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Fall
is nearly gone and deer season is in full swing. As we look back
over the past few months and see our food plots progressing and the deer
utilizing them, one of the questions that comes to mind is "Exactly
what did everyone plant and why?" After conversing with a
variety of Co-op managers, it was obvious that a few of the blends
really stood out. However as expected, some of everything was bought and
planted for this fall.
As
we all anticipated, the BioLogic® food plot line has excelled in nearly
every Quality Co-op in which it was placed. However, with almost record
dry conditions all over the Southern region for 2005 fall planting
season, farmers and hunters sought out blends that would prevail under
these adverse conditions. Some of the plants that you may look for in
these particular blends, that seem to be more "drought
resistant" than others, are wheat and oats.
Each
Co-op was able to decorate and stock displays with particular seed
blends of their choice. These decisions were based on the customers’
needs and expectations. After all, the managers of these Co-ops have a
very strong relationship with their customers and cater to the needs of
these customers accordingly. As planting season comes to an end, we
recently took the time to talk to some Co-op managers to discuss the
aforementioned question.
After
talking to a variety of Co-op managers, the overwhelming choice was
Green Patch Plus. Scott Hartley at Taleecon Farmers Co-op said, "I
would get a pallet in on Tuesday and by Saturday I had to re-order. I
could not keep it on my shelf." The Green Patch Plus blend was very
popular throughout the state from the north to the south. Every Co-op
manager that was asked listed Green Patch Plus as one of its top three
sellers. With the dry conditions that covered the state this fall we can
see why Green Patch Plus was so popular. It is a very drought tolerant
blend that can withstand the unusual weather that we have had.
As
I talked to the store managers, they all raved about how well they sold
the Additives this fall. With the Additives being new this year, some
were skeptical on how they would do. Martha Rhinehart from Calhoun
Farmers Co-op in Piedmont said, "I sold a lot of the Alfalfa and
Chicory Additives this fall. Every time I would sell a bag of seed I
would sell them a bag of the Additives to add to it." With the
normal wheat and oats that people plant, the Additives went hand to hand
with them. They would plant the commodity seed and then come over the
top with the Chicory or Alfalfa to add some extra nutritional value to
the plot. The Brassica and AlfaClover Additives where very popular as
well. To say the least, the Additives where a huge success this year and
should get even better next year.
The
Full Draw blend was another one of the top sellers for the Co-ops this
fall. This blend offered the hunters something green early but would
also provide a food source late in the season with the brassica seeds
that are in the blend. John Curtis with Limestone Farmers Co-op stated,
"I have a lot of customers that like to bow hunt but also like to
gun hunt. Full Draw allows my customer the best of both worlds. They had
early green up for bow season and the brassicas will be there for the
gun season."
Hot
Spot was another new blend that was introduced this fall that went over
extremely well. "Hot Spot was the hot item this fall at my
store," according to Mike Clelland of Mid-State Farmers Co-op in
Columbiana. "The easy application and the fact that you can plant
this blend almost anywhere made it an easy sale to my customers."
Hot Spot was formulated to be planted in the not-so-easy places. The
reason behind it is because that’s where the big bucks feel
comfortable feeding, in the little hidden "honey holes" in
your woods. Hot Spot gives the hunters a chance to produce some quality
forage in places that they normally would not be able to. Thus getting
them closer to where the big bucks like to hang out.
Of
course, the other blends such as Maximum, Premium Perennial and Clover
Plus where bought and planted like they always have been. These three
are the premium blends that the more serious land manager plants when
trying to increase the nutritional quality and the tonnage of food
produced on their property.
"Premium
Perennial and Clover Plus where a big hit with my customer base,"
said Wayne Ward of Pike Farmers Co-op. "The fact that these two
blends offer a quality food source for a long time (typically five
years) makes my customers very satisfied." Both Premium Perennial
and the Clover Plus are excellent attractants during the fall. The best
thing about them though is that come next spring, you still have a
quality food source for your deer. The clovers and chicory in both
blends should produce up to 3-5 years if properly maintained. For the
serious land manager Premium Perennial and Clover Plus are meeting their
needs. |
