Does A NO TILL Food Plot ACTUALLY Work?

[@ShochCustomCalls]

Does the layer of dead plants on top keep the seed from getting to the soil? Do you just broadcast on top of it and let it go after that?

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Danny! The dead plants pr “thatch” actually retains moisture and will protect the seed from birds, etc. I broadcast right on top before a good rain and worked great. Thanks for watching!

[@ShochCustomCalls]

@@JoeTheFarmer great, thank you!

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Anytime brother!

[@cwolf8841]

Another option is to simply mix seed and dirt and spread it. The big Earthway spreader with a SS frame is terrific.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Man; that’s interesting. Have you tried that? Would be a lot of dirt for 3 acres. And would still have the erosion concerns

[@cwolf8841]

@@JoeTheFarmer Don't need a lot of dirt. The Earthway spreader holds say 70 lbs. But 3 acres is a lot of work. Re erosion, I assume you're putting straw down. Might consider a PTO seeder.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Makes sense. No straw needed because the seed size and thatch on the soil. With less thats next year I will likely plant buckwheat. Or just go back to tilling or rent a drill. This is such a great spot but the soil and rocks don’t want to play along! Lol.

[@cwolf8841]

@@JoeTheFarmer If you ever do bees, buckwheat honey is terrific. :)

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Yes it is! 👍🏼👊🏼

[@ColCastree]

Ever thought of dragging diamond harrows on their back with logs on to stir the soil and seed?

[@joeb8145]

Watched till the end,

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Joe!

[@whiterook85]

Nice work there Joe, a little rain here and there and you will be all set. Not sure if you had a blind around that spot, but I would think most likely. 🤠🤠

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Oh there is a blind!!! You just can’t see it. 😜😁👍🏼

[@Ghillie-bp6tl]

Hell yes! Waverly TN here! Have freshly cleared ridgetop logging road that is getting rye for the first time, just to establish roots, provide food in worst months. Big time Growing DeerTV fan. Good content. Thanks for the vids.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks man!!! Appreciate you watching brother. Sounds like you have a solid plan. Good luck this season!!!

[@Ghillie-bp6tl]

@@JoeTheFarmer will be a 3-5 year span before we can verify results. Did you vid your prescribed fire? We need it bad, but trying to figure out who and how we need to talk to the authorities to do it. Our hunting clubs are new to that game and admit we need a chaperone the first time for safety.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

I am with you on time frame. We have seen incredible results in survival and numbers in the first couple years but pass deer all of the time until the right one comes across. Our channel is about being real with the process. I hunt and strike out, I miss, I celebrate with my buddies when we tag one and get back to the drawing board to see what we can do better. The prep is almost as fun as the hunt! We have not done a burn because I just don’t think that we need it. When I mentioned burn it was with glyphosate and 24D. Our no till worked GREAT. Super happy with the results. And can build on it with frost seeding in the early spring.

[@Ghillie-bp6tl]

@@JoeTheFarmer I apologize. My bad assuming on the word "burn". Totally fault. We have so much leaf litter, burning it will reduce tick numbers and increase grass/forb growth. But this system (no till) is THE long game in food plots and soil health. I don't see an alternative that generates the results we've seen and WILL see.

[@alanblasczyk1779]

I hope to see how this actually grows up.

[@zeke1eod]

I will be watching, we use till method in west Tennessee on a lease, and no till in east Tennessee at home. Depending on Tennessee weather some years food plots do well, others they don't. Considering we're into October and high 80s food plots are growing but so are weeds lol. Stay safe, love anything deer hunting related and homesteading/farming. God bless

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Zeke! Yes, this season seems weird. Will be 80 degrees on the tractor today and almost mid October. Hey so brassicas may be a bust; or the bees knees. But the weeds are still growing like you said and the clover has slowed. Time for the cereal grains to work their magic! Lol. Good luck this season brother!!!

[@jimkindle3563]

Hey buddy. Thanks for the videos. Doing the same here in Arkansas. Enjoy the information and updates. Keep them coming.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Jim! How is it working for you? I was shocked how well it actually worked. Thanks for watching man!

[@JBesq]

Great vid. 2nd year food plotting. Been using summer cover crop of buckwheat to keep weeds down. Fingers crossed for this year.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks buddy and good luck!!!

[@scottpulver4920]

Good job. I still lightly till after spray. Maybe I’ll try this. But I’ll probably roll it in just in case. 👍🏻

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks for watching Scott! Worked great but this year prob need to till and loosen ip the soil.

[@daveburrow5831]

Hello. I really enjoy your videos. I too am from Tennessee. I'm 14 miles north of the Alabama state line, 10 miles from I-65. So the weather differences from northern Tennessee to southern Tennessee can be rather extreme. I too have a potential erosion issue, so no till is something I want to try this year.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Dave! Thanks for the kind words. Always great to have another friend in Tn. 👊🏼. If you are going to no till; just keep up with the spraying and i would test the soil sooner than later. 6.5 ph or more is ideal and some lime goes a long way. Thanks for watching!

[@daveburrow5831]

Thanks Joe. Just curious about something, as I'm new to food plots. The areas I want to I transform have been cattle pasture for over 65 years. I know it will need lime, potash and fertilizer. I plan to do soil sample tests in the next few weeks. I'm just wondering with it being packed as pasture for so long, how it will turn out doing glysophate and no till.

[@tractorrookie]

🚜💪Nice Job! Your videos are really getting good! Very professional looking. I love that shirt! Is that mine? 🤣 You are like a seeding expert, I feel overwhelmed thinking about all those seeds, and rules, and timelines. 😅 And a crime scene to boot! You have it all!! Thumbs up from me pal!!! Very tricky with that end of the video thing! I like it!!!Very tactical!!!🇺🇸🍺👍

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Mike! Have you gotten the shirt yet? JB designed it and shipped it out so if not you should get it any day! And thanks for the compliment on the channel. We’re trying to get as good as the “big guys!” Been a lot of fun man, appreciate your friendship brother. Hope all is well with you. 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@kapperoutdoors]

Nice thing you did at the end of the video. Man this reminds me of when I used to burn up two or three of those hand-seeders every season I used to do many acres like that fertilize and seed as well. Good luck with the experiments!

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Kapper! I learned a lot from big rich and famous KZbinrs like you!!! 🤣. Appreciate your friendship buddy! 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@jlcollar2414]

I’ve been busy the last couple days and just now got around to watching. Too bad I wasn’t earlier since I watched past the credits. Anyhow I’m in Oklahoma and I am doing my 1st no till in mid September

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey JL, i know the feeling man. There are a bunch of channels I follow and I always seem to be a week behind. It’s ok, we will have more cool stuff to share. 😁👍🏼. Good luck on your first no till! Hoping this works for us, I think it’s going to work just fine. May not look like the cover of a magazine, but should feed, attract and hold deer. Keep me posted on how your plots do!!! Thanks for watching. 👍🏼👊🏼

[@madtater5948]

thanks for sharing the video, we have the same problem with coyotes where I live also it would take a pack of coyotes to bring down a calf. I'm just a dumb city boy, so why didn't you disc the weeds under or rototill before you planted the seed?

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Once the weeds go to seed (flower at the top) discing and tilling is just like spreading weed seed everywhere. It’s a battle that you cannot win. Killing the plants before they go to seed keep a stratus of weeds from regeneration. Spraying multiple times kills multiple stratus. We will till again for sure; but the weeds won this fight and we needed to nuke em. Also; a lot less erosion on the slopes when the ground isn’t tilled under. Great question brother!

[@patrothwell9138]

How r your plots going

[@JoeTheFarmer]

So far so good! We will have some weeds in there but it should come out of the soil nicely. I am anxious to see how well this works…if it works ok may use buckwheat next year and no till again but if not 🤷🏻‍♂️. Lol. How are things with you? You doing any plots?

[@patrothwell9138]

@@JoeTheFarmer I am get ready to put in my food plots in 2 weeks.i going to do no till too.I hope yours came out good &u like no Till..Sorry about the late response

[@JoeTheFarmer]

All good Pat! We have been happy with it and trying it again this year. No complaints!

[@patrothwell9138]

@@JoeTheFarmer when do u put your Fall food plots in down there?

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Brassica’s in early August before a good rain. Cereal grains a month to 6 weeks later before a rain.

[@dougbarber3400]

What part of Tennessee are you located? Hope you do an update uOn your plots in a few weeks. Would like to see how it all came in

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Doug, we are in Middle TN close to Nashville. We will keep you updated for sure! Thanks for supporting out channel buddy!!! 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@dougbarber3400]

@@JoeTheFarmer that will be great. I'm in middle Tennessee as well. West of Nashville. Will be getting seed down over the next two weeks . All will be notill

[@JoeTheFarmer]

As long as you limit weed competition and get some good rain it should work! I don’t expect ours to win “yard of the month” but as long as it does the job I am happy. 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Keep me posted on your progress too!

[@dougbarber3400]

@@JoeTheFarmer I will let you know how the plots do this year

[@jarnold8803]

Have you considered buckwheat to get organic matter on the ground? I am trying that for my honeybees to give clover a chance in this awful Texas clay. Just a thought watched to the end but could not find email address.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey! I did consider buckwheat for this season but it os either sold out (shortage of course) or extremely overpriced. So I rolled with this strategy and so far so good! It’s not going to look like the outdoor channel but it should attract and hold deer with plenty of tonnage for our density. That Texas soil is such a challenge! Similar in Ga. if you can get anything out of the ground this fall and frost seed in late winter it should work out great. Just seed a bit heavier. Thanks for watching my friend and keep me posted on your progress in that soil!

[@Andy-me9sq]

Hey Joe. I’m new to the channel but loving the content so far. I’m in north Mississippi and picked up my own lease last year and put in food plots for the first time. I was really pleased with them. Everything was no till. Planning on planting oats, winter peas, and wheat this weekend

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Andy! Welcome to the channel buddy. Glad you found us. Man, that is really exciting!!! Where is the lease? How many acres of plots are you doing? Your plot blend sounds spot on for the first year and as you tweak things you can build on your progress. Setting the stage is almost more fun than the hunt. Almost….😜. Good luck this season and keep in touch! 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Looks like I missed it was in Mississippi. And the second year; but still exciting! Hope you are all good after the storm.

[@Andy-me9sq]

The majority of my lease is row crop ground. There’s some fingers and areas of hardwoods and pines between the ag ground. We’ll plant around 6 acres in our food plots. After the farmer gets the beans out we may try to broadcast some wheat in those places if it isn’t too late

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Sounds like an awesome spot. Once the beans are gone you know they will be in there so may not need to add more food but that’s totally dependent on deer density. Sounds like you are gonna have a great season!

[@pvreelz]

Which one would you recommend for spring & summer time?

[@JoeTheFarmer]

As far as till or no till? Or seed blend?

[@pvreelz]

@@JoeTheFarmer no till and see blend.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

No till will be tough in the spring/summer but it can work. Spray it when it blooms, seed and spray again 4 - 5 weeks later. I like something simple like clover or a meadow mix blend.

[@pvreelz]

@@JoeTheFarmer gotcha thank you for the content and swift reply.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Anytime!

[@cyndikarp3368]

Does all No Till include glyphosate? There has to be ways to do the same thing without chemicals?

[@JoeTheFarmer]

You could try vinegar, but it would prob take a ton of vinegar. Unfortunately once the weeds go to seed they continue to grow and take over. Glyphosate gets a bad wrap, I would be more reluctant to overuse 24-D. And, some chemicals you need a license to purchase. I stay away from those as much as possible

[@cyndikarp3368]

@@JoeTheFarmer Some farmers are just cutting short & planting things like corn, beans, grains & a few other crops. Dad's opinion of a weed was any plant he didn't want. A lot of native plants are considered weeds, but are important to pollinators. One example is milkweed, critical to monarch butterflies life cycle & migration.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Great info. The challenge for us is that if we let it grow; Hawthorn Brush, Waterhemp and other invasive species will grow. Nothing of value and it will eventually take a forestry mulcher to take it back. Glyphosate has it place because we wont spend all of the diesel and pollution tilling/planting/harvesting and even then we still would need chemicals/fertilizer to support the plant growth. I am learning more every day and trying to be the best steward of the property but sometimes you have to use the right tool. I am more concerned with losing topsoil than glyphosate causing any damage. And unless we want to move to a cattle operation where they would essentially be the weed control…it’s a whole new debate. Lol. Thanks for watching my friend!!!

[@johncampbell4592]

Great vid on the plots Joe never seen that seed here where I live, thanks for the info. I watched all of it. Time for something COLD😃!! 👍

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Brother! Hope you are doing well. Will I be seeing you in a few weeks???

[@BillCoSmith]

Thanks for the video Joe. I used red clover as a marker to see where the seed coverage is at. Plus red clover is very pretty in a field.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

That’s great advice! The Plot Perimeter has red clover I believe and it really is beautiful. But using it as a marker is super smart. Thanks for sharing that. And I appreciate you watching!

[@rongodwin7709]

I will be looking forward to seeing the results. Great channel I have been enjoying going back through all of your videos and getting caught up.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Ron! I appreciate you watching buddy. 👍🏼👊🏼😁

[@JayN4GO]

How many times did you burn that field that hasn’t been turned? Really rocky up here in Ky also.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Jay, I hit it 3 times. Once in April, May and July. Really once before it goes to seed. If you get it early it really knocks it back. I added 24-D in the first spray which helped a lot. The thatch should hold the seed on the slopes with all of this rain but we’ll see how it works out!!! Thanks for watching buddy and good luck. People don’t know how we grow rocks here in the south! Lol

[@JayN4GO]

@@JoeTheFarmer I’m in south central Ky. Just want to at least grown cereal rye. Dang field is brown weeds

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Cereal Grains and Oats should be no problem. They grow anywhere and I have seen them grow in our hay fields with the hay cut short and just throwing them out there. That brown grass is what you want; the thatch will hold moisture and protect from the birds and turkeys. I think you have a solid plan brother!

[@justinreynolds3332]

Good day Joe just found your channel very interesting mix you have planned what is the name of the seed company you got it from! I have been thinking about trying the no till method this fall in my plots! Hope you have a great day!

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Justin; glad you found us! I get seed from Whitetail Food Plots USA. Have had great germination rates and there isn’t any filler in the bag (weeds, inert matter, grass, etc). So far the plots are looking good! Have a great day and keep in touch buddy!

[@JoeTheFarmer]

We had two watch until the end; thanks for watching and I’ll be in touch for some freebies. You never know when we will plant some easter eggs! 😜

[@clarkwheeler8764]

Waiting to see how yours turns out. If it's only "fair" or ok, you may want to try an in between no till method....just very lightly score the ground with a disk (1-1 1/2" deep going 1 pass in each direction). I have had the best no-till success planting this way here in W. Ky. and its very quick and easy.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Clark; thanks for watching! I will post a follow up shortly. Thats a great idea and if this doesn’t work I’ll go to plan b.

[@k9omenfayettevillepolicede423]

Hey Joe, I just found your channel this morning actually, I love it! Thank you! From what I heard you say in your hard cider block, and 110 prof video, we are close. I work for the Lincoln county sheriff department, and have property in Fayetteville. I’m going to attempt food plots on both properties this year, and it’s nice to get advice from someone local that understands our weather and local planting times. Thank you so much. Know I’m on a Joe the farmer video marathon lol Merry Christmas

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey man! Welcome to the channel brother! We aren’t far apart at all (we’re in Middle TN). I appreciate your kind words and if you need any suggestions let me know…happy to share what has worked for me. Enjoy the videos, share them and Merry Christmas!!! 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@rickfromvirginia]

Nice video! I might have to try some of those combinations. I usually plant ladino clover. some of my plots have turnips also. As usual thanks for sharing! Rick From Virginia

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Rick; thanks for watching! What brand clover are you using? Hope all is well with you.

[@tomhuwar3341]

Great job Joe. Always nice to see a hunter giving back to the wildlife 365. We have 8 feeders on our lease and we keep them full of corn and some protein all year long. Keep the videos coming. We enjoy. Watching.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Tom, appreciate the kind words. I’ll be super happy if this 3 acres works! We need to build the soil in that spot and it is a fantastic place to watch and hunt wildlife. We shall see! I’ll keep you posted. 😁👍🏼👊🏼

[@benburns5995]

Hey Joe, hope you get some rain soon to help that seed get into the ground to grow. It will be interesting to see how it grows compared to when you tilled the soil..

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Thanks Ben! The Lord has blessed us with rain so I am cautiously optimistic. 😁👍🏼. I’ll definitely keep you posted. 👊🏼

[@mattclayton7851]

Great video Joe. Love this content and hope to try some of your combination plots soon. We just got a contract on a house with 16 acres in some of the best turkey/deer hunting area in our county. My son and I are so excited we can barely see straight haha. Keep the land/wildlife management videos coming sir 👍🏻

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Dude!!! Congratulations!!! That is awesome! 16 acres is a fantastic size property. Not too big and not too small. You and your son have every right to be excited. Super happy for you my friend. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉

[@bay9876]

The deer seems to need bacteria to built-up in their gut to properly digest corn. Thanks for the seeding and tilling information. Farming wildlife can be a challenge.

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Hey Bay; that’s what I hear also. Some deer can actually die if they are fed corn too early before spring because it makes them sick. I am no biologist but I try to learn what I can! Lol. Farming wildlife is a challenge for sure but it is so much fun! Win lose or draw I did my part to help them out. We have seen a positive impact over the past few years and as the age class goes up; we shall see. Thanks for coming along with us man, it makes it so much more fun. Have a great weekend!