Food Plot Planting With Corn

[reid5365]

I am new to this and planting a food plot for a friends dad. I have a four row 494 john deere corn planter. I was just wondering how to go about doing this. Theres about 3 acres he wants planted. Its all virgin soil, so do i just cross disc until its all turned up and then plant? What kind of corn should I use? I live in Kentucky if that gives you any help with this. When do I plant and do i need to spray or anything? Any help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

How heavy is your disc. I have 2 discs, one won't break virgin soil and the other has no problems tearing up the counties asphalt road. I don't know anything about Kentucky except it has the most georgous women in the country. In SW North Dakota the challenge would be to break up the sod so it is loose enough, to plant corn and then to get corn to grow, control the weeds. Breaking can be done by a heavy disc, plow or chiesel plow with spikes. If you plow it you would have to hit it with a disc or chiesel plow as the sod is still there, just upside down. I like chiesel plows for reasons I would be glad to discuss if anyone is interested. After the ground is broke the problem is controlling weeds. 2 choices, Round Up Ready corn or cultivation. If you don't do this I don't think you will be happy with the results. What equipment do you have ? Unless you are lucky a sprayer is much easier and cheaper to get operational. What is the food plot for, deer or birds ? As for seed, I suggest you check with the local suppliers. Have you considered other crops such as sunflowers or winter rye ? I have found the these 2 wipe out weeds like sunlight wipes out vampires. A 494 does sunflowers well, wish I had one, I plug holes in a old JD drill when I do that sort of stuff. Hope some of this is helpfull. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[Anonymous-0]

In this area, organizations such as pheasants forever and whitetails unlimited often give away free food plot seed and sometimes they will even plant it for you. You might also check with state and local conservation departments. Walt

 

[reid5365]

How would I get into contact. I am not worried about plantin ive got my own planter, but free seed would be nice. Thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

After looking at their web site I see there are no PF chapters in KY. Area Field Director for Whitetails Unlimited in Kentucky is Tim Schlater. 866-905-8152 He should be able to at least point you in the right direction. I don't know what WTU in Kentucky offers landowners, only that some conservation organizations offer landowners help. You might want to also contact your KY conservation district. http://fw.ky.gov/foodplot.asp or do a web search for Kentucky wildlife food plot. Lots of good info comes up.

 

[Anonymous-0]

We do about 3 acres every year, alternating crops between corn, milo, sunflower, soybeans, sorghum, and some others I've forgotten. I'd plow first, 3 acres won't take too long with a two bottom. Then use a 6 foot disc to get a nice seed bed. We use a JD two row planter, so yours almost sounds like overkill, but it'd work. We also cultivate twice before the corn gets too high, then let it go. The wildlife like some weed too.