Terminating Winter Rye Cover Crop by Mowing

[@RushOutdoors]

As soon as you disc you turned the existing weed seed it will be interesting to see your results with your fall plots based on what might be in the soil. Keep us posted great video and info.

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Yeah, you’re right. I disced it more as a demonstration for the video so folks could see how the whole process works. But ideally I would have left the rye thatch on the undisturbed ground then disced it under once I was ready to plant my fall plot. Thanks for watching and good comment- I should have made that point in the video.

[@Camera1931-p5v]

Great job! You are growing some awesome bucks!

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Thanks! Yeah we are lucky to have some big boys around here. I never did catch up to that buck in the video. Hoping he is back this year. Will get cameras out soon.

[@louisberthiaume5265]

Excellent video! Can't wait to see it pay off!

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Hey thanks Louis!

[@LetsGoYall]

I had pretty good luck with my Scag zero turn, had to go over the plots a couple times in different directions, but it did the job

[@northernforestwhitetail]

It’s kinda nice to have the rye mower it makes a great mulch on the plot

[@josephtreadlightly5686]

Keeps weeds @ bay & also holds the moisture better in that sandy soil. Not to mention the bio benefits behind the whole process.😮

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Exactly

[@josephtreadlightly5686]

I do the same thing on sandy soil here in central MN. But I use Buckwheat & then when it comes to full maturity I let it seed naturally during the driest time of the summer. Much less weeds that way & u never have to bring weed seeds to the surface goes thar sand that was tilled years ago doesn't need it again. The most important part of doing Buckwheat this way is to plant a clover/brassica blend that favors forage radishes rather than turnips. Turnips which aren't as efficient ➕️ they take up too much space & stunt themselves when the seed is too thick. I like to plant this the 1st week of August when there's a likelihood that we will be getting rain. I always broadcast fall seed & come back a couple of day b4 a rain & flatten the Buckwheat which is probably easier to do than rye. More bees & butterflies around during the summer also. This is important since milkweed is evidently on the endangered list in my area. 😮

[@scottpavek236]

Love this video thanks! Wondering what your target plant date is? How far north are you? What crops do you have in mind?

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Thanks- my target plant date for my turnips will be mid July; for my Radish, oats, winter pea combo I’m shooting for first week of August, for my rye and red clover patch, I’m doing mid August. I’m up in northern MN where our first frost date on average is September 19th. Earlier that most all of the rest of the the country. What about yourself??

[@figandcloverranch5871]

What you planting in a couple weeks for the Fall? And more top layering of rye ??

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Yeah on part of my plot I’ll be planting turnips and I shoot for a mid July planting for those. Another part I’ll put into a mix of oats, radish, and winter peas (early August planting date). The third strip I’ll be doing winter rye with red clover (early August planting date). I’m up in northern MN and our average first frost date is September 19 so I’m planting everything usually two-ish weeks earlier than anywhere else. What do you have planned for plots this year?

[@kendallfeia8234]

Really love your videos. I'm also in MN, (south of Brainerd)... I really appreciate seeing your process because it seems like so many of the habitat managers don't understand the challenges of fighting MN elements (winter, snow cover, soil conditions, browse pressure, etc). Curious what part of MN you are in if you don't mind me asking. Just seems like your planning to plant your plots earlier than I am, so thinking you must be further north than we are like Bemidji or Hibbing area possibly??

[@northernforestwhitetail]

@@kendallfeia8234 hey thanks for the note- yeah I don’t want my exact location pinpointed but I’m in between Bemidji and Hibbing. I tend to plant my brassicas mid July and that seems to work well.

[@whitetailwarriorsdeercamp88]

Nice video. Wish we owned more land than we do up at camp would love to do a plot ☹️

[@northernforestwhitetail]

This rye can really take a pounding from the deer so you don’t need a big plot. I hope you can scratch together some dollars and maybe some day buy another chunk! I dream of buying more land some day

[@familylundin709]

Great new video

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Thanks!

[@dylanlundin8594]

Great Video!

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Hey thanks!

[@louisberthiaume5265]

hoss

[@EvanLundin]

HOSSINGTON

[@troybrake5686]

Why not just roller crimp and keep that thatch for planting in, maybe don't plant 300lb per acre and it will be easier to work with now its established! This way the weeds stay suppressed and you hold moisture in the sandy soil!

[@RetiredOutdoors]

What brand atv disc are you pulling? I’m using a groundhog max but it’s so tough on my machine.

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Not sure on the brand of my disc. Got it at a flea market years ago. Thing works great. I bought a groundhog max a few years ago and used it one season. Then sold it due to the wear and tear on my wheeler. I’m with you that I’m not a fan of the groundhog max.

[@calvinbryans2017]

I don’t think you need to mow it at that stage. You should try a plot of just disking it. I did a strip in a field of just disking at flower stag and got good results.

[@northernforestwhitetail]

Good to know. I left half my rye. I plan to let that side go to viability then just run my disc thru it to restart rye again for this fall (no mowing). Thanks for the idea 👍

[@dennisignowski144]

What are planting for fall??

[@northernforestwhitetail]

I’m going to do turnips on approx half my plot (mid July planting time) then on a different portion I’m going a mix of oats, radish, and winter peas (early August planting) . And lastly I’m keeping an area in winter rye with red clover (early to mid August planting). Keep in mind my first frost date average is September 19th so I plant a tad earlier than most of the country. What about you?

[@archeryonly5629]

👍