Jay,

Having the soil in a plot analyzed and determining what minerals need to be added to maximize crop production and health is a critical step in establishing and maintaining quality food plots!  There are two steps that will help to insure you get good results.  First, make sure the sample is collected appropriately.  This requires collecting a lot of subsamples in a clean container and then collecting a sample from the subsamples that represent the entire plot.

Second, make sure to tell the lab what crop you wish to plant and that you want a maximum yield.  There is a huge difference between the mineral needs of different crops.  For example, clover doesn’t require much nitrogen while wheat requires a significant amount of nitrogen.  Both of these are common food plot crops.  Hence, if you tell the lab you plan to establish a food plot, but don’t specify the crop you wish to produce, they can’t provide you with an accurate recommendation.

Collecting and submitting good samples and informing the lab of the specific crops you wish to plant is critical to receiving an accurate recommendation.

I use Waters Ag to analyze soil samples.  I label each sample and inform the lab of the specific crop I wish to produce and that I want a recommendation for a maximum crop yield.  The healthiest fawns and biggest antlers can’t be produced unless they are consuming a very healthy diet.  Learning what minerals to add to the soil is an easy and critical step to assisting your herd to express its maximum potential.

Growing Deer together,

Grant