While it’s June and many have already planted their food plots, the unique weather conditions in Northwest Pennsylvania can make this a bit tricky! April and May this year brought a good deal of chill and rain, resulting in lower-than-average temperatures that kept soil temperatures too cool for seed planting. Even if I had tried to get a head start, the heavy rains—15 days in April and 14 days in May—would have posed a real challenge for any young plants. Now that June is here and the weather has warmed up, I am ready to break ground and plant some Domain Outdoors seeds.
Kunz Engineering Chisel Plow
I’ve faced some challenges with my food plots over the past few years, mainly because of compacted hardpan soil. Although I own a John Deere 1025R, I didn’t have the right attachments until recently. I had thought about getting a rototiller, but it was out of my budget at the time. However, my research led me to the Kunz Chisel Plow, which was a perfect fit for my financial plans! I ordered the 3-Point Till-Ease Model 543T, and it arrived promptly. I’m really looking forward to improving my plots! Now, I just need to be patient and let Mother Nature do her thing before I can break ground and start planting my crops.
Turning Dirt
At last, the weather was on my side with a whole week of rain-free skies ahead! I smoothly detached the mowing deck from my 1025R and effortlessly connected the Kunz Chisel Plow to the PTO system. Kudos to Kunz for crafting such an intuitive design—attaching the implement is a breeze! Excited, I drove my tractor to my property, eager to see how the chisel plow would improve the compacted soil. I’m optimistic that this will make a real difference!
As the discs began their journey through the compacted soil, they expertly carved out a pathway for the chisel plow to work its magic. It was incredible to see how effortlessly the chisel cut through the hardpan, breaking up the soil beautifully. I embraced the moment, taking my time at each plot to ensure the soil was thoroughly turned and meticulously broken apart. When I finally switched off the tractor and strolled through the transformed plots, I was overwhelmed with joy. The chisel plow had truly exceeded my expectations! Now, with just a few days of letting the soil rest, I’m excited to use my drag harrow to prepare everything for the Domain Outdoors seeds. What a rewarding process!
Domain Outdoors Seeds
I have a lot of deer that visit my property, and I want to plant something that will provide ample food for them. I contacted Domain Outdoors to ask for their product recommendation. Jacob Granley from Domain suggested using Mother Load due to the variety of forage it offers. This mix includes forage soybeans, forage peas, cowpeas, lablab, climbing soybeans, and buckwheat. It is designed to fit into a comprehensive property plan that integrates seed selection, planting timing, fertility, and deer love it!
Screening is Important
I recently listened to Tony LaPratt share his insights on the vital role of screening, and it truly inspired me! I can’t wait to use Domain’s Incognito seeds, which feature Egyptian wheat and two types of sorghum—some of which can reach an impressive 10 feet tall! Strategically placing them around my plots should provide excellent screening. I’m really looking forward to seeing the results!
Mixing it Up
I have a small kill plot planted with clover, but I never got the chance to frost-seed it. The edges of the plot have been overbrowsed, so I decided to turn the soil to plant two seed blends: Hot Chic and Comeback Kid.
Hot Chic contains chicory and two varieties of clover, while Comeback Kid features four varieties of clover along with alfalfa. Blending these two will provide food for the deer this year, and both blends should come back strong next spring. I chose to seed the entire plot to ensure that it grows evenly.
Jump Start Your Plots
After dedicating time and effort to preparing the ground and planting my seeds, I’m excited to give them the best possible start! I rely on Soil Pro Outdoors for their fantastic liquid fertilizers. My top picks—SP-Launch, SP-Compost, SP-Energy, and SP-Enhance—are simply incredible. I love how easily I can mix them with water in my sprayer and apply them to my plots. Soil Pro makes it a breeze to deliver essential nutrients, ensuring my seeds are well-equipped to thrive. There’s nothing quite like seeing the fruits of hard work come to life!
I am excited to share this journey with all of you and look forward to keeping you up to date on what happens with my plots. I am praying that we get some rain in the next few days to help with germination. Stay tuned and check back to see how things are growing.
