Whatever it Takes!
Posted By
George Dean
at
8/30/2010 12:00:00 AM
For the last few years planting food plots has become common practice for me. Seeing the benefits of providing food sources during the entire hunting season has made my ground very attractive to deer. But owning ground along the Iowa River, has taught me patience and not to hurry when it comes to planting my food plots. Spring floods are common and strong storms can cause havoc to plots well into June. This year started the same as most, heavy snows caused an abundance of runoff. But by mid May all was dry, so I took a chance and planted my beans and corn. Normally I rarely get my plots in before June, so I was not surprised when the rains came and my plots soon became covered by water. June came and once again the corn and beans were in the ground. Soon after, knee deep water covered my plants. July came around and I started to get a little worried. I couldn’t plant corn anymore, because the growing season was now to short and there was not enough time for the corn to produce ears. Plus it still was a little wet for heavy equipment. So my third planting of beans were now broadcast onto the ground as I crossed my fingers. I started to relax a little as late July came and all looked to good. Then 3” of rain followed by 6” of rain poured from the sky. I watched as the Iowa River overflowed its banks killing my beans and drowning my dreams. I started to wonder if I was even going to get a crop in this year. 
On August 14th my son I drove down to our ground to see what damage out food plots sustained. I was kind of surprised to see some of the beanson the higher ground were still alive. But large parts of it, including a plot my wife and son shoot their first bucks off of were nothing but black dirt. (Episode 7 and Episode 10) As I drove home I had a tough decision to make. I could just hang it up or I could try it one more time. I had already spent a lot of time and fuel on these 10 acres and it seemed Mother Nature was getting the best of me every time. But knowing I had everything to gain by getting something planted, I logged on to Frigid Forage’s web site and started to look at my options. I would only have a short growing season, so I needed fast and hardy growing plants. To my amazement, they had several late season annuals seeds to choose from. Winter oats, autumn quick plot and Big N beasty caught my eye. 
My oats went in Aug 21st and for once I found myself asking for a little rain to get them to germinate. On the 28th my son and I finished up the plots by broadcasting Big N Beastly over top our oats and in with our beans. If all goes good we should do ok, but I have said that before. If this summer has dealt you the same hand as me, there still is time. But you need to act quickly and call John at Frigid Forage to go over your options. As I look at the calendar youth season opens in three weeks and the future of my food plots are unknown. But check in weekly for updates and to see how my season turns out on Midwest Whitetail Iowa.
