Food Plots Let’s Talk Buckwheat

[BSK]

First time buckwheat planter - or will be! Asking best time to plant and best mix? Going to let it jump up & then plant soybean mix into it for summer crop. Using it for a cover crop/ soul builder. Any advice would be great.

I planted my buckwheat and soybeans at the same time last year - first week of May.

 

[Popcorn]

Following this conversation because we have thought about something similar this summer.... considering a blend of buckwheat, cow peas, sorghum and sunflower....or something along those lines.

Buckwheat is a great idea every time you plant!

 

[1boardrider]

I planted my buckwheat and soybeans at the same time last year - first week of May.

Did the buckwheat shade out the beans? Following a fella that says that he grows his buckwheat and lets it get mature then he broadcast his beans and brassicas into the buckwheat then cultipacks it down to provide weed shade and duff for fertilizer and better soil eventually.

 

[TNlandowner]

What is the best source for Buckwheat seeds? Local Co-op stores?

 

[DoubleRidge]

What is the best source for Buckwheat seeds? Local Co-op stores?

Last year was our first for buckwheat and we did get it from our local Co-op...they should have it in stock...if not they can get it....we haven't priced it yet this year but I'm sure like everything else it's gone up.

 

[BSK]

Did the buckwheat shade out the beans? Following a fella that says that he grows his buckwheat and lets it get mature then he broadcast his beans and brassicas into the buckwheat then cultipacks it down to provide weed shade and duff for fertilizer and better soil eventually.

They did not, but I only planted at 20 lbs/acre. I was only using it is a "cover crop" to give the deer something to browse until the soybeans got established.

 

[BSK]

What is the best source for Buckwheat seeds? Local Co-op stores?

I had to call around to several co-ops, but finally found a good supply.

 

[Shooter77]

Last year was our first for buckwheat and we did get it from our local Co-op...they should have it in stock...if not they can get it....we haven't priced it yet this year but I'm sure like everything else it's gone up.

My local COOP has it 77.00 per 50lb bag (As of 03/11).

 

[BSK]

My local COOP has it 77.00 per 50lb bag (As of 03/11).

I think I paid $65/bag last year.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

My local COOP has it 77.00 per 50lb bag (As of 03/11).

 

[Shooter77]

I think I paid $65/bag last year.

winter wheat is still 16 a bag. that's what I paid last year.

 

[Quailman]

winter wheat is still 16 a bag. that's what I paid last year.

$16/bag is extremely high for winter wheat. Most years it's $9-$10/bag. The war in Ukraine is making matters worse, and from what I've been told, winter wheat has increased about $4/bushel in the last few weeks. FYI, Ukraine is a big exporter of wheat.

 

[Quailman]

First time buckwheat planter - or will be! Asking best time to plant and best mix? Going to let it jump up & then plant soybean mix into it for summer crop. Using it for a cover crop/ soul builder. Any advice would be great.

Buckwheat is a warm season crop with a short maturity date (45 days), so any time during the summer is fine. The recommended planting date is July 1 - August 15th, but as BSK mentioned, you can plant it earlier with typical summer forages. If you plant it earlier, you can actually get a double crop in one growing season.

 

[DoubleRidge]

My local COOP has it 77.00 per 50lb bag (As of 03/11).

I'd have to dig up last year's receipts but we didn't pay near $77 per 50lb bag....ouch.

 

[BSK]

Buckwheat is a warm season crop with a short maturity date (45 days), so any time during the summer is fine. The recommended planting date is July 1 - August 15th, but as BSK mentioned, you can plant it earlier with typical summer forages. If you plant it earlier, you can actually get a double crop in one growing season.

What Quailman said is absolutely right. Buckwheat is a short-lived plant. I usually find it lasts 8-10 weeks before seeding out and dying back. However, you will see some natural reseeding. But as I've used it in the past (either as a fall cover crop where the first frost will kill it anyways, or as a spring cover crop to give time for the "real" summer crop to get up high enough to withstand browse pressure), it works great.

 

[Shooter77]

$16/bag is extremely high for winter wheat. Most years it's $9-$10/bag. The war in Ukraine is making matters worse, and from what I've been told, winter wheat has increased about $4/bushel in the last few weeks. FYI, Ukraine is a big exporter of wheat.

you would think price between COOP would be the same across the state.

 

[BSK]

you would think price between COOP would be the same across the state.

You would think that, but I often find VERY different prices from Co-op to Co-op.

 

[Shooter77]

You would think that, but I often find VERY different prices from Co-op to Co-op.

i could see maybe the cost of shipping a pallet from middle to east or west TN would had a little, but like you, i've seen the 2 coop in the counties beside each other vary a $2-5 a bag.

 

[Cedar Ridge]

Paid $50 per 50 lbs the last 3 years. I'm sure that will not be the case this year.

 

[megalomaniac]

$16/bag is extremely high for winter wheat. Most years it's $9-$10/bag. The war in Ukraine is making matters worse, and from what I've been told, winter wheat has increased about $4/bushel in the last few weeks. FYI, Ukraine is a big exporter of wheat.

Im scared to death what wheat is going to cost this fall...