farm hunter

Here's a mid summer look at our plots - so far things look OK -The corn planter was a bit spotty and the geese took their toll in some areas before the corn gould get up much - but overall - it looks good.

Soybeans, Clover, and Corn are the main plots - A brassica plot will be planted the 1st week in August.









FH

Hoyt_Viper

Looks awesome! Is this the first year for the clover? Did you have to cut to weed it out? Do you have irrigation to water?

Just some questions to compare with how mine is doing. I have cut a few times to choke the weeds and I think I have won the battle. The Chickory/clover mix should be fine by fall, however I may fertilize pre-fall.

Any hints?

farm hunter

The clover plot in these two pics is the same plot - and it is Year #2. (planted last spring)

We do not use chemicals to spray the clover - we only mow. We use roundup as the spray on corn & soybean plots that usually preceed the clover plots - so most weeds we get the 1st 2 years are annuals and are easily controled by mowing. Usually by year 3, grasses start to become a problem, and depending on how bad - we usually go back to Corn or Soybeans after year 4 - sometimes year 5.

This plot was Soybeans in 2006 and was corn for 4 years straight prior to Clover -
Clover is slow growing on our soils - and Year #2 is THE YEAR - for a great stand of clover for us.

Thanks
FH

farm hunter

I missed your question on water -

We do not have to irrigate in CNY - we average over 30" rain per year - and while sometimes August can be dry - its probably nothing compared to what you might have to deal with in VA. Some years - we get enough rain in the summer - that we can plant clover any time.

FH

kdsberman

That looks very nice!

Muliefever

I would kill to have a piece of property like that! Very Jealous I am!!

npockat32

Very nice foodplot!