Thumb Drill or seeder?

   / Drill or seeder? #1  

sawtooth

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I need something to plant food plots for deer. Will do corn, soybeans, and grains. Will one device do all? I will disk and prepare soil first and have a budget of $4-5000. Thoughts?
 
   / Drill or seeder? #2  
It's better to drill these seeds into the soil to reduce loss due to the birds. As soon as these critters sense that you are spreading their favorite food on your plot, they'll figure you're setting the table for them. Don't ask how I know. You can find used 10-ft drills with 20 drops for $1-2K, well within your budget.

I bought two very old Minneapolis Moline P3-6 grain drills (10 ft wide, 20 drops, single disc openers) for $275 and used parts from each to build a working unit. Used it for several seasons to plant Kanota oats. Total cost: less than $500.

Drill-6.JPGM5525  drill-1.JPGM5525 drill---3.JPGKanota oats-1.JPGKanota oats-2.JPG

The nice thing about drills is that you can get your crop planted in one pass. If you broadcast the seed, you generally have to make another pass to cover and press the seed into the soil.

Good luck
 
   / Drill or seeder? #3  
Corn does better when planted in rows(not crowded),the others can be broad-cast.You may want to invest in a cultipacker.Small grain seeds don't need to be very deep.I have broad-cast corn with mixed results.I acquired a small two row planter and use it for corn and sun-flower plots,broadcast soybeans and other small grain crops.
 
   / Drill or seeder? #4  
I agree with nybirdman on corn don't need to be crowded, the ears will be significantly smaller if it's crowded. Get a drill to do the rest and if your working land beforehand get a cultipacker to hook to back of drill and save yourself some time of another pass.
 
   / Drill or seeder? #5  
IF its only for deer, and no intent to harvest, I'd broadcast everything. Broadcast spreaders are cheap, even new. ~$500.

Will take a little playing with to get the corn just right so it isnt crowded. Have a nicely fluffed/disc'd seed bed when broadcasting. Then run a packer over it. That should cover the crops pretty well.

Cultipackers can usually be had pretty cheap too on c-list.

End result will be less than $1000 invested, and low-maintenance implements that dont take up much room. And the broadcast spreader can be used to spread all sorts of other things too. Sand/salt in the winter, fertilizer, etc.
 
   / Drill or seeder? #6  
I have broadcast about everything at one time or another for food plots deer don't care if its in rows or not look good though
but have broadcast corn and tilled it in with good results and a cultipacker or even a lawn roller will work when plating smaller seed
a good rule of thumb is the bigger the seed the deeper needs to be planted of course there are exceptions to the rule but for most part no.
even sunflowers have broad cast them then lightly tilled them in with good results just need to know what depth your seeds needs to be planted
and plan accordingly on the smallest of seed such as clover you need to cultipack BF you plant to firm the seed bed then broadcast your seed then
cultipack again
 
   / Drill or seeder? #7  
I have a different take. Why plant grains, especially corn for deer? Around here, deer like succulent grass such as oats, rye, wheat and spinach. Corn works great as a grain in a feeder but but do deer eat a corn plant after it is a couple of feet tall?
 
   / Drill or seeder? #8  
I have a different take. Why plant grains, especially corn for deer? Around here, deer like succulent grass such as oats, rye, wheat and spinach. Corn works great as a grain in a feeder but but do deer eat a corn plant after it is a couple of feet tall?
We plant corn up North because that's one crop that can "winter over".Or in other words have available feed all winter.Not so much with other grain crops ,they get buried in the snow.They do some damage to the growing corn but most of it survives.
 
   / Drill or seeder? #9  
Corn can be broadcast, just control seed population. Cultipacker is a miraculous tool to follow broadcasting. Very cost effective tool. Try spending 500-1000 versus your claimed budget. Save the money for years of seed costs. :)
 
   / Drill or seeder? #10  
I have slightly different take on the whole selection thing. How many times will you be running over the ground? With a drill you can get away with just 2 times. With broadcast you really need to go a 3rd time with a drag or cultipacker preferably. Just saying a drill might save 1 pass. Something to consider. Also which might you use in other cases in the future?
 
 
 
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