Food Plot for hire?

[growalot]

GENO...you've seen my pics...I bought a two bottom plow and have never used it...I use the disc only..yes first year ..takes more passes but...you need to consider your soils and the type of seeds your planting...We have little top soil....clay and shale..gravely sub soils...I plant mainly small seed.

Now what I don't want to do is turn over that top soil and pull up all the not so good sub soils and tons of rock...It's bad enough with the discs if I go too deep...you want to pull up nutrients...go with plants that will do that...too fluffy a soil isn't good for tiny seeds..so now instead of simple harrow drag...you really need to roll it firm...more work....things to think about.

ON KINDLE..post pics tomorrow.

Edited January 16, 2015 by growalot

[Zag]

We bought the groundhog maxx this year. It's obviously not an answer for alot of situations, but we had great luck with it. Might want to consider that as I believe you have a decent ATV. People say that it is really limited for smaller plots, but I could easily see doing a 1/2 acre or a 3/4 acre even without much issue if there is not alot of rocks.

 

We did this plot this year with nothing but a sprayer, hand seeder and the disc. Clover and some turnip/radish. Just shy of 1/3 acre.

Phade, do you think it could handle almost 2acres or would that be to much?

[Geno C]

GENO...you've seen my pics...I bought a two bottom plow and have never used it...I use the disc only..yes first year ..takes more passes but...you need to consider your soils and the type of seeds your planting...We have little top soil....clay and shale..gravely sub soils...I plant mainly small seed.

Now what I don't want to do is turn over that top soil and pull up all the not so good sub soils and tons of rock...It's bad enough with the discs if I go too deep...you want to pull up nutrients...go with plants that will do that...too fluffy a soil isn't good for tiny seeds..so now instead of simple harrow drag...you really need to roll it firm...more work....things to think about.

ON KINDLE..post pics tomorrow.

ok yeah let me see them tomorrow.. So you just use the discs? what kind of tractor do you have and discs? i guess you can always set the angle on the discs to be more aggressive if need be?

[growalot]

Well I 'll be off line for a few days...no connection and they have a 1 21-23 ticket out...

But here are those pics...all done with the 6 ft disc,harrow drag and 38hp JD990....The bad rocky area is in a few year work out with the york rake...belie it or not...that was after a raking days...thus the few years needed...

Edited January 16, 2015 by growalot

[Paula]

Dave's still planting more and more plots all the time. Dave's a great option.

Yes, he is the Dave of Tosch. I just couldn't think of it at the time. Then someone posted it

[Merlot]

We bought the groundhog maxx this year. It's obviously not an answer for alot of situations, but we had great luck with it. Might want to consider that as I believe you have a decent ATV. People say that it is really limited for smaller plots, but I could easily see doing a 1/2 acre or a 3/4 acre even without much issue if there is not alot of rocks.

 

We did this plot this year with nothing but a sprayer, hand seeder and the disc. Clover and some turnip/radish. Just shy of 1/3 acre.

We have about 1/2 acre of land that was logged off and stumps uprooted and pushed aside, then land was leveled. Nothing done since.. Not sure about rocks in the soil, although I have to assume there are some that can cause problems with tilling soil. We want to pursue a food plot. Sounds like you may not have been totally impressed with the Groundhog max.

Do you think it is better to go with some heavier equipment at first to prepare the soil, then use a device like the groundhog in the years following? Do you find the groundhog abuses the ATV enough to not even consider using it on ATV? We are thinking of purchasing an ATV for work around the property, dragging deer, plus the food plot. Thanks.

[phade]

We have about 1/2 acre of land that was logged off and stumps uprooted and pushed aside, then land was leveled. Nothing done since.. Not sure about rocks in the soil, although I have to assume there are some that can cause problems with tilling soil. We want to pursue a food plot. Sounds like you may not have been totally impressed with the Groundhog max.

Do you think it is better to go with some heavier equipment at first to prepare the soil, then use a device like the groundhog in the years following? Do you find the groundhog abuses the ATV enough to not even consider using it on ATV? We are thinking of purchasing an ATV for work around the property, dragging deer, plus the food plot. Thanks.

Thoroughly impressed with the groundhog max. Its a 3 to 400 implement that goes on the back of an atv. Spending more money to get a diminishing return seems foolish unless you are doing some major plotting where the implements needed are bigger. At the end of the day, most of the people into plotting spend alot of money on it. Most of them try to justify the cost with "feel good" rationale. Seems silly to invest thousands upon thousands to get tractors and what not id you cant justify the cost. 400 bucks that slaps on the back of my atv? Easy to get the value on. A 30k kubota? Not so much.

I highly doubt your could spend dollar for dollar and get better results without some sort of handicraft equipment.

That said we screwed up and didnt tighten the bolt that mounts to the atv frame and it worked out. I need to weld a bit to reshape the hole in the frame as a result. But that was squarely on us, and not the tool. I would make sure you have a water cooled atv and take breaks when it gets warm. But nothing that I would say is a risk.

Edited January 17, 2015 by phade

[Geno C]

looks great with the discs Grow, thanks for sharing

[growalot]

Merlot...so I do not know who "we" are in your statement...I also do not know if you plan on ever putting in more that 1/2 acre of plot...that said I can tell you from my experience 57yr old woman....... I started out doing 1/2 to 1 acres plots with a rear tine roto tiller and a DR mower with the beaver blade and a stone rake by my self...and I still do some areas the tractor won't fit into with a tiller and the lawn mower(Well it will be the Gator now) and a length of chain link with a log tied to it ....So depending on your time...$$$$ and future plans you could very well start out with that and figure out what you want to do next...or look to your local rental place...check with the local chapter of wild turkey federation...they sometimes have equipement for members and cheap seed as well....these plots were all done with a hand sprayer, tiller, and chain link.....I actually have several bigger ones but they are on another disc...one  Succra seed uses in there advertising...

[Merlot]

Merlot...so I do not know who "we" are in your statement...I also do not know if you plan on ever putting in more that 1/2 acre of plot...that said I can tell you from my experience 57yr old woman....... I started out doing 1/2 to 1 acres plots with a rear tine roto tiller and a DR mower with the beaver blade and a stone rake by my self...and I still do some areas the tractor won't fit into with a tiller and the lawn mower(Well it will be the Gator now) and a length of chain link with a log tied to it ....So depending on your time...$$$$ and future plans you could very well start out with that and figure out what you want to do next...or look to your local rental place...check with the local chapter of wild turkey federation...they sometimes have equipement for members and cheap seed as well....these plots were all done with a hand sprayer, tiller, and chain link.....I actually have several bigger ones but they are on another disc...one  Succra seed uses in there advertising...

The "we" are the guys in our Rod and Gun club, who have varying levels of interest in how to manage the property. Money should not be an issue for establishing a food plot, but getting the guys together on one common goal is similar to herding cats. Some just like to fish, some like to picnic, some really like the deer hunt.

I applaud you for doing the things you want, when you want to...nice looking plots. I wish I had my own land. Since I am president of the club, maybe I should take a page out of Pres. Osama...I mean Obamas play book and just sign an executive order....

[growalot]

LOL...Thats when you have to say to them...got kids/ grandkids? ...bet they'd love to get a good veiw on lots of critters....Turkey hunt?...Want to mentor a few kids?

No need to use executive orders....just show them my post and shame them into it

Good luck...remember ,though it's work...it's fun work and sometimes cheaper than the gym..get some wives/kids out there tell them it's an easy way to get a tan with out noticing you took the time...