failed food plots

greatlawn

greatlawn

Member
I have 3 food plots that did not come up because of lack of moisture. They are currently bare dirt with a few weeds. What should I do? Let them set idle or re-plant. The plots where Sunflowers and Sorgum. The farm is located in Emporia KS.
 
greatlawn said:
I have 3 food plots that did not come up because of lack of moisture. They are currently bare dirt with a few weeds. What should I do? Let them set idle or re-plant. The plots where Sunflowers and Sorgum. The farm is located in Emporia KS.
Click to expand...

Without moisture, replanting doesn't seem to do you any good. I would just wait it out and hope for a nice spring shower. If the ground is too cold the seed won't germinate until it warms up either. Seems a little early. Sorghum likes ground temp of about 60 degrees.
 
I was refering to last years food plots that did not come up. I am just trying to plan this years habitat.
 
Last year I did not plant a food plot on about 15 acres--It had and even split of corn and a PF grain mix planted next to each other(from the year before) and all was going well until the rains quit. The birds suffered badly so I could not tell if this worked.

Right now it looks great --full of lots of cover and LOTS of weeds--kind of like the stuff I remember from years ago--may years ago--It was great winter cover and should great nesting cover--I did this because there are lots of crop acres but few nesting and escape acres in this section, coupled with my official CRP acres there are now about 90 acres for all things wild. I will try to get a couple of pictures of this good old weed patch to post.

If we can just get some rain I think the birds will make a come back--it may take a couple of years--so I just keep trying to improve the general wildlife cover on the farm :cheers:
Weed1_zps7c79f7c1.jpg


Weed5_zps9c37bae5.jpg


Weed2_zps2711ebea.jpg


Weed4_zps352c8fc0.jpg
 
Last edited:
Yes Jim it will take rain to make pheasants. No water in the sloughs will make it tough on chicks.
 
greatlawn said:
are you going to re-plant or let the weeds come up and see what happens?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't call it a replant but just executing the same plan again. We have some more moisture in the weather pattern now and everything I do is no-till.

I will do mostly milo unless we get a heck of alot of moisture as corn would require much more moisture than milo.

The drill is getting an overhaul to and that was part of the issue last spring as well.

I should also mention that one of my failed plots was the best looking kochia patch loaded with birds this winter.
 
Last edited:
I planted a dove plot last Spring that didn't come up until Fall.:rolleyes: Just a few months late... I wonder if some of the seed might have still sprouted this Spring, but I'm going to re-plant it anyway.
 
SDJIM, Now that's what I've been talking about.:thumbsup:

This is a Pheasant and pheasant hunting forum.
Way to much work goes into controlling weeds. burning, spraying, etc.
Pheasants thrive in the stuff You got going.
 
Last edited:
The problem with mine is they are bare dirt. Do I let the weeds come up or re-plant. Will any of the seed that did not come up last year comeup this year?
 
mnmthunting said:
SDJIM, Now that's what I've been talking about.:thumbsup:

This is a Pheasant and pheasant hunting forum.
Way to much work goes into controlling weeds. burning, spraying, etc.
Pheasants thrive in the stuff You got going.
Click to expand...

Lets hope they thrive in it--if they do I've got another place to do this kind of project and it's 14 acres with 60 acres of CRP along with 235 acres of crops on a 320 acre area--man I'm getting excited for it all to happen--just had 2 roosters run across the back yard right into this weed patch. :cheers:
 
It will work.:thumbsup:
 
greatlawn said:
The problem with mine is they are bare dirt. Do I let the weeds come up or re-plant. Will any of the seed that did not come up last year comeup this year?
Click to expand...

As dry as it was there might be some seed that didn't germinate.
I would replant. No till if You can or scratch it up a bit and seed then scratch it again. Let the weeds and grain grow up in it together. Makes for good bird habitat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top