Next year plots on family farm.

[Casey]

My uncles's has a few fields that always gets flooded so they don't use them much anymore. I might try and ask them if they would help me put up a few food plots. One field is about 4.5 acres, it borders up next to the river bottoms. I want to know with a 4.5 acre field what would you plant in it?? I do want to put a lot of work into it, but it also might get flooded.

I thought maybe a Alfafa field or a clover or either turnips or rape. The farm land is mostly wheat, soybeans and corn. I might do a half corn field, keep it standing and the other a Alfafa. Don't know yet. What do you think??

Thanks Gents!

[Ethan Givan]

Half standing corn and half turnips sounds like a good plan to me.

[AaronS]

Hi Casey, long time no see bud. I hope all is well with you.

On an area that size, I would break it up into smaller plots. I'd put small kill plots in the locations you can cover well while bowhunting (be sure to take prevailing winds and your approach routes into account). In these kill plots I'd plant something that is going to be green and thriving during hunting season. I'd go with a combination of winter rye and brassicas. I'd also want to have a little clover in the area. I would plant the rest in corn or beans and let them set until the following spring.

Do you have a pic of the area? Something like a snapshot from Google Earth copied to Paint? If so I'd be happy to take a look at it and make some recommendations.

[PotashRLS]

It must be hard to crop because of the flooding issue so take that into consideration. Depending on the year, you will probably only be planting a fall annual because the end of summer is usually dryer. If that is the case, corn won't work unless planted late and with a faster maturing seed. A combination of brassicas and clovers would work well. Clover will work better than alfalfa as it tolerates wetter soils better. Then when it is dry enough, your uncle can chop off the clover so you don't have to mow it. He can feed it to his livestock directly.

[wtnhunt]

It must be hard to crop because of the flooding issue so take that into consideration. Depending on the year, you will probably only be planting a fall annual because the end of summer is usually dryer. If that is the case, corn won't work unless planted late and with a faster maturing seed. A combination of brassicas and clovers would work well. Clover will work better than alfalfa as it tolerates wetter soils better. Then when it is dry enough, your uncle can chop off the clover so you don't have to mow it. He can feed it to his livestock directly.

Thinking kind of along the same lines as Tracy here, don't know that I would attempt to plant corn. Would definitely look to plant more than one type of plot. Think it likely with the flooding I would probably plant some type of clover or a clover trefoil blend and probably also some soybeans in the summer when it dries out enough. Soybeans yield forage fairly quick and they are tolerant of varied ph values, and the right soybean blend can explode with growth in a river bottom area even in soil that is sandy. Here deer will continue to eat beans/forage even after they turn, would think where you are beans could be a draw on into your bow season.

Another question to consider might be how do brassicas plants hold up to flooding, experience I had with them on wet ground they did ok, but not great.

[dogdoc]

what time of the year does it flood? When it does flood how long does it hold water and how deep does it get?

[Casey]

what time of the year does it flood? When it does flood how long does it hold water and how deep does it get?

Usually late winter or early spring, it can hold water for a month or so. It can get about knee high or waste deep.

[dogdoc]

Usually late winter or early spring, it can hold water for a month or so. It can get about knee high or waste deep.

If it stays flooded for a month then planting perennials is out.

Corn is a great draw but not the easiest plant to maintain. Requires good fertilization and good weed control.

Personally I would think about planting some soybeans or cowpeas in the spring then follow up in the fall with a nice fall blend of wheat, rye, oats, winter peas, and brassicas.

[Casey]

If it stays flooded for a month then planting perennials is out.

Corn is a great draw but not the easiest plant to maintain. Requires good fertilization and good weed control.

Personally I would think about planting some soybeans or cowpeas in the spring then follow up in the fall with a nice fall blend of wheat, rye, oats, winter peas, and brassicas.

Thanks Todd. By the way, did you see the photo.

[wtnhunt]

Todd has a very good point here Casey, if it stays flooded that long, would not plant a perennial. Would follow his recommendations.