Crop Selection for Sandy Soil
Filed under: Ask Grant, Food Plots
I recently purchased 40 acres in western Michigan and want to plant crops that will attract deer and enhance antler growth. The land is sandy and mostly covered by pines and oaks. However 3 to 4 acres are tree free. Would you recommend any particular nutrients and crops that I could plant in the tree free area that would help me accomplish my goals? Thank you for your help, and keep those great videos coming!
Pete
Pete,
Congratulations on owning your own Proving Grounds. Crops are simply nutrient transfer agents that serve to transfer nutrients from the ground to the deer. So the first step is to ensure there are ample nutrients in the soil by collecting a soil sample and having it analyzed at a good soil lab like Waters Ag. Check out GDTV 71 for a refresher on how to properly collect and label a soil sample.
I prefer forage soybeans over other types of forage because they are relatively drought resistant, easy to establish and manage, and very nutritious to deer. Few other crops produce quality forage throughout the entire growing season. If you are far enough North, white clover works fairly well, but doesn’t usually do well in sandy soils and won’t produce nearly as much tonnage as Eagle Seed forage soybeans.
Thanks for watching GrowingDeer.tv and the kind words!
Growing Deer together,
Grant
