blacktailslayer Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Was wondering if anyone had any good advice for a person getting ready to work on their first food plot. Here is a little info on my spot. Going to have a soil test done and start at least a 1 acre food plot for blacktail deer this year. One other spot that is 1/2 acre plus a couple of old short roads that may be able to turn into food plots as well. Need to eliminate the blackberries that have taken over first. Here is some of the info I got from the NRCS website Suver silty clay loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)- 0 Rating(Percent) Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC-7) Rating (milliequivalents per 100 grams)- 15.0 Organic Matter- Rating (percent)- 3.50 Percent Clay- Rating (percent) 31.0 Percent Sand- Rating (percent) 18.1 Percent silt- Rating (percent) 50.9 Drainage Class- Somewhat poorly drained pH Rating 5.6 Elevation: 280 to 800 feet Mean annual precipitation: 40 to 60 inches Mean annual air temperature: 52 to 54 degrees F Frost-free period: 165 to 210 days H1 - 0 to 11 inches: silty clay loam H2 - 11 to 42 inches: clay H3 - 42 to 52 inches: weathered bedrock I'm thinking to look into Soybeans, Brassicas, Chicory, Winter Peas, Winter Oats. Surrounding fields are planted in Fescue. Not sure what the best mix would be for the plot. The blackberries will be mowed mid-summer. Wait till they grow back to around 18inches and then spray. Wait 10 days to clear dead blackberries and till. Then lime, fertilize, and seed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Think i would start with burning down the blackberries and whatever else is in the field after mowing. A mix of glyphosate and 2 4d should work. I will usually hit with the herbicide again after new green pops up, usually a week to two between sprayings. Have had good results with soybeans most everywhere i have planted them from the hills to sandy river bottom ground and they are without a doubt a good draw for deer. Might consider a solid mix of rr beans for a first time plot. Imo eagle seeds soybeans are awesome and worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktailslayer Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I'm just wondering what seeds can handle growing in a place that can get up to 60inches of rain per year and never really get warm but a few months out of the year. Eagle products look great but they don't mention if they will survive, when to plant, or which soybean to order for the Pacific Northwest(Oregon). Should I mix any type of oats or wheat with the soybeans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Eagle are rr varieties meaning you can use roundup(glyphosate)on them post emergent. You could mix with a grain. Sorghum mixed with beans does well, but unless you use a rr variety there you would be unable to spray. I don't know about how they handle excess moisture. I have planted then in a bottom that floods and not had issues though. I do know once established they perform ok with drought conditions too. Brad at eagle is a member here, would be worth giving him a call and asking for suggestions for your conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktailslayer Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Eagle are rr varieties meaning you can use roundup(glyphosate)on them post emergent. You could mix with a grain. Sorghum mixed with beans does well, but unless you use a rr variety there you would be unable to spray. I don't know about how they handle excess moisture. I have planted then in a bottom that floods and not had issues though. I do know once established they perform ok with drought conditions too. Brad at eagle is a member here, would be worth giving him a call and asking for suggestions for your conditions. Thanks. No worries about droughts over here in western Oregon. Most the year is rain and completely cloudy with low temps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Since soybeans are a warm season annual I wouldn't plant any grains such as rye or wheat with them. If you use a round up ready variety then you defeat that with using the grain. There are so many variety of soybeans I promise you there is one that will handle you conditions. What I love about soybeans is if you plant enough in the spring that they can handle the pressure then in the winter the deer will also feed on the pods. Probably the best draw around in really cold conditions. The actual soybean pods provide so much nutrition and especially carbohydrates and protein during the really stressful times. Google " Realworld soybeans"---they are a more northern bred soybeans that is a great forage and pod production bean. Another plus with soybeans is that when the leafs start to yellow you can broadcast in the beans winter rye, wheat, and brassicas directly in the beans. All three will germinate great and provided even more nutrition through the winter months. It's almost like having a 365 day food plot---or at least a consistent food plot when it is needed most. I would also get some lime down to get that pH above 6. good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultradog Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 You have your soil figured out very well but not one word about how you are going to till the soil. Tractor? 4 wheeler? Moldboard plow and disc? Chisel plow? No till? Are you going to hand broadcast? Use a row planter? Grain drill? There are lots of ways to put in a plot but having the right equipment will make a big difference too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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