What should I plant for cool season forage in west central Georgia?

By Grant Woods,

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← Grant's Answers — Food Plots
Question
I live 10 miles from the Oakley’s Beaver Pond Plantation in West Central GA. I am perplexed about what to do with some of my food plots. I have one which is a carpet of durana clover (blooming) and another with chickory (barely adequate). it is approaching time to plant fall food plots and i dont want to disk so i can use my grain drill (not no-till). what do i do? Leave it and broadcast over it? Pull the grain drill through it even though it is not no-till? Leave it alone? other?

If you suggest broadccast is broadside the thing? can i do my own blend which may be local adaptive ( like rape, turnips, arrowleaf, daikon radish, ??). Last year i planted grain rye, arrowleaf, crimson or durana (different locations) and turnips. there are some shady areas within the plots. I have corrected pH but probably time to do soil tests again.

Thanks for your help.

Hugh,

The only treatment I suggest for the clover plot that looks good is to do a soil test and add lime and fertilizer if needed.  Clover requires lots of nutrients.  Many clover plots literally starve because not enough fertilizer is added.

I’d drill some cool season forage into the plot with chicory unless there are lots of weeds growing there.  If you like the results of the “local” blend than use it.  I’m not a huge fan of arrowleaf clover. It can grow large, but often matures past peak palatability and quality.  

If your soil is sandy as is typical for that area a regular drill will probably work  OK!

grant