August 19th Plot Updates

This time of year - I could post every couple days, things are growing so fast.
The Main Soybean plots are filling out and the corn is earing and tassling well. The Clover plot looks as good is it can be - and the Fall planted Brassica/clover plot is coming in well - except still some grasses.

Also posted is a picture of one of the Corn Strips that did REALLY BAD. We ended up broadcasting Soybeans over it in late June - and Rye over it this weekend - to try to salvage something of the plots for the fall.

The Concord Grapes at the old Homestead (burnt in Mid -1940s) are still producing. They have taken over an apple tree and a Large Buckthorn. This year they seem particulary heavy with the milder winter last year and plenty of summer rains.

2006 Cam Pictures

To follow - are some Trail Cam pictures - from 2006 - I'm not sure yet if I'll just add to this post - or post periodically - either way the Horse Block in the picture - happens to attract deer too - so I thought it would be a good place to place the camera - we do not use Salt Licks or supplemental feeding as part of our management program. No Bruisers - but our program rarely produces Truly Large bucks - Just a good number of 1.5 and 2.5 year old bucks - and healthy does.

Fall Planting - Clover & Brassica Mix

Not to sound like a Whitetail Institute Commercial - but if you are interested in their products - you might want to keep an eye on our success/failure with this plot. On July 5th (2 weeks after a local farmer baled it) - I Roundup sprayed a section of Pipeline - Just under an acre of what was Orchard Grass and Timothy. The section is roughly Boxed in red at the far end of the pipeline in the picture. The plot is 1/2 Imperial Whitetail Clover and 1/2 their new Product "Winter Greens" Which is a Kale Based - Brassica Mix.

The hill is Southeast Facing - and a great setup for a Kill Plot - which is what this is to be ( as well as provide a decent year round food source of course).

1 week after Spraying:

It took about 3 weeks for the sodbed to be 90%+ dead - then we disked and planted on July 30th. We cultipacked - then seeded - then cultipacked again. 200 lbs/acre 15-15-15 was added for the heck of it.

Clover Progression - 2006

In 2005 - we started a new clover plot in the fall. This was a 2004 Soybean plot - that was left fallow then sprayed in June 2005. The plot was over seeded and rolled in with clover in July 2005.


The Clover grew - though it was thin in September of 2005. The deer used it some - but we know it could have been a better planting, and that we would need to re-seed in the spring.

On April 9th Spring 2006, it was indeed very thin after the initial smowmelt - we expanded the plot and frost seeded more White clovers in April, then rolled the plot. We also put down 200 lbs/acre of 15-15-15 Fertilizer. Normally we do not put down any Nitrogen with a clover planting - but this plot needed a Jump Start. After expansion - the Plot ended up being about 2 acres.




This is how the plot looked on July 30th a week after its after its second mowing of the year - obvoisly it is coming in decent - responding wellt o mowing as well as the fertilizer. Still some Ragweed, Daisy, and some grasses - but overall the clover is dominating.

The last mowing of 2006 - The plot is now ready for Hunting Season:

Soybean Plot - Progression

The roundup ready soybean plots are similar to the corn plantings - in that they respond quickly to the application of Roundup.

Here is the Soybean pictures:

1 week after Spraying - July 9th, 2006


This Picture is from July 25, 2006 - same Soybean Plot. You can see the darkening of the leaves as the plot begins to absorb the nutients now available.




On August 6th - the plot is filling in nicely. This plot was sprayed a second time on August 5th - the day before this picture was taken. This final spraying should take care of the spraying for the year - as the canopy closes with the plant growth. Heavey deer browsing may require us to apply on last application of roundup - but it is not likely on this plot.

The Last picture below - is a closer view of the soybeans - and how they relate to the corn we always plant in close proxmity to the soybean plots.

Summer Plots - 2006

Well - Since June 5th when I last posted - we've been busy, In addition to normal summer camp type work - We've sprayed roundup on the Corn & Soybean plots - We've mowed clover, overgrown fields & trails. We've put in a Brassica/Clover plot - and over seeded a small corner soybean plot with the same Brassica/Clover mix as an experiment.

The Trail Cams - have been up and working good - No big bucks su far - but that's OK - we are seeing twin fawns and good looking 1.5 & 2.5 year old bucks - The older ones aren't far off - its just that they are not likely falling for out camera set up.

To follow is kind of a cronological look at our summer so far - Its neat to see how the plots respond to Roundup applications. We'll Start with the corn:

July 9 - 1 week after Spraying Corn
















Same Corn Plot - 7-25-06

And again 8-6 - Corn is just Tassling.

Spring Planting Update

Memorial Day Weekend - May 28th and 29th - we finally got the corn & Soybeans planted. Some of the sections were really too wet to plant - but we did anyhow. The forecast called for dry, warm weather the next week - so as long as we didn't bury the disks or planter - we figured getting in the corn especially was more important than having perfect planting conditions. We put down 200 lbs/acre of 15-15-15 with all the corn - and most of the soybeans. There is still one more field (1.5 acres) of soybeans - maybe June 11th we'll get it in.

Spring Planting

2006 Spring Planting

The Spring planting really got started in Early April with some Frost Seeding clover. One thin clover plot was over seeded, another Fallow field was disked to expose some soil - and seeded with a ladino clover mizture.








The corn that was still standing was brushhogged down - and the fields were turned over for new corn and soybean plantings. The Spring has been quite wet at times - so we have been a little behind. On the wettest days I spent time transplanting trees - and planting some Blueberries, Pears, Apples and Rasberries in the orchard near the Cabin.

Spring Also Brings the Swallows and Bluebirds back to the Farm.

In the Next Week or Two - we will plant our Corn & Soybeans.

Winter in Central NY

So far this year - we've had a lot of snow in December, and a very mild January followed - and we lost most of the snow. This is all GREAT NEWS following several very tough winters here with over 150" of snow and temperatures in the -20 degrees in January. This will give our Deer Herd a real chance to rebound - after falling each of the last three years in most areas.

We plant alot of corn, to get our deer through the Winter months usually. While our population is down, its not as bad as in other areas. I think we can point to a strong winter management program as a good reason.

Right now the plots (we have about 20 acres that can be planted) are feeding the winter deer population. The corn is still standing, and the Soybeans are gone. With the mild weather, our clover plots are getting used more than normal for Mid Winter - usually thay are covered in several feet of snow. The deer do not seem to be yarding. While much of these plots have already been depleted- enough still remain to ensure that the deer will have pleant to get through February and March - without destroying the young tree/brush growth in the woods and bedding areas.

This is the time of year where we evaluate the deer herd. We observe their winter patterns, and sometimes make or move treestands to take atvantage of future late season hunts.

We also go over our food plots - apple production, and browse usage - to determine what to do this coming spring. We've determined this winter - that our Clover Plots have waned - and will not offer the same forage at "green up" as we are used to. So this Spring, our first priority will be to establish 2 or 3 clover plots, with at least one being over two acres. Also, we will rotate our Corn an Soybeans.

Over the next couple months - I'll post some ideas we are considering for 2006.

First post -

Hello all -

Blogging is new to me - so bear with me - hopefully I'll "grow" with you all.

Hopefully you will recognize me as an "average hunter" - that knows a little about food plots - and is willing to share ideas and information. I post on several Hunting threads - and was looking for a place to consolidate my information - with luck THIS will be the spot!

Check back - as I will post what has and has NOT worked for me in the past.

FH