Developing a Food Plot With Refuge & Rotation. “KEEP YOUR FOOD PLOT WORKING FOR YOU YEAR ROUND”

DUANE NOLT, K&K FEEDS

Agenda Overview

1.) Location & Soil Test

2) Refuge with Switch grass .

3) Importance of Rotation.

4) K&K Feeds Plots

Plot Design & Location • Sunlight

• Soil Quality & Fertility

• Relative to prevailing winds

• Deer feeding behavior

• Hunter placement area

Design might depend on

use: • Supplemental winter food source

• Hunting opportunities

• ‘Other’ wildlife species

• Intend to attract deer to an area for feeding

Food Plot Considerations • Personal resources and energy

• Time and timeliness

• Equipment resources

• Neighboring efforts – Variety adds opportunity

• Size minimum ¼ acre

• Perennial or Annuals

Refuge, Boarder and Security

• Look around, is there a need for a bedding area.

• Develop a border edge 30 to 50 feet around the food plot area.

• Requires 7-8 hours of sunlight.

• Better on south slope, can be marginal soil.

What is Switchgrass? Is one of many warm-season perennial grasses native to North America. It is a natural component of the tallgrass prairie.

Switchgrass

• Light tillage required

• Late April planting

• Planting Depth: ¼ inch •Seeding Rate: 10 lb of Pure Live Seed Fertilizer: 250lb of 21-0-0-24S Seed Cost: $70/Acre

Switchgrass is an excellent forage for cattle, but deer will not graze on its very coarse stems..

Switchgrass

“Doing this on my field about every 3 years, and it really enhances the

growth.”

• Weed Control: 1st year clip at 8 inches of growth. • 2nd year Round Up in dormancy or for • Broadleaf Weed Control use 2,4-D • Burn-Off can regenerate grass and control weeds.

• Plant Lifetime, 8 to 10 years

”Two hours later, the burn went great and you have a great foundation for your switchgrass to thrive this summer!”

Another Border Option Grain Sorghum, look for a short –season for a shorter plan or Wild Game Sorghum

Purpose of Food Plot Rotation

1) Provide Forage for all the seasons of the year.

2) Improve Soil Tilth.

3) Improve Insect Control.

4) Adapt to changing habitat.

Insect Control with Rotation

Purple-backed Cabbageworm

In the Brassica family.

The worm is considered non-native, having originated from central Europe has become well established across most of this country.

It is now considered an intermittent but potentially major pest of turnip, radish, cabbage, rutabaga, cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts and horse radish among other crops within the brassica family. Some members of the related mustard family

(rape) are also vulnerable.

Late instar Purple-backed cabbageworm and damage. (Photo: Mark Madden, Penn State Extension)

Solution Part I

Plant your Brassicas with a

Companion Crop:

Winter Triticale, Wheat , Rye or

Oats

Solution Part II

Rotation- Rotating a strip in an adjacent field is not far enough.

Rotation needs to be several hundred yards away.

The moth will fly and lay her eggs in a similar area.

2017-Spring Soybean Seeding

Summer- Kill Off Soybeans and Seed Brassicas/Tunips for

Winter Forage

3 Year Rotation Plan

2018-Spring Frost Seed or Prepare Clover

Summer & Fall – Continue to allow

clover to grow

2019-Spring Clover is Growing

Summer Kill Off Clover and Seed

Brassicas/Triticale for Winter Forage

2020-Spring Soybean or Buckwheat Seeding

Summer- Kill Off Soybeans and Seed Brassicas/Tunips for Winter Forage

Buckwheat planted May 28th in the Spring of 2016

August 12th, 2016 – Planted Triticale and Brassicas

August 12th 2016 Planted Round Up Ready Alfalfa with Brassicas

Taking PowerPlant to a Whole New

Level!

⟡ Includes Sunn Hemp, Warm Season Legume

⟡ Delivers massive amounts of protein.

⟡ Is now Arrest Max Approved

Sunn Hemp in PowerPlant