Food Plot Implements

[Foodplot]

If you are not planting corn, beans, etc., but sticking with small seeds/grasses, the top of the line equipment is from Truax. Truax Seed Planting Equipment
They make equipment especially designed for planting native grasses and other small seeded plants that need to be planted very shallowly. Also, native grasses have seeds that are often designed for dispersal by wind or by sticking to a passing animal, so these seeds don't flow well from a seed box. Truax's machines physically pull the seeds from the boxes and send them down drop tubes to planting wheels whose depth is controlled by bands welded to the wheels. They have no-till options as well, and you can order warm-season/large grain boxes as an option. These drills are costly. Kasko makes a similar implement.
Around here, feeding deer is like feeding starlings, there are way too many already, but quail, rabbits, non-game songbirds, etc. are another story. There are federal programs that pay to put in habitat for these animals. Various farm bill programs (CREP, CRP, WHIP, etc.) pay for or cost-share implementations of native habitats. State Fish and Wildlife and NRCS will make free site visits, help you draw up plans, and may loan equipment or assist with the implementation, so I would suggest you contact your regional NY DEC office or NRCS office.
Chemical burn-down followed by no-till drilling is certainly the cheapest way to go when you take into account fuel and time. Also probably the best for the environment.

 

[N80]

My B-I-L recently had to plant his pastures in grasses due to the drought and lack of hay. He has a large no-till-drill (I don't remember who made it), I think it is about an 8 footer, has two hoppers. He ran that thing through his unprepared pastures with whatever he could buy (oats, wheat, rye) and I am amazed how good a result he got. Of course there fields got a liberal dose of turkey poop too.

I'm not sure how such a drill would do on rough or rocky terrain, plus it is a pull-type and could be hard to manuevre in small plots. I might consider running it down my woods roads though.

I think no-till planting is the best, but drills like his and similar equipment cost way more than a disk and a spreader.

P.S.: However, it seems that he got quite a deal on it through some county ag co-op or ag program.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My B-I-L recently had to plant his pastures in grasses due to the drought and lack of hay. He has a large no-till-drill (I don't remember who made it), I think it is about an 8 footer, has two hoppers. He ran that thing through his unprepared pastures with whatever he could buy (oats, wheat, rye) and I am amazed how good a result he got. Of course there fields got a liberal dose of turkey poop too.

I'm not sure how such a drill would do on rough or rocky terrain, plus it is a pull-type and could be hard to manuevre in small plots. I might consider running it down my woods roads though.

I think no-till planting is the best, but drills like his and similar equipment cost way more than a disk and a spreader.

P.S.: However, it seems that he got quite a deal on it through some county ag co-op or ag program.

Two of the more common brands of grass drills around these parts are Tye and Haybuster. I've rented a Haybuster drill before and dang near talked myself into buying one. If you're planting much acreage or doing so with any regularity, the savings in time and fuel will soon pay the cost of spray equipment and the seeder.

 

[dixie306]

Let me preface my question with the understanding that I'm new at all this so will tell you as much as I can.* I recently took delivery of a new NH TN-70 (will post pics when available) which I want to use for establishing deer food plots on some hunting property.* I've researched this somewhat, and have ordered some how to books on deer management, and starting food plots.* There are some small old fields which are beginning to turn back to woods, but majority of property is wooded. I plan to start with the fields, and build from there.* I realize I need to get a soil test also.* Main question is what equipment do I really need?* Seems working a plow, disc and cultipacker or harrow is pretty standard way to work the ground.* The fields are pretty rough, small saplings and overgrowth, and I'm sure some rocks though not sure to what degree. Area gets enough rain in spring, pretty dry in the summer.* I want to start small only a couple acres to start and get my feet wet.* What kind/size of plow do I need, size of disc?* Do I need a subsoiler to dig up roots and rocks before I plow? What about a sprayer, or fertilizer spreader?* I am very new to this, so I appreciate whatever input can be offered.

Based on some experience, what you need is going to depend on what you plan to plant, small seed like clovers, a cultipacker is almost a have to have, the basics I started with was a all purpose plow, a set of cutting harrows, and a seven foot length of power pole wrapped with chain link fence, ah, those were the days!! LOL

 

[flusher]

Let me preface my question with the understanding that I'm new at all this so will tell you as much as I can.* I recently took delivery of a new NH TN-70 (will post pics when available) which I want to use for establishing deer food plots on some hunting property.* I've researched this somewhat, and have ordered some how to books on deer management, and starting food plots.* There are some small old fields which are beginning to turn back to woods, but majority of property is wooded. I plan to start with the fields, and build from there.* I realize I need to get a soil test also.* Main question is what equipment do I really need?* Seems working a plow, disc and cultipacker or harrow is pretty standard way to work the ground.* The fields are pretty rough, small saplings and overgrowth, and I'm sure some rocks though not sure to what degree. Area gets enough rain in spring, pretty dry in the summer.* I want to start small only a couple acres to start and get my feet wet.* What kind/size of plow do I need, size of disc?* Do I need a subsoiler to dig up roots and rocks before I plow? What about a sprayer, or fertilizer spreader?* I am very new to this, so I appreciate whatever input can be offered.

I'm not doing a food plot per se, but I am renovating about 7 acres of pastureland into a hayfield. The equipment I'm assembling is pretty much what food plot folks use.

Tractors: I have a new Mahindra 5525 gear tractor (55 hp engine, 45 hp pto) with the ML 250 FEL (6-ft bucket) and a 1964 MF-135 diesel (45 hp engine, 37 hp pto). I bought a new 6-ft Hawkline rotary mower (aka brush hog) to use with the 5525 ($1150)

Plow: bought an old IH 2-14 Little Genius pull plow a few months ago ($350).

Disc: I have an old 7-ft Ferguson tandem disk ($200)

and an old 6-ft Towner offset disc (a gift from one of my neighbors). They're easy to fix up. Replacement blades are inexpensive at AgriSupply.

Seeder/planter: don't have anything yet. But I can go with either a broadcast seeder (~$500 new from TSC) or a small (10-ft wide) grain drill. I'm leaning toward a used grain drill and expect to pay under $1K for it. But a broadcast seeder is OK for initial seeding since the seed wasteage associated with broadcasting 7 acres is not an economic show stopper. For later overseeding a grain drill is a good choice.

Cultipacker: bought a used 8-ft cultipacker today ($600) and it's in excellent shape

So it's possible for you to get a nice selection of pre-owned implements for around $3K to do your food plot.

I, on the other hand, don't have the beasts of the forest to do my harvesting so I need more equipment than you require.

I have a nice 1950s-vintage Allis Chalmers 6-ft trailer type sicklebar mower ($150)

and will pick up a used JD side deliver hay rake tomorrow ($800, no pictures yet).

That leaves a tedder and a small square baler on the wish list. The quest continues.

 

[Briana03]

Hello,

This thread has been moved to the new Food Plot Forum. :thumbsup: