1. (716) 895-7333 www.preferredseed.com Food Plot Agronomy 101 Installation and Management Garrett Coleman, CCA Forage Agronomist

2. The Goal Grow bigger bucks and keep them in your hunting area –Feed Quality –Feed Throughout the year Create a nutritious, DESIREABLE food Source

3. What we will Discuss What species Soil Testing Tilling, Fertilizing, and Planting What you need to plant a plot Management

4. Forage Production

5. Species Selection Spring Seeding Perennial (April and May) –Clover, Alfalfa, Chicory, Cool Season Grasses, Oats Summer Seeding (July to August 15th) –Brassicas, Clover, Alfalfa, Chicory, Cool Season Grasses, Buckwheat Fall Seeding (August 15 – October 10 th ) –Winter Rye and Winter Wheat

6. Mixes work best Diversity mixes improve performance across area –However mix compatible species –Example: Brassicas with slow growing perennials don’t mix. Consider weed control –Grasses in a broadleaf mix and vise-versa

7. Location, Location, Location Clear Cut areas Old Hay Fields Logging Roads Pond banks Don’t be afraid to try something Remember Sun, Sun, Sun

8. Agronomic Considerations Soil Type and Texture Web Soil Survey –http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/Home Page.htmhttp://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/Home Page.htm Soil Testing

9. Soils

11. Soil Sampling Sample to your tillage depth (go to 6 inches) if you don’t know. Minimum of 30 cores per sample submitted or 10 cores/acre Mix cores in a bucket Air dry them and send into the lab

12. Soil Sample Results Soil pH –Lime Recommendation Fertilizer Recommendation –N-P-K –N = Protein Feeding the soil will feed the deer Sample Kits available

13. In the field testing Cornell Soil pH test Kit –Available at your local extension office $12.50 each –Will quickly give you a liming recommendation No fertilizer recommendation

14. Soil pH is the most important High precipitation leaches Ca and Mg leaving Acidic soils in NY –Some exceptions of high pH soils in NY Low pH ties up nutrients, particularly Phosphorus and Micro Nutrients Want to maintain our plot pH at 6.5 to 7.0 Requires consistent liming in to maintain Legumes require high pH for N fixation

15. Liming Virgin soil will require more lime than you can apply in one season –Apply a maximum of 2 tons/acre per application –Patience, will require multiple years of application Recommendations based on 100 ENV –Equivalent Neutralizing Value

16. Application Rate Soil Test Recommends 2 tons/acre of 100% ENV lime The feed mill has 83% ENV lime available Divide 100 / available lime ENV –100/83 = 1.2 Multiply 1.2 X 2 tons/ac = 2.4 tons/acre Apply 2.4 tons/acre of the 83% ENV lime

17. Lime Types Ag Lime traditional, has to have an ENV number –ENV takes into account Fineness (affects reaction time) and Purity Pelletized lime – finer ground reacts more quickly, (not more potent) –Easier to spread with small equipment –More Expensive

18. Understanding Fertilizer Nitrogen – Phosphate – Potash –Triple 19 19-19-19 –% in mix, so if you put 100 lbs/acre of Triple 19 you put down 19 lbs of Nitrogen, 19 lbs of Phosphate, and 19 lbs of Potash –Most situations on virgin ground apply 200 to 500 lbs per acre of balanced fertilizer Don’t worry about being off a few lbs of one nutrient or the other

19. Understanding Fertilizer Avoid putting N on Legumes –Stimulates weeds Spread fertilizer and weeds at a half rate in two directions for even coverage

20. Planting Prep Weed Control –Start early –Will require multiple applications –Spring Apply Early May then again in June –Ready for Summer Annual planting –Wait 3 days after spraying before tilling

21. Weed Control Perennial weeds are easiest to kill in the fall when sinking root reserves –Spray mid September with a mix of Glyphosate and 2,4 – D 2,4-D can’t plant broadleaf crops into it for at least 8 weeks so don’t use in the spring –Spring will require two apps.

22. Soil Prep Seed to Soil Contact Not rocket science –Use what you have –Old disc or drags, tow with your truck or garden tractor –Spin Spreader –Roller –Micro Plots use hand tools Rake up debris loosen the top soil

23. Soil Prep Goal –Smooth level seed bed Consider working in two directions –45º angles Add leveling boards or chains last pass

24. Soil Prep Firm your seed bed Burying seed to deep is the biggest reason for failure

25. Micro Plots Done with hand tools –Sprayer –Hand Rake –Spreader –Chain Saw Make Sure you have sunlight –Brassicas don’t like shade –Oats, Rye, and some clover or chicory can handle slight shade

26. Planting Seed Be careful using “Till and Plant Equipment” –Often bury seed Broadcasting can work well Drills can work well but understand how to set them up

27. Seeding Depths and Rates Check our chart The smaller the seed the shallower it should be planted Alfalfa, Clover, Chicory, Grass Seed ¼” deep Small Grains Rye, Wheat, Oats, Peas ¾” Brassicas ¼” – ½” deep

28. Big Buck Clover Mix 45% Jumbo Ladino Clover 25% Duration EXTRA Red Clover 20% Ivory 2 White Clover 10% Oasis Forage Chicory Palatable perennial mix, keep the pH up and top dress with 0-10-40 or similar

29. Summer, Fall, & Winter Forage Feast 40% Dwarf Essex Forage Rape 15% Hobson Forage Rape 15% Bonar Forage Rape 12% Improved Forage Kale 9% Appin Turnip 9% Pasja Hybrid Brassica Excellent for a kill plot, annual seed mid to late summer most popular mix, graze tops dig bottoms

30. Wildlife Meadow Mix 30% Jumbo Ladino Clover 30% Medium Red Clover 15% Alsike Clover 10% Creeping Red Fescue 10% Duo Festulolium 5% Crown Royale Orchardgrass Good for poorer soils and cover as well as feed. Can handle partial shade.