The Art of Sustainable Agriculture: Minnesota's Food Plot Movement

It's that time of the year to start thinking and planning about getting your food plot ready for the fall season in MN. Are you someone who is interested in starting a food plot, or do you have a food plot that is tilled and ready for seed? We here at Deer Valley Service can help you, whether you are a beginner with no knowledge other than you like to hunt and would like to create a plot, or are knowledgeable with food plots and just need to try something new or want to expand your plot.

We have gained valuable information about the best seeds, proven to be effective in Minnesota, and the optimal planting times for food plots thanks to a dedicated hunter and food plot enthusiast from Pine City, MN.

Recommended to plant from the end of July to the beginning of August:

Turnips:

• Turnips are a good food source for deer because they are high in protein and digestible, and deer prefer them over other plants.

• Protein: Turnips can contain 15–20% protein in both their leaves and roots.

• Digestibility: Turnips are easy for deer to digest.

• Palatability: Turnips become sweeter and more palatable after a hard frost, which causes a chemical reaction that increases glucose in the plant. Deer may start eating turnips as soon as they germinate, but they usually don't eat them in large quantities until mid-October to early November.

• Variety: Some varieties of turnips produce more leaves than roots, while others are known for their roots. For example, Purple Top Turnips are known for their roots and are not affected by light frosts.

Rape:

• Rape is the most common brassica planted in food plots for deer. Dwarf essex is one of the most common varieties used in food plots. Rape germinates and grows very quickly. It is a very versatile forage and can tolerate cold, hot, and dry conditions, making it more productive during times when other forages are not.

Brassica:

• Brassicas are very easy to grow and provide an inexpensive, quality food source for your deer herd. Brassicas also produce loads of forage, allowing those who can only plant small plots to keep deer on those plots for months at a time.

Recommended to plant from the end of August to the beginning of September:

Cereal grains:

• Cereal grains like oats, winter wheat, winter triticale, and winter rye are good for deer because they are nutritious, easy to grow, and inexpensive. They can be especially important for deer in the fall and winter when native forage is scarce, and can help deer survive the rut and the stress of winter. Cereal grains are also highly digestible and can revive the soil for spring planting:

Oats:

• A top choice for deer, oats are highly nutritious and digestible and can contain more than 25% crude protein.

Winter Rye:

• Can be grown in soil temperatures as low as 37°F, winter rye can provide nutrition from fall through spring. It's also one of the first things to green up in the spring, which is critical for deer coming out of winter.

Winter Triticale:

• Winter triticale, a cross between wheat and rye, is a cereal grain that can be a good forage option for deer because it's highly digestible, nutritious, and palatable:

• Nutritious: Winter triticale is high in carbohydrates, which provide energy for deer during winter and the rut.

• Digestible: Winter triticale is highly digestible for whitetail deer's four-chambered stomachs.

• Palatable: Deer like the taste of triticale.

• Winter hardy: Winter triticale can survive winter and early spring, even in deep snow and cold temperatures.

• Easy to grow: Winter triticale is inexpensive and easy to grow, even for beginners.

If you need help starting the food plot you have always wanted or need help with seeding or any other aspect of food plots, please feel free to reach out HERE to see what we can do for you.