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Post by Sandbur on Feb 15, 2021 9:22:18 GMT -6
There are lots of potatoes on the land west of me and it is irrigated. I have no idea what CEC is. I haven’t done a soil test in one or two decades. My renter uses a crop consultant, so I don’t worry about it for my foodplots. I still say, plant oats and rye and keep it simple. CEC is cation exchange capacity. It is the value of how heavy or light of ground you have. Higher the number the the heavier your soil. I didn’t phrase my reply correctly. I should have said that I have no idea of CEC on my foodplots. I did have the soil consultant pull a soil sample for me about 6-8 months ago and have heard nothing back from him. I was considering this for an apple tree planting but gave up once I saw how light the soil was. Maybe I will get results this spring. This was an old cow yard, but it didn’t look much improved over the blow sand behind it. For light soil, manure is the key. Poultry manure is great, but any manure helps.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 15, 2021 9:31:46 GMT -6
Maybe a silly question, but have you considered sweet potatoes for a fall/winter deer plot? You mentioned potatoes were the main ag crop. If the area is suited to potatoes why not just go that route but with one deer like? Potatoes need irrigation I believe. Makes sense. Just throwing out ideas, I wouldn't actually know. I have a friend who makes a living farming western KS sand that gets around 10-13 inches of rain annually. Interesting to talk with him and see how he makes it work. Takes a lot of land to make much of anything during harvest. He does good, usually is high yield producer for dryland crops in that county. Doesn't even come close to comparing to the irrigation guys. He can still grow those same crops there, just not as high producing. Irrigation - #1; I have a plot next to my yard (for drinking whisky and watching deer). Every once in a while I'll run a hose over to it and give it a drink. Our summers can be dry and hot. It never fails for that spot to be a hub of deer activity, even after we start getting rain in the fall. It's never more area than a sprinkler can cover. Point is, if you had a small well and was able to plant and water even a little area (20'x20') it might be a good stopping point for deer. #2; If you had a well maybe a water tank would be a draw? No-till - Would it be possible to no-till directly into the existing hay field? Choose appropriate plants (maybe alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, etc) and put them into the existing sod without destroying the soil structure and shielding already there. Inter-seeding works well in cattle pasture and might be a good option for your sand.
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Post by Bob on Feb 15, 2021 9:34:55 GMT -6
I’m ready to unveil the answer.
Work it up/spray it this spring. Then plant mung beans, cowpeas, flax, barley, A forage sorghum, buckwheat, and sunflowers.
August 15th, blow on a Ladino, New Zealand, fixation blend of clover. Then a cereal blend that is half wheat, half rye, half forage oats. Lots of chicory too. Mow it all down.
Last step is profit.
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Post by Bob on Feb 15, 2021 9:41:36 GMT -6
Unless there are pockets of desert around there, a high fiber (push the cereals) clover/chicory plot should do great.
I like Catscratch’s idea on the BFTF and hairy vetch.
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Post by badbrad on Feb 15, 2021 9:45:14 GMT -6
I just want to ask this question. Why all the "exotic" suggestions on planting? Will something more typical like brassicas not work in your guys opinion? Are we getting too cute with planting all kinds of nontypical stuff? I don't know just asking.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 15, 2021 9:46:46 GMT -6
I have not seen white clovers do well on light sandy soil. Maybe medium red with some added sulfur and a check sent to me to get foggy back on the rain dance. He started waving golf clubs around and ain’t worth much on the rain dance.
I have a sand hill that is best left as a dead area. It will grow some red cedars.
Brad, try some things and give us a report.
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Post by Foggy on Feb 15, 2021 10:03:42 GMT -6
I've had good luck with white clover on my sandy soils. Today I plant of mix of medium Red Clover and Alice White Clover and sometimes put some chicory in the mix - especially if its really sandy / light soil. Seems chicory survives in any situation. I've also had success with Ladino and Dutch white clovers. I prefer the white over the red for long-term plots.......and I think the deer prefer the white over the red clover.
I've planted white clover at various times of the summer and it all seems to take.....IF I get the seeds covered and packed. I seem to get timely rainfalls on my property.......and that is a real blessing in light soils.
I dont know what my CEC is......and don't have many documents from soil tests here in OZ. I will look at another folder I have on my dirt.......My big wish is for better organic material in my soils.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Feb 15, 2021 10:05:47 GMT -6
Just so you guys know fertilizer has been creeping up about $4 per bag from this time last year.
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 15, 2021 10:08:47 GMT -6
I just want to ask this question. Why all the "exotic" suggestions on planting? Will something more typical like brassicas not work in your guys opinion? Are we getting too cute with planting all kinds of nontypical stuff? I don't know just asking. I thought the basics were suggested early in the thread? Started throwing new stuff against the wall just to see if any of it would stick.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 15, 2021 10:09:15 GMT -6
I've had good luck with white clover on my sandy soils. Today I plant of mix of medium Red Clover and Alice White Clover and sometimes put some chicory in the mix - especially if its really sandy / light soil. Seems chicory survives in any situation. I've also had success with Ladino and Dutch white clovers. I prefer the white over the red for long-term plots.......and I think the deer prefer the white over the red clover. I've planted white clover at various times of the summer and it all seems to take.....IF I get the seeds covered and packed. I seem to get timely rainfalls on my property.......and that is a real blessing in light soils. I dont know what my CEC is......and don't have many documents from soil tests here in OZ. I will look at another folder I have on my dirt.......My big wish is for better organic material in my soils. You have had some beautiful clover patches. I wonder if them not being completely exposed to wind and sun has been part of the key. You also have applied lots of lime. I don’t think you have anything in an exposed , field type location?
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Post by Catscratch on Feb 15, 2021 10:09:29 GMT -6
Just so you guys know fertilizer has been creeping up about $4 per bag from this time last year. Fuckin biden!
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Post by Foggy on Feb 15, 2021 10:10:17 GMT -6
Just so you guys know fertilizer has been creeping up about $4 per bag from this time last year. ^ That is one reason I am staying clear of corn in my future - the input costs are too much. Beans dont need (much) nitrogen......but this year I am going to focus on brassica and clover plots for a fall draw. The extra input costs for a few acres of food plots is not huge.....but it all adds up.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 15, 2021 10:11:22 GMT -6
I just want to ask this question. Why all the "exotic" suggestions on planting? Will something more typical like brassicas not work in your guys opinion? Are we getting too cute with planting all kinds of nontypical stuff? I don't know just asking. I have had brassicas work and fail on light soils. Two Key points, how light is the soil and did you get rain?
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Post by badbrad on Feb 15, 2021 10:13:49 GMT -6
Just so you guys know fertilizer has been creeping up about $4 per bag from this time last year. Lame. Any reason?
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Feb 15, 2021 10:19:04 GMT -6
Just so you guys know fertilizer has been creeping up about $4 per bag from this time last year. Lame. Any reason? Huge acres going in this year do to higher crop prices. More fertilizer will be needed. Tighter supply then normal. Because they can.
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