Alfalfa-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds
March 23, 2010 by Guest Author
Filed under Agriculture, Deer Food Crops, Deer food seeds, Farming, Food Plot Crops, Food Plots for Whitetails, General Food Plot Topics, deer seeds, food plots
Alfalfa-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds
The truth is, there’s next to nothing as easily accessible that produces more raw protein than top quality alfalfa. Deer will consume it all of the summer and for as long as the plant remains nourishing in to the fall. They may also begin it as fast as possible early in the year. Also, a correctly managed alfalfa plot can last as long as 7 years and is relatively drought tolerant. Alfalfa is a wonderful method to obtain protein. Finally, you will find there’s a ready and well-established marketplace for good quality alfalfa hay. Since you’ll want to cut the crop and remove the remains anyway to help keep the field weed-free why not make some income?
Alfalfa has also downsides. First, alfalfa is chiefly a summer food source. It turns brown easily following the first hard frost and can be used less by deer afterwards. Also, it doesn’t green-up as quickly early in the year as winter grains or alternatively clover, therefore it isn’t of great help during periods of high stress. Second, alfalfa is often tough to ascertain and manage. The soil should be properly drained or the crop will swiftly flood out. Leaf hopping insects love the leaves just as much as the deer do, so you will need to observe the plot on a regular basis and treat it for bugs occasionally.
Also, alfalfa is pricey to implement. You may need to anticipate liming, fertilizing and paying a premium price for substantial protein types. You’re most likely looking at well above $125 per acre even though you do the project, more in the event you don’t. Although this might not seem so bad if you look at the the price tag covering the lifetime of the area, do not forget yearly fertilizer costs that add about $35 per acre.
Should you be selling the hay, the math will be a lot more attractive. Actually, alfalfa as a crop is often pretty worthwhile. But, unless you want to get into these things, you might be more well off keeping the crop put up on halves with a local farmer. Under the ideal conditions, alfalfa is a superb alternative.
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