Fall Update #2 River Run Lodge- Bedford Co. TN

Bedford Co. TN---Had a guy call me up one day from Florida, interested in having some plots put in.  I said ok, where at???  He proceeded to tell me of his lease in TN that was only miles from my home and located on the banks of the Duck River in Bedford Co.  We discussed his plans and decided on putting in about 4 acres of fall attraction plots in several different locations on the farm.  Here are some shots I snapped that day in Mid August.

Food Plots are in High gear!!!

Wow, it's been busy since I was last here.  Hardly time to take a break from one set of plots to the next!  Here is a brief recap of some past jobs this fall!  Enjoy, and good luck everyone as we take to the woods!  Be safe out there!

Bowling Green KY--  I got to meet a really nice guy from Frankin, TN who purchased this farm to hunt on and be closer to his grand children.  What two better reasons to purchase land!!   We worked down about 3 acres of plots with our Fall Mix of  winter wheat, oats, and Austrian Winter Peas, and then top dressed it with a few pounds of  Reseeding Crimson Clover. 

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Just wanted to give a quick update about the past few weekends.  Busy is the word of the month around here!!  These cooler tempatures are persuading us to get started a little early this fall.  Now if we can get some rain to follow suit, we will be in business!!

In the last 2 weeks,  I worked and planted about 2.5 acres of plots in our Fall Mix just north of Bowling Green, KY, and another 3 acres in Bedford co. Tennessee, just south of Shelbyville.

I returned from Logan co. Kentucky where I chiseled up 16 acres worth of plots which made for a really long, dusty day.

Stay tuned for updates, and pictures to follow,  I promise!!!!

Oh,  pray for rain for all of us crazy people putting seed down in Mid August in the South!!!

It's about that time!!

Hello everyone!  Like the title says, it about that time to start turning some dirt!!!  It was a very mild weekend here in the Middle Tennessee area, and all I could think about was getting on the tractor and plotting!

It is shaping up to be a busy fall for me, as we have lots of plots to install and even some out of state for me.  Just remember one of the big keys to having successful fall plots is your timing!  September and October are typically our driest months of the year, so if at all possible, time your planting right before a rain.   It never hurts to have your spraying, discing, and such already finished so that you can spread that seed right before a good rain.

Also, keep in mind that different seeds require different planting depths!  Almost all of these commerical mixes that you can buy have large seeds like Winter Wheat and Oats mixed right in with the smallest clover and brassicas seeds on earth.   While the wheat and oats need to be down a 1 or 1 1/2 inches the clovers and brassicas need only to be broadcast on the surface at 1/4 inch or less.

Whats the solution to this problem?? Well you can buy your own seed from a local co-op or farm supply store, or use a strainer to sift the larger seeds from the smaller ones, so that you can get the seeding depths correct.  After all, I don't want to see anyone waste hard earned cash, only to be disappointed in the results.

On a side note,  this past weekend in Nashville, TN the Quality Deer Management  Assoc. had their National Convention in conjunction with the Land and Wildlife Expo.  It was a great convention,  and a great trade show as well.  There were tons of wonderful seminars conducted by the top biologist  and deer researchers in the country.  I encourage all of you to try to attend next year, and stop by the QDMA website for loads of great information. 

Everyone be safe out there and enjoy yourselves!!

Dove Field--Rutherford County

This is the first really big dove field that I've worked before and I'm excited to tell you all about it.

It is located in Milton, TN in Rutherford County.  It turns out to about 6 acres, and we planted a variety of plants in hope of feeding and attracting doves, deer, turkeys, and other small game.

The soil was in great condition and we went to work quickly, bushhogging it off and then working it down with a chisel plow and disc.  I then spread the fertilizer and the bigger seeds before discing them in to cover them.  We used Peredovic Sunflowers and Hutchinson Soybeans as our main attractant and then came back and broadcast some Brown Top Millet over the top. 

I look foward to going back in late August and cutting strips in the sunflowers and doing some discing in hopes of bringing in the doves!

Corn Planting-Chester Co. TN- April 2012

I had already planted about 3 acres of Powerplant on this farm, and we planted the rest in corn.  We had good soil moisture and a perfect day to plant!!  Enjoy!

Poured turpentine on the seed to keep the crows from pulling up the seeds and seedlings.  It works well, as that stuff stinks!!

Mixed Varieties of Pioneer Seed Corn

No-tilling the seed into the ground retains tons of soil moisture and really helps keep weeds at bay.

Here we are 21 days later..................

This area has had almost 5 inches of rain since this picture was taken!! On this day I sprayed and topdressed this corn with nitrogen.  I cant wait to see it now!!!!!

Wow its hot and dry!!!

It seems as if it were just yesterday that it was March 15, and the rains were flowing and the temps.  were mild and mother nature was begging us to get some seed in the ground!

Well, we did and things have not been to kind since then!!!  As Im typing the forcast is 102 for the next two or three days, and no rain in sight.  Noticed the local forecaster  said we were 6 inches behind for the year and even local farmers are starting to feed hay to beef cattle as most grasses are going dormant.  Fun times!!

Anyways, look for some updates as to the plots Ive installed over the last few months since Ive been a little behind!  Stay cool out there!!!