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The New York Times reported Wednesday that Ed Schafer, the United States agriculture secretary, decided that farmers will still be penalized if they plant crops on land set aside for conservation.
His decision was made based on improving harvest expectations for this year. Recent forecasts indicate that there will be a larger crop than was expected after the floods in the Midwest this June.
After the floods washed farm fields in the Midwest, bakers and livestock owners began to intensify the pressure to erase penalties for planting on lands designated for conservation. If bakers and livestock owners could increase the harvest it would lower high crop prices.
But Schafer says, "We don't feel that the corn and soybean crop will be as bad as we originally feared."
Director of agriculture conservation policy for Ducks Unlimited said, "The Conservation Reserve Program is the holy grail of conservation, and we are pleased that the U.S.D.A. will maintain the program and the benefits that it has had."
On the flip side many farmers believe that the penalty will hurt business owners and consumers who are struggling to pay higher prices for commodities and food.
Schafer did acknowledge that the situation is one that can change rapidly, and that he would reconsider his decision depending on crop conditions.
This Video is great for learning food plot tips and techniques that will get you the most out of your planting.
White-tailed Deer Nutrition: Summer Food for Food Plots
By Dr. Keith Causey
In many areas of the South, natural forage falls short in providing whitetails their minimum energy and protein needs. Although we have suggested using raw, whole soybeans in free-choice feeders as an effective means of supplementing our inadequate natural forage, cultivated food plots continue to remain very important.
While many hunters and landowners plant high-quality winter foods to supplement the diets of their deer, many of these same people often ignore the nutritional needs of deer during the late winter, spring and summer months. Generally, late winter and late summer are periods of stress when fewer nutrients are available for southern deer. As a consequence, this “off-season” period is a time of special needs. This is the time of antler growth for the bucks, and for the does, the time of gestation, fawning and lactation. This crucial time in the annual rhythm of the white-tail should not be overlooked or ignored if quality deer management is the objective.
Keeping in mind that late freezes, droughts, diseases, insect pests, and especially competition from weeds and grasses make it very difficult to produce good warm-season crops for deer, I offer the following suggestions for some of my favorites.
1. Soybeans There is probably no better warm season forage to plant for deer than soybeans. Soybean foliage or leaves are high in protein, and the soybean seed is extremely high in protein and in digestible energy. Soybean plants are browsed heavily by deer from sprouting through seed production. And herein lies the problem with this premium warm-season forage. In many areas deer populations are so high that soybean plants are often killed by very early overgrazing. Unless deer density in the area to be planted is low to moderate, large plots (of 5 to 10 acres) may be necessary, and they may need to be protected with temporary high-voltage electric fencing to allow the crop to become established.
There are many varieties of soybeans to choose from, but it is best to select a late-maturing variety or a variety bred for forage production. You would do well to consult with your local county extension agent or with forage specialists at land-grant universities for information on varieties for your area.
Planting dates vary from late April to mid-June, depending on the bean variety and planting location. Soil tests should be conducted to determine lime and fertilization rates. Plant soybeans on a well-prepared, firm seedbed. Seeding rates vary between 35 to 70 pounds per acre, and the seed may be broadcast or planted in rows. A planting depth of about one inch is recommended, and inoculation of the seeds with proper bacteria is also recommended.
2. Cowpeas Cowpeas are annual legumes, like soybeans, and produce high protein forage during the warm season. It has been our experience that cowpeas are not often browsed by deer until they reach a certain stage of maturity. However, when this stage is reached, deer may direct their attention to these plantings and eliminate them in a matter of a week or so. Obviously, this could defeat the purpose of supplying high-quality forage throughout the summer season. As with soybeans, there are many varieties of cowpeas. We have used Iron-clay mostly, but Catjang, Wilcox and Tory are also good varieties.
Recommended planting dates range from about May 1 to July 1. Soil tests should be conducted for proper liming and fertilization rates. Usually, 100 pounds per acre of 0-20-20 fertilizer is adequate. Cowpeas should be broadcast at a rate of 50 to 70 pounds per acre on a firm seedbed and covered to a depth of about one inch. Inoculation is recommended. Temporary electric fencing around the crop may also be required.
3. American jointvetch (Aeschynomene) American jointvetch is a warm-season tropical legume that is highly palatable to white-tailed deer. American jointvetch plantings can produce large quantities of high-quality forage during summer months. I really like this plant, but like many others it has its drawbacks. Seed cost is high, and successful establishment of jointvetch plots often requires intensive cultivation and herbicide use. Germination and early growth is slow. The stand may fail or, if successful, prove to be quite expensive.
Jointvetch is tolerant of wet soils but is not suited to very sandy soils. Liming and fertilization rates should be determined by soil testing. In the absence of a soil test, 300 pounds per acre of 0-10-20 fertilizer is recommended. Planting dates vary from the first of March to the first of June. Care should be taken to avoid frost, but jointvetch should be planted as early as possible to ensure that the seeds mature before the first frost of the fall season. Jointvetch should be broadcast at about 15 pounds per acre on a well-disked, firm seedbed and lightly covered with a drag or harrow.
4. Alyceclover Alyceclover is a good, warm-season clover for deer. This plant grows well under a variety of soil conditions and can withstand moderate drought in the spring or summer. Like other legumes previously discussed, alyceclover is high in protein. It may also withstand heavier grazing than soybeans or cowpeas. Alyceclover must be replanted each year.
Alyceclover plots should be limed and fertilized according to soil tests. Generally, 200 to 300 pounds of 0-17-17 fertilizer per acre is adequate. Alyceclover should be planted between May 1 and July 1 at a broadcast rate of 20 to 25 pounds per acre. It should be planted on a well-prepared seedbed and lightly covered using a drag or harrow. The seed should be inoculated.
5. Corn Corn is planted throughout the South for white- tailed deer, and whole kernel corn is an excellent energy source for deer from early fall through winter. In areas where mast producing hardwoods are in short supply, or where there are none at all, corn can be very important to deer for building stores of winter fat. Corn is a high energy food but a food low in protein. Corn alone does not come close to satisfying the minimum year-round protein needs of deer for maximum body and antler growth.
Many varieties of field corn are suitable to plant for deer. So again, you should let your particular soil and weather conditions influence this decision and choose a variety suited to your area and type of soil. Corn plots should be soil tested for precise liming and fertilization rates. Usually, 300 to 400 pounds per acre of 17-17-17 fertilizer is adequate at planting. Planting dates ideally are mid-March to mid- April for most varieties. Corn may be broadcast at 12 to 15 pounds per acre and covered about one inch. Better results are obtained, however, by planting in rows 36 inches apart and cultivating the rows for weed and grass control. This also allows for side-dressing with ammonium nitrate when the corn plants are about knee-high. Side-dressing is done by dropping a line of ammonium nitrate about the diameter of a pencil along the entire corn row. An excellent companion crop to plant with corn is velvet beans. The beans are planted among the corn stalks or rows and the bean vines will climb up the corn stalks as they grow. The combination of corn and velvet beans results in a high-quality summer forage from the beans while the high-energy corn seeds are being produced for the fall and winter. The corn stalks provide protection for the young bean plants and also provide a means for the terminal buds to grow out of reach of browsing deer.
Because of reduced production, velvet beans have been in short supply recently and have become quite expensive as a consequence. Still, corn and velvet beans are a really good combination summer and fall deer forage and seed crop.
Obviously, many warm-season crops are available as deer plantings, but of the legumes, the bean family and clovers remain the best because of their protein and energy content. The crops discussed here are some that I have personally used with varying success in the past. Currently, I plan to devote more attention to the corn/velvet bean combination on my personal property. Whatever one may choose to plant as a deer nutritional supplement in the warm season in the South, be prepared to be completely engaged in the many requirements that go into the making of a successful crop. It can be challenging, but the results can also bring unequaled rewards.
This article first appeared in Wildlife Trends' April 2001 issue. It is by Dr. Keith Causey.
Dr. Keith Causey is a professional Wildlife Scientist with over 35 years of experience in wildlife research and management. Dr. Causey specializes in white-tailed deer.
Buying real estate of any kind is always a significant undertaking. There are so many “bases” to cover and things to think about. Buying land is no different. In fact, there may be more to think about when buying land depending on what your personal goals are. If you’re thinking about buying land, then you definitely need to check out LandFlip's blog post, “Six people you should have on your team before submitting an offer."
Curtis Seltzer does a fantastic job of laying out 6 very important people to gather information and advice from. While it is a very thorough list, I would suggest also talking to a trusted banker.
Whether you’re paying cash or financing, it never hurts to talk to a lending institution you trust. One that our company finds extremely beneficial is our local Farm Credit institutions. They major on land and agricultural lending, so they understand the special needs of land buyers. There is sure to be one in your community, so get online and check it out.
Several comments were made about this blog post on LandFlip, one in particular that mocked the idea that there are people available to “join” your team when making an offer. In our experience, the majority of land buyers we have are within a 100 – 200 mile radius, just a short drive to the tracts they are interested in. And many of them do have relationships with folks in our area or theirs that are very willing to get on their “team” and offer help and advice.
Why do they do this? It’s called “good business."
Most savvy business people understand the value of building relationships. An attorney may help someone with one offer that falls through, but they know that person will be interested in buying land in the future, and when they are, they will want an attorney involved. The attorney will also want the seller to tell all his hunting buddies what attorney to use when they buy their hunting tract. The consulting forester may spend 3 hours on a tract and not get paid for it, but when that guy needs someone to help manage his timber or hunting land after the purchase, who do you think he’s going to call?
We believe Mr. Seltzer’s list is very feasible and realistic and clearly great advice to potential buyers. And this may come as a shock to some, but while business is business, there are good people out there who want to help. Kudos to LandFlip for helping educate buyers.
Through this blog, we hope to share wisdom and insight that our readers will find educational and beneficial in their quest to sell, purchase, manage, and enjoy recreational property. We want to use this as an outlet to share our passion for land while having a little fun with topics that interest us. If you have any ideas or post requests contact us, and we'll tell you what we know.
We love to talk about all things land. Whether you're an avid hunter or fisherman (like a lot of us) or love horses or farming, we are sure to share some common interests. Our specialty is selling land, but we also have alot of experience managing our own farms and recreational properties. We have a couple of registered foresters on staff as well as surveyors and farmers. We are excited about using this blog to share our stories, experiences, and expertise.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Ed Schafer, the United States agriculture secretary, decided that farmers will still be penalized if they plant crops on land set aside for conservation.
