
b) Have large stemmed brassicas that deer will only eat late season when all else is gone
c) Allow mowing and allow replanting of winter crop for deet when early stuff is done/gone
7) Try deer barrier like plot saver on portion of field to save some crop for firearm seasons.
8) See 6c - need to plant something for winter food - Hopefully corn will work for this.