Dove Field Question

[Covehnter]

Last year we had a better than average shoot for a first year field. The field was only about 3 acres in size and we planted browntop millet and sunflowers in strips. Both did well although the sunflower needed another couple weeks to die and drop seeds, we had to plant the seed late b/c of the lack of rain. . . same situation we're running into this year. Another problem we ran into last year was the deer devoured alot of the sunflowers before they got up high enough to be ignored.

This year we're expanding the field to be about 5 acres and will definately stick with the browntop millet and plan to put in some sunflowers again too, but my question is do you think it would be benefical to mix the sunflowers with grain sorghum? I believe the grain sorghum will mature quicker in case the sunflowers are a little late again and i dont think the deer with be quite so tough on the young plants.

So i'm looking at rows of browntop millet and rows of pervaso (sp?) sunflowers w/ grain sorghum. Sound like a winner or will the sorghum sunflower mix not work?

Appreciate the input.

[dogdoc]

nope---it will work just fine. I plant a spring mix that contains all 3 of the seeds you mentioned. Just give the mix lots of nitrogen and should do great.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Another trick to keep the deer out is to buy a cheap battery powered radio, tune it to an all day and all night talk station, and turn up the volume.

[Tominator]

Sunflower is the key around here. Doves love it. My buddy disced up another 2 acres the other day, so his field will be around 3.5 acres of sunflower and millet this year.

[Covehnter]

We just cant get any rain, my buddies dad who farms the whole place for cotton is considering collecting crop insurance from what he's already planted (200ac) b/c nothing is going to make. . . .absolutely a desert.