No Till Food Plots - So Easy

[at1010]

Wow, this thread is an awesome read. @at1010 I don't to remove from your thread but I'm going to be picking your brain about the farm. They are doing some timbering right now and also with the removal of trees this fall there's going to be some openings in the canopy and torn up ground I'm looking forward to exploiting for some small plots.

Thanks for some more videos to watch and such.

I am an expert on nothing but maybe being long winded from time to time, haha! However, I love this stuff and I am happy to let you bend my ear anytime and if I can help or research somethign to help you out - I am happy to try to help brother! Reach out anytime. Thank you for reading and enjoying the thread.

AT

 

[at1010]

I have always been told - wood ash is it good for soil, it helps to increase PH. My question was, how does it impact microbial activity in the soil. We know that microbes love root exudates, essentially liquid carbon. So, my simple and logical mind figured, well added wood ash in a slurry or normal form, would have to help boost microbe activity.........that is not entirely the case.

I was able to find this research paper out of Denmark. I do NOT understand everything in this paper (I am not a scientist) but the overall gist of it is that wood ash does increase microbial activity and increases PH level. However, more is not always better, once you add to much wood ash you reach an point of diminishing returns. The electrical conductivity of the soil is increased far too high, which in turn reduces/kills of microbial life in the soil.

So next time you are emptying that wood burner and putting the ash on your garden, you might just want to spread it thin or over a few different spots.

Hope you all enjoy. Thank you for following along.

Frontiers | Wood Ash Induced pH Changes Strongly Affect Soil Bacterial Numbers and Community Composition

Recirculation of wood ash from energy production to forest soil improves the sustainability of this energy production form as recycled wood ash contains nutr...

www.frontiersin.org

 

[giles]

So I am a big nerd/fan boy/whatever you want to call it, of Ray Archuleta. I found this demonstration to be fasinating, as well as the others, so I wanted to share.

Shows the importance of thie biotic glues that hold soil together, this helps with water infilration to nutrient transfer from roots/soil and back through the symbiotic relationships that exist in a functioning soil system.

Pretty cool stuff!

Interesting. Is this why some areas are basically no till now?

 

[at1010]

Interesting. Is this why some areas are basically no till now?

Yes - one of many reasons. Coffee County TN is almost entirely no till. I follow a gentleman from Iowa and his county is now almost complete no till/regen AG. There is a ton of science and all that goes into it. Plus as others have mentioned - there are complexities that can occur at the commercial ag level. Nonetheless- there is no arguing it’s a growing trend through the world. Checkout some no till farmers from Australia, they’ve been doing it for a long time in some intense conditions. Pretty cool stuff.

As for deer plots - it’s pretty darn cool to benefit soil, nutrient density , sequester carbon and reduce needs for inputs - by creating a soil makeup like Ray has showed above.

 

[giles]

I dig dirt for a living. The snow is a great insulator. Before the snow fell last week we had about 4-8" or frost bust past. A couple of days after the snow it was down to about an inch!

This also helps with the thaw. After living in Alaska for 10 years, I understand thaws with frozen ground and sewers.

 

[giles]

Yes - one of many reasons. Coffee County TN is almost entirely no till. I follow a gentleman from Iowa and his county is now almost complete no till/regen AG. There is a ton of science and all that goes into it. Plus as others have mentioned - there are complexities that can occur at the commercial ag level. Nonetheless- there is no arguing it’s a growing trend through the world. Checkout some no till farmers from Australia, they’ve been doing it for a long time in some intense conditions. Pretty cool stuff.

As for deer plots - it’s pretty darn cool to benefit soil, nutrient density , sequester carbon and reduce needs for inputs - by creating a soil makeup like Ray has showed above.

Pretty amazing the difference in ground and farming practices in different areas. You are hard pressed to find a chisel plowed field I my area. Head to NW Ohio and you see the opposite.

 

[at1010]

Pretty amazing the difference in ground and farming practices in different areas. You are hard pressed to find a chisel plowed field I my area. Head to NW Ohio and you see the opposite.

Yes sir. Like anything, there are cultural norms and natural evolutions of practices. There is a lot of science behind a lot of these ideas that is just now becoming popular. Gabe Brown and David Brandt (Ohio farmer) are amazing guys who have been doing it for awhile. I also think no till equipment has become more affordable - as it’s become more popular. Hell even county extension offices now have no tills in many areas - not sure that was possible even 10 years ago.

All in all - I just like to share the information I have gathered and hope to helps someone somewhere with deer foodplots.

ps. I work a lot in Huron/Ashland counties and in last 10 years - 5 especially- it’s amazing how many fields are now covered and no tilled. I am betting 60%+ now.

 

[giles]

Did you get a chance to listen to that THP podcast I posted somewhere? The one about habitat. It has me seriously reconsidering things around the house. Mainly my driveway. 1/4 mile of wasted space that gets mowed. I am going to talk to me neighbor about trying to let nature take its path back.

It sure would beat mowing it and if it helps wildlife and the ground, why not? I have never understood the yards in my area...10 acre lots that look like people love golf. We have always mowed it because that's the way it was.

 

[at1010]

Did you get a chance to listen to that THP podcast I posted somewhere? The one about habitat. It has me seriously reconsidering things around the house. Mainly my driveway. 1/4 mile of wasted space that gets mowed. I am going to talk to me neighbor about trying to let nature take its path back. View attachment 121566
It sure would beat mowing it and if it helps wildlife and the ground, why not? I have never understood the yards in my area...10 acre lots that look like people love golf. We have always mowed it because that's the way it was.

I did not see it. Send me DM and I’ll listen.

I believe the idea of a “yard” originated in England back when there were kings and nobleman. The nobles would have castles and a yard around them - to show the prestigiousness of the area and separation between them and the peasants. Also, it made it easier to see an attack coming - as it was a huge open area vs. forest or tall grass - defense mechanism of sorts.

Don’t quote me on above as I am going from memory but I do believe that to be true.

PS. Anything that involves letting nature take over, help pollination, reduce invasives - you won’t see me talking you out of it. All for it brother!!

 

[giles]

#144 - Improving Wildlife Habitat in Your Own Backyard! w/Ben Robinson and Larry Helmers

<p>In last week’s episode, we discussed some of the things that we can do to improve the sport of hunting. To keep the conversation going, this week’s e...

castbox.fm

Episode 144 of The Hunting Public if the link doesn't do it.

 

[at1010]

#144 - Improving Wildlife Habitat in Your Own Backyard! w/Ben Robinson and Larry Helmers

<p>In last week’s episode, we discussed some of the things that we can do to improve the sport of hunting. To keep the conversation going, this week’s e...

castbox.fm

Episode 144 of The Hunting Public if the link doesn't do it.

Thank you brother!

 

[at1010]

#144 - Improving Wildlife Habitat in Your Own Backyard! w/Ben Robinson and Larry Helmers

<p>In last week’s episode, we discussed some of the things that we can do to improve the sport of hunting. To keep the conversation going, this week’s e...

castbox.fm

Episode 144 of The Hunting Public if the link doesn't do it.

BRO! I loved this thread. I do strongly agree with many of the takes on this podcast. One of them being that much of the habitat in Ohio is degrading. We have far to much closed canopy forest, totally manicured landscapes and not nearly enough early successional habitat. The state of Ohio also makes it very difficult to do RX burns in much of the state, which is a huge missing part fo forest ecology. I hope to see it more welcomed here in my lifetime, but I am not sure it will occur.

Thank you for sharing and leave the brush hog in the barn!!

 

[bowhunter1023]

I listened to it and thought it was spot on. As I said in my podcast with the guys on the Habitat Podcast, "less is more" is something I should have embraced much sooner. Their conversation regarding not mowing and allowing the ground to revert to "CRP-like" habitat, is 100% on point for what I've seen.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Did you get a chance to listen to that THP podcast I posted somewhere? The one about habitat. It has me seriously reconsidering things around the house. Mainly my driveway. 1/4 mile of wasted space that gets mowed. I am going to talk to me neighbor about trying to let nature take its path back. View attachment 121566
It sure would beat mowing it and if it helps wildlife and the ground, why not? I have never understood the yards in my area...10 acre lots that look like people love golf. We have always mowed it because that's the way it was.

You've seen what it has done at my place. I like it much better than a pretty lawn.

 

[at1010]

I listened to it and thought it was spot on. As I said in my podcast with the guys on the Habitat Podcast, "less is more" is something I should have embraced much sooner. Their conversation regarding not mowing and allowing the ground to revert to "CRP-like" habitat, is 100% on point for what I've seen.

The take on the LACK of habitat on Ohio public land, well..... that is another topic for another day but cut the freaking lumber out of there! For crying out loud! Cut it, burn it, restart it.

Everyone wants grouse, but no one wants the freaking habitat grouse need to survive. The state should be leading this charge.

Ok - I am off the soap box.

 

[giles]

I had a feeling you would like that one, lol. Seems to be a hot subject right now. Which is a good thing! Keep spreading the knowledge boys!!! Education is the start of a good practice.

 

[bowhunter1023]

IMO, Strouds is one of the best examples of the "hands-off" approach taken WAY TOO FAR. The best example of how we should be managing our public lands is still "experimental" at Vinton Furnace. The general disparity across our types of habitat in the state, and how poorly we manage those, is really a black-eye for an otherwise beautiful state.

 

[giles]

IMO, Strouds is one of the best examples of the "hands-off" approach taken WAY TOO FAR. The best example of how we should be managing our public lands is still "experimental" at Vinton Furnace. The general disparity across our types of habitat in the state, and how poorly we manage those, is really a black-eye for an otherwise beautiful state.

Strouds has a heavy influence by the area to leave it alone.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Strouds has a heavy influence by the area to leave it alone.

Exactly, most of it uninformed greenies, but I bet you certain influential neighbors want that park to remain open canopy.

 

[giles]

Exactly, most of it uninformed greenies, but I bet you certain influential neighbors want that park to remain open canopy.

Personal interest is often the cause of the downfall of the bigger picture.