Food plot prep work is beginning

[remy3424]

Like the rest of the crop ground around, our food plots are starting to get attention. This past weekend, I took a bush-hog style mower to about 3 acres of old food plots. I am trying to pulverize the standing weeds and standing sorghum as our lightweight disk struggles with much trash. I fertilized all of them...twice, with the amount of fertilizer the Coop sent me...can't wait to see what that cost. I have the planter in at a local shop getting tuned-up, it needed some attension, even if just planting 6-7 acres. I just don't have the time to deal with it. I have a large 14' I-beam, that i am planning on cutting in half and mounting on the disk too get better/deeper penetration with an extra few hundred pounds on it. Really hope it helps.
Anyone else working working plots, planting trees/shrubs...creating or improving their habitat?
I hope to add some pics as work progresses.

 

[SDinWI]

Let the fun begin!

I frost seeded switchgrass this winter along a spruce border I planted last year. Hopefully, that eventually takes well. Would love to have a nice screen.

At the end of the month, I have 25 crabapples, 25 Highbush cranberry, 25 black chokeberry, and 50 spruce to plant. Will probably plant them in bunches in several areas vs all in one spot. I have great winter cover throughout, so I don’t need to try and create a new thicket, but I’m excited about adding some more winter food.

But more importantly, I’ll have 20 new CRP acres planted and a food plot to plant. Gotta have corn stalks bailed and the ruts leveled before it’ll be ready. But, this’ll be a great addition to the best section of habitat on the property.

It’s fun seeing the plan I had for my property coming to life after owning it several years now. Was really impressed with the numbers this past season after improvements, and it’ll only grow. Lots of potential still.

And thanks for the reminder! I have to make sure the tractor is all good to go.

 

[remy3424]

Got a couple I-beams mounted on the disk, it seems to help,l. I disked the garden and a small food plot. The tractor temp has been bumping on the RED just pulling a bush-hog and the fertilizer cart, so last night I decreased/cleaned the air intake grills. I had bought a wand (attaches to a garden hose) to try to rinse out the dirt and debris from the radiator. The oil cooler in front of the radiator seem to be about plugged-up. Got that much better, the actual radiator was hard to get to with the fan and shroud, so I decided I would need to get the hood off it. This will be a bit of a job for one guy, so I decided to tackle it tonight. While cleaning-up I noticed the water pooling under the tractor had a green tint....crap, now I am thinking I have a leak in that 50 some year old radiator! It is always something with this vintage equipment.