In the past, we just let our food plots go fallow in summer. We had so few deer using the property in summer that the effort didn't seem worth it. Plus our ridge-top plots get so dry in summer, very little would grow. But now that were able to till the soil deep, we're getting better soil moisture retention through summer, and summer planting has peaked my interest. I went all-out last summer and all that effort was wasted due to the drought.
This year, I don't know what I'm going to do. I still want to try soybeans in a couple of my best soil plots. The rest of them, I would love to be able to keep in some type of low-maintenance food source. Unfortunately, our crimson clover blooms out in late May and then it's done. I don't know if just mowing would produce a second growth of crimson over the summer or not. I hesitate to frost seed any type of perennial clover into the plots because all plots will be turned under in fall to maximize fall plot growth. I hate to pay for perennial seed knowing it's going to be turned under in a couple months.