Food Plots is it too late?

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Probably not. The temperatures look good for about a week. It's moisture that is critical. If it gets a lot of sun exposure that will help in sprouting. Rye would be the better of the two for it is more cold hardy.
 
I recently heard a university study quoted as saying cereal rye will germinate as low as 35 or 36 degrees....and on the warm sunny afternoons in the 50s it will actually grow through winter....also cereal rye is more tolerant of poor pH than wheat.....so with moisture and the current mild temps we're having both the wheat and cereal rye should germinate ....and the last we purchased wheat was $15.49 and cereal rye was $20.
 
What's the soil condition? If it's hardpan I would at least scratch the ground to get a little seed to soil contact. Otherwise I do think you will lose 90% to seed predators.

As far as temps, it's not ideal to plant this late, but with the warm temps forecast, it should germinate and grow. But big gamble we don't get a hard freeze to kill it in east Tn before it gets established.

At least you don't have to worry about armyworms this late :)
 
What about now? Ive got 2 bags sitting in my garage... I hate to intrude this time of year though.
 
megalomaniac said:
Put it down... may do nothing except feed the birds, but not worth holding onto till next fall IMO... I want fresh seed when I'm planting
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Welp just planted my last plot on November 3rd. Might not be worth a damn until February but at least it will feed something.
 
If you got seed to soil it will be up and growing next week any fresh tender growth will be an attractant and food source. Long range weather trends are in your favor with a mild fall and possibly mild beginning for winter. It should be great for late season when bucks are looking to build back what they run off during the rut.
 
Popcorn said:
If you got seed to soil it will be up and growing next week any fresh tender growth will be an attractant and food source. Long range weather trends are in your favor with a mild fall and possibly mild beginning for winter. It should be great for late season when bucks are looking to build back what they run off during the rut.
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Yep the pictures I have of the deer in January hammering a plot I plotted last October is what motivated me .
 
megalomaniac said:
I wonder... if you legitimately top sowed wheat with the intentions of growing a wildlife plot, the doves found it... could you shoot the doves legally?
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Yes you can as long as its only sowed one time.. They may be able to get you on the fact that top sowing winter wheat in November isn't a "normal" agriculture practice

Here it is from the TWRA guide and UT ag ext.

"There are many agricultural operations and procedures that normally occur in Tennessee in late summer or fall. The Latin words "bona fide" included in the hunting regulations mean in good faith or without fraud. Normal agricultural planting or harvesting includes many factors such as time of year, rates of application, methods, seed source, equipment efficiency, etc. Federal Court rulings define normal agricultural planting or harvesting as having as its primary goal the growth and harvesting of a crop - not the enticement of migratory birds. Merely imitating agriculture as a ruse to circumvent the regulations is not acceptable. Questions about what constitutes normal agricultural planting or harvesting practices should be addressed to the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service."




"wheat, forage cool-season annual 120-180 (2-3 bu) 1-2 ---- Aug 15-Nov 1 Seed in September only if fall grazing is expected. Seed in October for grain/spring grazing. Select awnless varieties for wildlife. wheat, grain cool-season annual 1.2-1.5 million plants per acre 1-1½, not to exceed 2 ---- Oct 15-Nov 10 Up seeding rate by 30-50"

So they could technically they could get me for hunting over a field sowed Nov 3... No worries no dove hunting will take place but man there is a pile of them...
 
Bgoodman30 said:
And that something would be doves..... I'll add a seed drill on the list of wants...
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Best thing we ever switched to. Love turning dirt and the process. But a drill is something we have fell in love with. Especially this year with the drought hitting so hard we didn't bush hog any of our plots just sprayed and all of that residue held the moisture in. Our plots look really good. Will also get you out of a bind in wet years as well.
 

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