Fall Food Plot Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fall food plot for dry conditions?
Some crops are much more forgiving of dry conditions than others. R & R Blend® and Harper’s Blend™ are excellent choices when rainfall is uncertain. Their cereal-grain components establish quickly, while the blends provide additional forage as growing conditions improve.
There isn’t a single amount of rainfall that guarantees establishment. What matters most is getting enough moisture into the seed zone to initiate germination and then having enough moisture to establish a root system. Choosing crops that establish aggressively and tolerate periods of limited rainfall gives your plot a much better chance when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.
What is the best seed for a throw-and-grow food plot?
R & R Blend® and Harper’s Blend™ are two of our favorite choices when you need a simple planting method. They can work well for broadcasting or planting with minimal soil disturbance when you have good seed-to-soil contact and timely moisture. When broadcasting into an existing stand, good seed-to-soil contact is still important. If conditions make incorporation difficult, increasing the seeding rate by at least 30% will help compensate for some seed loss, but it cannot replace adequate moisture and seed-to-soil contact.
You don’t necessarily need a tractor and a perfectly prepared seedbed to grow a successful food plot. The right seed, good seed-to-soil contact and rainfall can accomplish a lot.
What food plot can I plant late?
Cereal rye is one of the most forgiving fall crops for late planting. It establishes quickly, tolerates cool temperatures extremely well and can continue growing under conditions that slow many other fall crops.
When to plant fall food plots?
Most plant species need 45-60 days before the fall frost. Planting date depends on location, species and establishment requirements, and the goal is to give the crop enough time to establish before cold weather slows growth.
If your original planting window has passed, changing what you plant may be much better than giving up on the plot altogether.
What fall food plot is best for weed control?
Start by choosing a food plot that gives you a realistic weed-management strategy.
ESCO Fall Blend® was designed so grass weeds can be managed with an appropriate grass-selective herbicide such as clethodim. FIELDCRAFT™ provides another option where weed control is a priority, combining fall food plot crops with 2,4-D tolerance. We don’t mean butyrac, we mean real 2,4-D.
The best time to think about weed control is before you plant, not after weeds have taken over your food plot. Always read and follow the herbicide label and the specific recommendations for your food plot and use smart tillage management practices.
Should I buy food plot seed from a seed company or a co-op?
The species name doesn’t tell the whole story. The variety matters. A co-op is an excellent place to buy commodity seed when your primary goal is producing a commodity crop as economically as possible. Commodity seed is generally selected to produce a crop economically. Food plot seed should be selected to produce forage. Varieties chosen for food plots should have better nutrition, produce more tonnage, and stand up to browse pressure. The cheapest seed isn’t necessarily the best food plot seed.
At Eagle Seed, we select and develop varieties for the job they’re supposed to do. We select varieties based on characteristics that matter when the crop is being grown specifically to feed wildlife—including forage production, nutritional quality, stress tolerance, maturity, disease resistance and performance under repeated grazing. Two bags may both say “wheat” on the label, but that doesn’t mean the genetics inside them will perform the same way in a food plot. Buy the variety, not just the species.
Aren’t all varieties of wheat, rye, clover and other food plot crops basically the same?
No. There can be substantial differences among varieties of the same species. Varieties can differ in growth rate, maturity, forage production, nutritional characteristics, disease resistance, stress tolerance and other traits. That’s why Eagle Seed evaluates the variety, not simply the name of the crop.
A seed tag telling you that a bag contains wheat tells you what species you’re planting. It doesn’t tell you whether that particular wheat was selected because it makes exceptional wildlife forage. We do the homework for you.
Do I really need a diverse fall food plot blend with a lot of different seeds in it?
No, more species in the bag does not automatically make a better food plot. Every component should have a reason for being there. In fact, many plant species will suppress other species. A properly designed blend combines plants that complement one another—for example, rapid establishment from one component, high-quality forage from another, nitrogen fixation from a legume, or extended feeding from a crop with a different growth period. This doesn’t vary just by species; it varies by variety. We would rather have the right varieties working together than add species simply to make a long ingredient list.
What is the best food plot seed for deer?
Start with the problem you’re trying to solve.
Not much rain? Choose crops suited to moisture stress.
Planting late? Look at cereal rye and other crops capable of establishing late.
Limited equipment? Choose crops suited to broadcasting and minimal-tillage establishment.
Weed problems? Start with a planting that gives you a weed-control strategy.
The best food plot isn’t necessarily the one with the most seed in the bag. It’s the one designed for your conditions and your goals.
