“I want to start a food plot on my lease property, but where do I start?” That’s a question I’m asked a lot. I like to give folks this simple formula for creating successful plots.
First Survey your location. Find an area where the soil is adaptable to the type of food plot you want to put in and make it accessible during the hunting season.
Second take a soil sample from the area you’ve chosen. Send the sample to your regional Agricultural Office or college for analysis. These folks will typically give you a list of the crops that will best be suited to your land. And they will tell you what nutrients you need to achieve that optimum yield. This is a very important step. You will never get your food plots up to speed unless your soil has the right levels of pH and nutrient (fertilization) levels.
If possible, spray the designated food plot area with Round-Up (or a similar herbicide) to kill the native weeds and grasses that will compete with your planted crops. Allow a week or so and bush-hog the dieing grasses. This will make it easier to plow with smaller equipment like ATV pull-behind disks, etc.
Next, select a crop that fits your geographic area and budget. The most common plants are wheat, oats and rye grass, because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to buy. A lot of people like to also mix in some clover. It’s up to you and there is no magic formula.
Survey, Sample, then Select. This simple formula will put you well on your way toward food plot Success.
