vagobbln Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Maybe some of the larger clubs that have a budget might. I doubt you'll find too many individuals (unless they sign their name with M.D.) that would put up the cash but who knows. Put together a flier or brochure with what services you intend to offer and get your name out there. I would also offer some sort of consulting service in addition to just planting and maintenance. It would be a deal where you would come in and evaluate a persons property and then give recomendations about what to plant, where to plant along with maybe soil testing and lime/fertilizer recomendations, etc. I would think there would be some folks that would go for that instead of paying for full-time maintenance. Just a thought. Here in VA the game dept. should have a list of hunt clubs you could contact. I would assume NC would too especially if they participate in some sort of deer management program. Good luck. Where are you in Carolina, by the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) That's not that uncommon around here for some of the bigger clubs that plant a lot of acreage in food plots. There are a lot of hunting clubs in this state and some just don't have access to the equipment to do the job. There are others though that simply can't afford to budget the money to do it right with the rising cost of hunting leases. Those that are pinching pennies to plant food plots have work days to do it but the ones I know of skip on seed and fertilizer. A lot of hunting clubs that can afford it have quite a number of food plots to plant. Those that get someone else to do it for them seek out farmers that are willing to do it on the side for a little extra income. I don't recall ever seeing anyone advertise offering that kind of service though. Would we? No. We plant all of our own food plots but we already have all the equipment to do the job right. Our planted acreage totals about 60 acres scattered across about 45 food plots. There are clubs around here that plant more total acreage in food plots than us and some that can't afford to plant any at all. I would think it would be something you could add to other services you could perform. Other services would include things like landscaping, yard work, and I know this state hires out services for state highway mantainance. IMHO, you would need to find other services to perform besides planting food plots to pay for the cost and maintainance of the equipment and make a living at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) Well, let's stop and think about this for a minute. Food plots are currently gaining in popularity. Fewer and fewer people actually own farm equipment. Seed and fertilizer is cheaper if purchased in bulk. Fuel is MUCH cheaper if purchased for ag use. It takes a certain amount of expertise that most folks don't posses to grow a good crop. Sounds to me like a good opportunity, IF you're willing to work at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) I have a few buddies that have been begging some local farmers to put in their plots, and they can't find anybody. Yeah, I would think there would be a market for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) I've had several people ask me to assist or actually develop food plots for them--so I do think there could possible be a market for this--but I don't know if you could make a living out of this exclusively. good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) Bull_Rider21 its good to see you're thinking about doing it as an added service or side job. I honestly believe once the word gets out that you will be getting more request than you can handle. That's the way it is down here. Shouldn't take but a couple of years or so and then you'll probably have to turn some jobs down because you're booked solid for the time frame when people want to plant them. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) Perhaps you can also offer a "How to" of food plots and have different tiers of service, like just tilling and fertilizer, spraying or just starting the plot for the customer. I think you will find your niche that many people are getting into planting for wildlife food supplements. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deadeye270 Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) Bull Rider21 - I think this is a great idea for our area. I live in the Fort Mill / Rock Hill area and I believe you could definitley pick up some side work. If I were you I would create a flyer of some type and post it at Nichols, Carolina Sportsman, Barefoot Archery, etc. Also I think you would get the most from it if you also offered a couple of different services. For example soil testing, clearing overgrown area for food plots, discing, discing and liming, discing, liming, and fertilzing according to soil test. Finally you could offer to seed with basic seed blends (ex. Clover, or wheat /oats mix, wheat/oats/rye mix, etc.) The seeding will be a little tricky due to most plots need to be disced sit for a little bit and then redisced. My club has tried the discing, limeing, fetilizing, and seeding all in the same day and we just seem to get alot of well fertized weed growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallone Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) I agree there would be a market especially if you know what needs to be done to grow a good plot (ph tests,what to grow etc..) I know a lot of people that don't have a clue what they are doing and their plots show it. You could also offer a consulting service, telling them what they need to do. Let us know how it turns out and good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) There is a local feed store here that the owner sells seed and he has a food plot service, has had for probably five years now. He also sells small tractors and equipment and does gardens for people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) We hav several around the state here, I see them advertising in outdoor mags., and our state dnr paper....dont know that it is a thriving business, as the weather plays an important part in dictating WHEN you can plant. I can imagine everyone wants their plot planted yesterday!! LOL.. plus planting it is not hard..but TIMING it with the rain in the short future is the tough part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Re: Food Plot Service (please help) There are a few people up here doing this also. I don't see any of them getting rich from it. I think one hurdle is the amount of equipment you need to do the job properly. Having the equipment is one thing, but you have to get it to the job site. This can be expensive and time consuming. To travel say 50 miles to do 1 or 2 acres of food plots wouldn't be feasible. Some have tried the all in one food plot planters but, they aren't really that fast or durable in my opinion to use commercially. By the time you make several trips back and forth you might well lose money. I'm not trying to burst your bubble but you want to look at all angles before venturing out too much. The old saying goes, If it was so great, everybody would be doing it. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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