Question for BSK?

[RKenney]

What is your experience with alfalfa? I know you see it alot
in states like Montana, and the whitetails flock to it a gorge
themselves. My uncle had a farm here in Maury County back in the
60's and he grew alfalfa in several of his fields. Every year the
crop was lush and tall.

Unfortunately, there were no deer in that area of the county back
then, but ground hogs thrived in those fields. My dad would take
us ground hog hunting in those fields, to get ready to go to
Hickman and Lewis county to deer hunt.

I have always heard that alfalfa was very nutricious for deer,
but I wonder why it's not grown in this area as much as it used
to be years ago. As far as the value to the farmer goes, my
uncle's alfalfa hay brought top dollar and fed his cattle very
well.

Just curious, because it is highly valued as a deer magnet in
other states and I know for a fact that it can grow in abundance
in Maury County.

Thank you for all your good info.

RK

 

[BSK]

Alfalfa is a great food plot plant. Deer love it and it is highly nutritious.

However, it is a difficult plant to grow. It often requires tremendous maintanance to be productive.

If a person has a lot of experience working with it, then have at it. But it's generally not the plant for a non-farming hunter/manager to work with.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Isn't very drought tolerant either I don't think

Puts a toxin in the soil after so many years where nothing else will grow, at least in the sandy soils of Nebraska. That's why they rotate it as there is one plant (can't think of it) that will grow behind it for hay.

I've seen deer absolutely devour a hay bale of 3rd cutting Alfalfa in less than a week also. THis with a cut corn field right across the road.

And they won't eat it once it turns brown if there is anything left around there to eat.

 

[BigGameGuy]

You want to see how much deer like alfalfa?



Keep in mind...this gentleman owns no cattle.

 

[BSK]

Good grief that's a lot of deer!

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

BGG,

In Nebraska, it was nothing to see over 50 deer on a field at lunch.

This in an area that claims only like 25 or 30 deer psm.

They mush have all been down there on them fields. LOL

 

[stickler]

dang that was a lot of deer

 

[look'n 4 deer]

Great Gooogly Moogly!!

 

[BSK]

BGG,

In Nebraska, it was nothing to see over 50 deer on a field at lunch.

This in an area that claims only like 25 or 30 deer psm.

They mush have all been down there on them fields. LOL

A good food source will concentrate deer from a wide area.

 

[RKenney]

BGG,
Where was the thermal image video taken? Also, do you have any
insights on growing alfalfa in Tennessee? If it is all that hard
and meticulous to grow, why was it grown so much years ago.

 

[BSK]

If it is all that hard
and meticulous to grow, why was it grown so much years ago.

Farmers are experts at what they do. The hunter trying to grow a food plot usually is not.

However, if you have the assistance of a farmer experienced with alfalfa, and have all the right equipment and know how and which herbicides to use on lfalfa, it is an amazing crop for deer.

 

[RKenney]

My uncle has since passed away, but the land that was once his
farm, has a good population of deer now days. I guess hardwood
ridges with poor soil quality would not be conducive to growing
alfalfa.

On the other hand, there are mixed areas of woods and crop fields
all across middle Tennessee. I guess I am a little bit obsessed
with the sucsess with alfalfa in other states. It makes it even
worse when I saw how it grew in profussion on my uncle's farm
years ago.

This makes me want to do some recearch on alfalfa, and I
believe I will.

Everyone has posted about how extremely hard and complicated it
is to establish this crop, so that makes me want to learn even
more about it.

 

[BSK]

I guess hardwood
ridges with poor soil quality would not be conducive to growing
alfalfa.

Umm, no!

Alfalfa requires fairly good soil to be productive.

 

[BSK]

This makes me want to do some recearch on alfalfa, and I
believe I will.

Everyone has posted about how extremely hard and complicated it
is to establish this crop, so that makes me want to learn even
more about it.

Quality Whitetails magazine had an extensive series of articles on growing alfalfa.

 

[TCL]

Take a look at what alfalfa cost per square bale...that will tell you how intensive and costly it is to produce. They do have RR alfalfa...makes it a bit easier to produce. However you still need near perfect soils with good drainage. Then you need all the equipment. Pray a drought does not come your way...if it does then you will need to irrigate. In 1985 it cost about $150 per acre to produce quality alfalfa!

 

[BoonerBucks]

I threw some down last year to see what happened and never saw the first sprout. Definately not a throw and grow!!

 

[Huntnbubba]

My dad grows about 5 acres of alfalfa every year for the deer on our farm in Maury County. We're no farming experts but we have the right equipment and we get all the knowledge we need from our local co-op. I guess we've grown it for about 4 years now and the deer love it! When the alfalfa is nice and lush the deer like it as much as anything else. As far as being hard to grow, just do a soil test before you plant and do what the co-op guys tell you. It'll grow and the deer will to. Keith Farmer at the Columbia co-op is the guy to talk to.

 

[BSK]

Alfalfa will not grow well in all soils. You will need soils with decent moisture retention. It is not very drought or dry-soil tolerant.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

Being form the West(AZ) I love alfalfa. Since I've moved to the south Soybeans has taken it's place.

 

[BSK]

Being form the West(AZ) I love alfalfa. Since I've moved to the south Soybeans has taken it's place.

I wonder if the lack of excessively wet weather is the reason they grow so much alfalfa out West? Perhaps our long wet periods in the Southeast increase mold/fungus/parasite problems in alfalfa?

 

[richmanbarbeque]

I'm not sure. I should ask my grandfather. We use to grow 5 acres every year when I was a kid. Every time I bring it up about growing it in the south someone shakes thier head and walks away. :grin:

I am crazy enough to try to make it work. I love making/building food plots.

 

[BSK]

Give it a shot!

Deer do love it.

 

[Still-n-Quiet]

I guess hardwood
ridges with poor soil quality would not be conducive to growing
alfalfa.

Umm, no!

Alfalfa requires fairly good soil to be productive.

It also tapers off, year to year. It is not uncommon for farmers who are growing it for hay to turn the field after 5 years and start over.

 

[Locksley]

Umm, a lot of deer