Choose a large area with well-drained soil to plant the soybean seeds. In the fall, the plants need full sun to make up for less overall daylight. The deer are attracted to these plants even when they are young, so larger plots will provide food over a longer period of time. Plant soybean seeds 1 to 2 inches deep in rows 24 to 30 inches apart.
How big of a soybean plot do I Need?
First, soybean plots should be as large as possible — within reason. A small plot does not have the food volume to withstand browsing pressure. I would never consider a soybean plot that is smaller than ½ acre — 2 or 3 acres is much better.
How do you fertilize soybeans?
Begin with a soil test to determine the quality of it. Since soybeans are nitrogen-producing plants, it’s likely you won’t have to apply as much of it when fertilizing — especially if the ground was already in them in recent years. On the flip side, they are potassium- and phosphorous-hungry plants.
When is the best time to plant soybeans?
If you live in agricultural country where farmers are growing a lot of soybeans, wait about two weeks after they’re done planting their fields before planting your soybean plots. This will give the whitetails a chance to find and key in on large bean fields. This will reduce early browse pressure on your plots.
Why plant soybeans in the fall?
Once they ripen in the fall, the soybean becomes a very preferred food source until there are none left. The soybean pod and bean provide great nutritional value and will attract and hold deer consistently. The soybean! When we started planting soybeans about 10 years ago the regular and predictable nature of our food plot attractiveness changed.
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What's the best way to plant soybeans?
Plant seeds from late spring to early summer. Soybeans must have warm soil to germinate and grow. Poke holes into a cultivated bed or row to plant soybean seeds about 2 inches (5 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep. Thin to 6 inches (15 cm) apart in all directions.
How many acres do you need to plant soybeans for deer?
3-5 acresThe one thing that limits soybeans is the size of the food plot. A general rule of thumb without knowing deer density is that 3-5 acres are the minimum acreage you need. Any less and you will have stubble growing as the deer simply mow it down before it can catch up with browse.
When should you plant soybeans for deer?
Best Time to Plant Soybeans should be planted just after the last frost, when the soil temperature is over 60 degrees, usually April in the South and as late as June in the North.
Can you broadcast soybeans for food plot?
Yes! A lot of food-plotters broadcast soybeans and get great stands. When broadcasting use about 65# of soybean seed per acre versus 50# when using a planter. Also, drag or cultipack the plot after broadcasting to get some soil covering the seed.
Will deer bed in soybeans?
That being said, after many years of bowhunting and observing whitetails, I've learned that deer find some food sources more desirable than others, and soybeans are at the top of the whitetail's list.
Do whitetail deer prefer corn or soybeans?
Without a doubt, they prefer beans. From the time they sprout, until the last one is picked from the ground in later winter.
How many pounds of soybeans should you plant per acre?
Use 50 lbs per acre or use the chart provided to calibrate your drill or planter for optimal planting conditions. Narrow rows (15” or less) should be used for heavy deer densities.
Does soybeans need fertilizer?
Soybean crop yields will decrease when it lacks essential nutrients. Therefore, it's important to develop a profitable fertilizer program to maximize crop yields.
What type of soybeans Do deer like?
forage soybeansSoybeans developed for grain production are typically shorter and more erect with a shorter maturation period, while forage soybeans are generally taller, bushy and more viny, which helps increase forage production. This is why forage soybeans are typically planted for deer.
Can you plant soybeans without tilling?
Soybean yields are not impacted by no-tilling. There is no need to spend labor and fuel incorporating the corn residue. Additionally, spring tillage operations are not effective for breaking soil compaction. In fact, the opposite happens in normal spring conditions when soil moisture is plentiful.
What is the best row spacing for soybeans?
Research across the Midwest over several years has consistently shown that soybean planted in narrow rows (<30 inches) has a yield advantage compared to wide rows (≥ 30 inches).
Does rolling soybeans to increase yield?
While land rolling in soybean does not seem to provide a direct yield response, it provides 'peace of mind' during harvest in rocky soils. It is important to roll soybeans at the V3 growth stage or younger, when plants are still pliable enough to bounce back.
How many soybeans per acre should you plant?
When soybeans are planted in May, a final (harvest) population of 100,000 to 120,000 plants per acre is generally adequate for maximum yield. Final soybean population depends on germination, emergence, disease and insect pressure, competition from other plants, etc.
How many acres do you need to farm a deer?
On average each adult animal needs 1000 square feet of space. So, an acre of land with good grazing accommodates 2-3 adult whitetail deer, 7-10 adult fallow deer, 4-7 adult red deer, 7-8 axis deer, and 1-2 elk. In addition, you need to plan for protection from the elements, and methods to feed and water your animals.
How much do soybeans cost to plant per acre?
Average costs per acre for soybean ranged from $168 to $204 and average cost per bushel ranged from $3.30 to $4.19. Average returns per acre ranged from $62 to $194.
How much does it cost to plant and harvest an acre of soybeans?
Like corn, soybean costs are projected at record highs in 2022. Total costs are projected at $785 per acre, with $476 per acre in non-land costs and $309 per acre in cash rent. The 2022 projected costs exceed 2021 cost of $652 per acre by $124 per acre.
How big should a soybean plot be?
A small plot does not have the food volume to withstand browsing pressure. I would never consider a soybean plot that is smaller than ½ acre — 2 or 3 acres is much better.
How tall should I spray soybeans?
I typically wait for the vegetation in my soybean plots to reach 12- to 18-inches tall and then spray the plot with glyphosate. The weeds will then be killed, and the soybean plants will be left to grow with little or no weed competition. I am currently experimenting with deer repellent sprays that I’m mixing with glyphosate and spraying over the soybeans.
Why Plant Beans for Deer?
Whitetails crave soybeans during the late season for several reasons. First, there’s likely not another food source at that time of the year that comes close to offering the same level of protein. I have sent a sample of soybeans (in the pods, which is how deer eat them) to an independent lab for testing and found they consist of nearly 30 percent crude protein.
Why are soybeans important to hunters?
More important than the opportunities soybeans offer to hunters is the nutritional benefit they provide whitetails after the hunting season has closed — when deer need it most. Harsh winter weather can have a major effect on the health and well-being of whitetails.
Why are whitetails attracted to soybeans?
Further, and probably more important to whitetails at that time of year, soybeans are also high in fat (because of their oil content). A whitetail uses this fat as energy to increase body heat. Considering these factors, it is no wonder why whitetails are so attracted to soybeans during the late season.
How to keep deer from entering food plots?
Besides maximizing the size of your soybean plots and strategically planning the timing of your planting, more options can help you establish a bean plot. Several companies offer fencing products to keep deer from entering food plots until the plots have grown to a point where they can withstand browsing. One of these products is simply an electric fence that some plotters have adjusted to fit their application.
Why are soybeans good for deer?
Primarily, deer are so attracted to soybeans that they can wipe out a young stand about as fast as the seeds germinate. There are several ways to combat these problems.
How much soybeans should I plant per acre?
If you have access to a no-till drill, I recommend planting soybeans at a rate of 50 pounds per acre. This includes the Gamekeeper blend. If you wish to mix cowpeas into your soybean stand, I recommend using 25 pounds per acre when drilled.
When should I plant soybeans in the South?
When dragging your food plots, be sure to cover the seed one-half to one inch deep. In the South, I recommend planting your soybeans in late April to early May. Personally, I plant my soybeans the last week of April. This ensures they have time to mature and produce bean pods before the first frost.
How many groups of soybeans are there?
Soybeans are grouped in groups of one to eight, based on the length of time it takes the bean to mature. For instance, a Group 1 soybean matures very quickly, which means once it is browsed by deer during the early stages of growth, it will not be able to grow through the browse pressure.
How long does it take to grow soybeans?
This results in the soybeans being overbrowsed and makes it very tough to get them past the first 30 to 45 days. In order to help establish a stand of soybeans, I recommend a few things. The most important thing is to plant the soybeans in large stands, about three acres or more for agricultural soybeans.
What is the pH of soybeans?
Anything less than 6.5 is considered acidic and anything greater than 7.5 is considered alkaline. Soybeans prefer a pH level between 5.8 and 7. This is fairly easy to maintain if you stay on top of your soil pH levels.
What is the pH level of a food plot?
The pH level is the measurement used to gauge the soil acidity or alkalinity. A pH level between 6.5 and 7.5 is considered neutral.
Can you grow soybeans for deer?
In summary, soybeans can and will greatly help you provide for your deer herd through the summer. However, it does take some prep and site-specific requirements in order to be successful.
Why are standing soybeans important to food plots?
Standing soybeans changed everything for us; and continue to do so. When we have standing beans we can and do draw deer on a reliable and consistent basis. Once the bean ripens in early fall they will become and remain a preferred food source until they are picked clean and will draw deer better than any other food source. This has been our experience, but there are other reasons why soybeans are our preferred food plot.
How many seeds per acre for soybeans?
These beans were planted at a rate of about 140,000 seeds per acre, with 50 lbs of 5-14-42 fertilizer added at planting. These beans are doing great and will get hammered until they are gone once they ripen and the fall harvest removes the ag beans. Get ready to hunt them hard right after the fall harvest.
How many soybean seeds should I use per acre?
I only use round up ready soybean seeds. This brand is Bahr’s but I have used many others. Typically, seeds are sold in 140,000 seed bags which is perfect for an acre using a planter. I use about 1.5 bags per acre or 210,000 seeds when using a disc to sow them. A bag or two per acre of a low nitrogen fertilizer like the one shown in this picture will get you close to replacing nutrient losses from the bean yield. I spread the fertilizer and bean seeds on the plot and disc them in…that’s all there is to it.
How much nitrogen does a bushel of beans remove?
30 bushel beans remove 126 pounds of nitrogen, 12 pounds of phosphorus, and 38 pounds of potassium per acre. 50 bushel beans remove 210, 20, and 63 respectively. I think it’s fair to say that food plots will yield somewhere between 30 and 50 bushels so fertilizer requirements should fall between these two levels.
How long does it take to plant beans on an acre?
I use this Ford 861 and 6.5 foot disc to put in all my beans. I can broadcast in my beans and fertilizer, and disc them in with ease. It takes me about an hour per acre to plant beans on previously planted ground.
When do deer eat soybeans?
From the time a soybean plant pops out of the ground in early spring until the beans are consumed in late fall or winter, there are very few times that a standing plot of soybeans will not attract and hold the local deer herd. When they first emerge, deer will browse the young sprouts and consume the high protein leaves and stems like candy. This will last from April or May until the plant starts to yellow in late summer or early fall. Then, for a brief time as they ripen and yellow, deer will avoid the bean fields only to return a few weeks later to once again pound the pods filled with the ripened beans. The field stays a preferred food source until every last pod is consumed…this can last well into winter. What other food plot has that kind of high value nutrition for that long of a time frame?
How much does it cost to grow soybeans?
Soybeans, well, the soybean is relatively easy to grow, has input costs of around $125/acre, and can be planted in exterior plots of 2 acres or more, maybe as little as ½ acre if alongside row crop beans.
How tall do soybeans grow in South Dakota?
The problem was whitetails began hammering the fields after the plants grew leaves. In South Dakota, my soybean fields would grow to about 12 inches tall, then the deer would consume every green leaf that grew.
When will soybeans stop growing?
The author has planted soybeans for many years in his Midwest food plots, but that stops in 2020.
When is the best time to buy whitetail seed?
DIY land managers have many decisions to make each year, and the most important ones will happen during the next couple months. Late winter and early spring is the time to buy seed that will soon go in the ground for whitetails, and if you make a poor decision, it will negatively affect your deer hunting for the remainder of the year.
Do deer eat soybeans?
The author’s soybean food plots in Wisconsin drew many whitetails during summer, including some big bucks, but because the plots were small (quarter-acre to half-acre), deer consumed nearly all the soybean leaves before archery opener.
