So, I don't have a crimper, don't have a no-till drill. I have 4-5 one acre or half acre food plots on 96 acres. I don't have the money to spend on crimpers or no-till drill. Grant, can you outline HOW the small guys can implement this plan without the equipment and a ton of money?
Ryan - we have a few videos on how to use hand-tools, prescribed fire, etc., to establish and maintain food plots and eliminate tillage and greatly reduce the need to use herbicides. Seeds need good contact with the soil to establish successfully and fire only removes the above ground forage. The roots provide about 70% of the increase in organic matter. Fire also removes existing weeds giving the plot a clean start. It's important to plant at a high rate to outcompete most of the weeds that will germinate.
First it grass will need to grow so a herbicide will be effective. Many herbicides work best on leaf surface area - not cut off stems. Then it's best to drill into the dead vegetation or use fire to remove the dead vegetation and broadcast seed just before a 1/2" or more of rain.
Great stand of rye. It will grow and improve soil health anywhere. I’ve seen this in rocky soil over the past few years. Cattle may get the runs but the deer and Turkey enjoy it when it’s this stage.
Just started doing some TSI on my property after noticing that from 4’ down, there was almost nothing for wildlife to consume or use as cover. Really looking forward to seeing improvements through the years as we already have deer with great potential on the land
I am a big fan of Grant W, BUT in North MO late termination of cereal rye will wipe out 20% of turkey nest. I have good timber habitat but birds still like nesting in large ag fields and food plots. In past have killed both fawns and hens in May and now apply herbicides about first of April.
To answer your question, I used the plotstart and plotboost this past season on my 1 acre food plot. I sent in a soil test to a lab prior to applying it and then did it again the following spring. My pH actually DROPPED the year following the deergro products. All it did was add a ton of calcium to my soil. Hope this helps.
My brother-in-law and I have been trying hard for a few years now to improve the deer herd. So how much do you charge to visit a property and make recommendations? Thanks again for the videos.
Robert! We'd be happy to help you with a habitat and hunting improvement plan. Please send the location of the property and it's size to info@GrowingDeer.com. Be sure to include your contact information.
That’s the ticket, keep those deer there all year. The biodesert under the pines wasn’t filling bellies. Hope you hammer a few big ones in the years to come.
I have a question that may seem simple but I haven't heard it addressed fully. How do you set up your No-till drill to plant the summer release blend? Do you simply open the seed gates for the biggest seed, for example, soybeans and set a depth of say one inch. I know you say there is no settling if you do only a couple acres. I can understand that but with small seed depth is important. If you could directly address this I'm sure I am not alone in my confusion. So, please address seed gate opening size, settling issues and seed depth. Thank you.
We simply calibrate the drill. This ensures the proper seeding rate. Each year seeds may be larger or smaller pending on the growing conditions where they were produced. Even if planting the same blends or monoculture, drills should be calibrated each year.
Grant,I drilled the summer release into a well herbicide bean field june 2. The rain we were supposed to get fizzled out,and we had no rain for a month. I got germination a few days after planting as soil moisture was good. Now we are getting some much needed rain. Allot of Weeds got a start along with the crop. When I drill in fall release blend,should I spray/herbacide the summer release blend either before or right after I drill. Thanks for any input.
Doug - there are lots of variables such as browse pressure between now and planting time, etc. However, if weeds are an issue, it may be best to use an herbicide.
It's way better to drill before crimping! It's tough for any drill to cut through inches of crimped vegetation. There are many advantages to drilling first and then crimping.
Grant,I have a 3 acre picked bean field. If its better to start the release process in the late summer early fall,what do you recommend planting in that 3 acre bean field this spring. I was going to drill in summer release blend after spraying round up. Thank you!
Grant, I am very interested in the release process and I think I’ll be ready to begin this fall. I have 2 questions. What else should I plant along with the rye? And The season after, will I need to plant more rye or what comes in the seasons after?
So, I don't have a crimper, don't have a no-till drill. I have 4-5 one acre or half acre food plots on 96 acres. I don't have the money to spend on crimpers or no-till drill. Grant, can you outline HOW the small guys can implement this plan without the equipment and a ton of money?
I’m in the same boat. You can use broadcast blends. spray, seed, and cultipack.
I just find a local farmer and pay him to help me. It’s not that expensive.
Ryan - we have a few videos on how to use hand-tools, prescribed fire, etc., to establish and maintain food plots and eliminate tillage and greatly reduce the need to use herbicides. Seeds need good contact with the soil to establish successfully and fire only removes the above ground forage. The roots provide about 70% of the increase in organic matter. Fire also removes existing weeds giving the plot a clean start. It's important to plant at a high rate to outcompete most of the weeds that will germinate.
I wish you would do a video about how you start your system from a current mowed grass field.
First it grass will need to grow so a herbicide will be effective. Many herbicides work best on leaf surface area - not cut off stems. Then it's best to drill into the dead vegetation or use fire to remove the dead vegetation and broadcast seed just before a 1/2" or more of rain.
Looks great David! 👍
Great stand of rye. It will grow and improve soil health anywhere. I’ve seen this in rocky soil over the past few years. Cattle may get the runs but the deer and Turkey enjoy it when it’s this stage.
I’m hoping to be able to purchase a Genesis and get started on this process. 🤞🏻
Love follow up videos!!! And that picture was really cool… looked like he was part of the lawless gang back in the day
Ha!
Just started doing some TSI on my property after noticing that from 4’ down, there was almost nothing for wildlife to consume or use as cover. Really looking forward to seeing improvements through the years as we already have deer with great potential on the land
Nice work Andy!
Another great video Grant. Hope the drought doesn't hit use this yr in MO.
Me too!
I am a big fan of Grant W, BUT in North MO late termination of cereal rye will wipe out 20% of turkey nest. I have good timber habitat but birds still like nesting in large ag fields and food plots. In past have killed both fawns and hens in May and now apply herbicides about first of April.
We have good native habitat and most hens prefer to nest there. If the ag fields are the best habitat, no doubt hens will use that area.
Mr Woods, what are your thoughts on using DeerGro PlotStart instead of pellet lime?
I have the same question. Did you get a reply from Grant or Growing Deer team?
I haven't used those products. However, liquid lime products rarely work well on food plot sized applications
To answer your question, I used the plotstart and plotboost this past season on my 1 acre food plot. I sent in a soil test to a lab prior to applying it and then did it again the following spring. My pH actually DROPPED the year following the deergro products. All it did was add a ton of calcium to my soil. Hope this helps.
My brother-in-law and I have been trying hard for a few years now to improve the deer herd. So how much do you charge to visit a property and make recommendations? Thanks again for the videos.
Robert! We'd be happy to help you with a habitat and hunting improvement plan. Please send the location of the property and it's size to info@GrowingDeer.com. Be sure to include your contact information.
That’s the ticket, keep those deer there all year. The biodesert under the pines wasn’t filling bellies. Hope you hammer a few big ones in the years to come.
Mr Grant, going start the no till system this fall what would be a fair price to charge
I have a question that may seem simple but I haven't heard it addressed fully. How do you set up your No-till drill to plant the summer release blend? Do you simply open the seed gates for the biggest seed, for example, soybeans and set a depth of say one inch. I know you say there is no settling if you do only a couple acres. I can understand that but with small seed depth is important. If you could directly address this I'm sure I am not alone in my confusion.
So, please address seed gate opening size, settling issues and seed depth.
Thank you.
We simply calibrate the drill. This ensures the proper seeding rate. Each year seeds may be larger or smaller pending on the growing conditions where they were produced. Even if planting the same blends or monoculture, drills should be calibrated each year.
so would you crimp first then drill the summer blend, or just the reverse
It's best to drill first! Drill often won't cut through a thick mat of crimped vegetation.
Grant,I drilled the summer release into a well herbicide bean field june 2. The rain we were supposed to get fizzled out,and we had no rain for a month. I got germination a few days after planting as soil moisture was good. Now we are getting some much needed rain. Allot of Weeds got a start along with the crop. When I drill in fall release blend,should I spray/herbacide the summer release blend either before or right after I drill. Thanks for any input.
Doug - there are lots of variables such as browse pressure between now and planting time, etc. However, if weeds are an issue, it may be best to use an herbicide.
Are you crimping after drilling or prior to planting
after
It's way better to drill before crimping! It's tough for any drill to cut through inches of crimped vegetation. There are many advantages to drilling first and then crimping.
Grant,I have a 3 acre picked bean field. If its better to start the release process in the late summer early fall,what do you recommend planting in that 3 acre bean field this spring. I was going to drill in summer release blend after spraying round up. Thank you!
Most forage crops do best when planted about 45 to 60 days before the average first frost date during the fall and when there's rain in the forecast.
Thank you for giving the credit to the Creator at the end of the video. Amen my friend
This may be a smidge off topic, but couldn't I do the same concept in my garden at home as well?
Mr Woods uses Greencover Seed Co. They have a garden mix that works really well for garden groceries. Hope this helps
Yes!
Grant, I am very interested in the release process and I think I’ll be ready to begin this fall. I have 2 questions. What else should I plant along with the rye? And The season after, will I need to plant more rye or what comes in the seasons after?
John - Checkout the blends at GreenCoverFoodPlots.com. These blends are very balanced and work well!
Can I bush hog instead of crimping?
Mike - unfortunately now. Just like mowing a yard, moving doesn't kill most grass and many weed species.
80 to 90 acres????? Above my pay grade.
Tommy - we can learn from any size operation!
It's like fruit trees; best time to plant them was 10 years ago.
Yup. Got some 5 yr old trees and unreal how big. Can't wait to see them 5 yrs from now
Second best time, today.
@Brock Smith planted 100 over last 7 yrs. 80 or so still alive. Alot of work. Almost to much
Fruit trees are cool but a huge amount of work.