No Till Food Plots - So Easy

[at1010]

We’ve been speaking of our new products Seed Armr+ and Seed Feed.

Here is a prime example of how they can help a field and plants get off to a great start with fantastic foot establishment.

1. This is a brand new field. We did have timely rains and we drilled it with a no till drill. Those are the positives.
2. This field is only a 4.8 ph and this is a first planting. It had a dozer on it just a few months ago. This fields on top of a ridge and the base saturations are way out of whack- which is hurting the structure and water infiltration. As this is a first time planting - we need time to build up the biological structure as well.
3. We added a little lime at time of planting and drilled our carbon load in 2 weeks ago, only!

This field is off to the races!!! Solid roots and germ has been fantastic. A small amount of product on a seed, can do absolute wonders. Couple this with great quality, fresh seed and the one two system - I can’t wait to see this field in 2-3 years.

 

[at1010]

At just under 3 weeks - I am extremely happy with our fall carbon load plots.

All but one field (new field that was cleared) are following our NitroBoost crop. As you can see with timely rains, Nitrobbost feeding the soil, and Seed Armr+ and Seed feed (seed inoculants) we have 15+ acres of plants that are using biology to grow and absolutely ready to take off.

We have not used any fertilizers other than the seed inoculants listed above on these fields.

Our only costs have been in seed and fuel. With this 1-2 system we are maximizing our outputs, reducing inputs and able to put the saved fert dollars towards more food on the farm!!

 

[at1010]

Sometimes people worry about grains in mixes maturing too quickly compared to the other items in the mix.

This can occur if and when the mixes are very heavy on the grain. When a mix is well balanced, deer will keep the grains trimmed. This will allow the brassicas to take root and produce amazing tonnage and allow the legumes in the mix to fix N.

All of this occurs, while we feed deer and soil. We reduce our trips across the field by not needing to plant two or three times and we maximize our below and above ground biomass both in plant tissue and biological activity.

As you see here, this doe is snacking on a nice grain. Trimming it back down, only for it to grow again.

Always keep in mind
Rainfall
Size of plot
Deer density
Soil fertility
Neighborhood dynamics

#foodplot #foodplots #soil #soils #whitetail

 

[at1010]

One good metric for deer herd health is to monitor fawn weights.

When a fawn reaches 70lbs in the first year - they can be bred. This results in exponential herd growth (in the Midwest - this is often into December).

This must be monitored as we need to ensure we have adequate natural browse and supplemental foodplots to ensure plenty of food.

As @msudeerlab studies have shown on epigenetic triggers, as we increase available nutrition - we increase the genetic potential probability to be maximized over multiple generations.

I am very happy to see this fawn is off to a great start on our Ohio farm.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I gotta question for the expert….I plant clover in my food plot (this is my first year doing a plot). I saw some throw and grow stuff on sale at Walmart for something like 70% off but checking the label it did have some clover but was mostly rye. Is this something I should consider for my plot or should I stick to mostly clover. I’m mainly trying to keep the turkeys around but the deer would be an added bonus as I usually bait for the deer along the swamp.

 

[at1010]

I gotta question for the expert….I plant clover in my food plot (this is my first year doing a plot). I saw some throw and grow stuff on sale at Walmart for something like 70% off but checking the label it did have some clover but was mostly rye. Is this something I should consider for my plot or should I stick to mostly clover. I’m mainly trying to keep the turkeys around but the deer would be an added bonus as I usually bait for the deer along the swamp.

That is likely rye grass - not grain rye. Rye grass (although palatable) is not overly attractive for deer. It is easy to terminate with herbicide and can have soil benefits for AG as a cover crop. If I was to spend money on seed - I’d buy from a reputable company and stay out of a big box bargain sale. Seed is likely old and most of those are profit driven seed blends and nothing more. Get yourself a three or 4 ways clover blend and you’ll be in better shape. Seed this fall and in March - next spring it’ll be lush and rocking.

 

[at1010]

Despite the current drought - we caught rains early and our seeds got started.

Thankfully due to our no till practices and planting enough food, our plots continue to grow well.

With using our 1-2 system we are maximizing food on the landscape. We are feeding the soil and the deer. We are able to plant more food and heavily reduce our input costs.

These three images have zero inputs this year other than seed!

 

[at1010]

new product review

 

[at1010]

 

[at1010]

For those who like to garden you might enjoy.

 

[at1010]

Food for thought!

 

[at1010]

Deer browse or soil issue?

 

[at1010]

 

[at1010]

Everyone wants to see big bucks, and we are no different!!

However, a key to a healthy deer herd is maximizing the available, high quality food, per mouth. With the Vitalize one-two system, we have focused on reducing inputs so we can maximize plantable food on the landscape. The money and time we are not spending on hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, of conventional fertilizer are being put towards more acres of highly nutrient dense food for our whitetail herds -utilizing our one-two system.

Each year we focus on increase acres planted. Maximizing the quality of those acres through biology and plant diversity, and feeding as many mouths as possible, as well as the soil from planting till the next Spring!!

Our continued goal is to maximize both the soil, deer health and overall wildlife attractiveness to our fields.

Thanks for all the support. Get outside and enjoy the outdoors!!

 

[at1010]

 

[at1010]

 

[at1010]

How and why we can reduce fert input costs!

 

[at1010]

Most know I love soil and growing things, but not just for deer. I am extremely passionate about soils in my own garden and food consumption. Here is a fresh made sauce, garden to table! I wish you all could taste the freshness from these nutrient dense tomatoes and sauce.

 

[at1010]

How can roots help with soil compaction?! Let’s take a look!

 

[at1010]

The goal at Vitalize Seed Carbon Load is to maximize food per acre, increase browseability and have a major focus on soil health. When partnering this with our Spring Nitorboost we can optimize nutrient cycling and reduce our need for high amounts of fertilizer.

If these were monoculture brassicas plots, without a mix of forage style brassicas, these plots would be worthless.

Because of the balance and diversity - these plots keep feeding deer, attracting deer and feeding our soil microbes.

#soil #soils #soilhealth #foodplot #foodplots #deer #deermanagement