Building up the soil

I'm thinking of disking an old field and trying to build it up for next spring. I'm contemplating seeding buckwheat for a plowdown and then seeding rye this fall to turn under in the spring. In Michigan, when is it too late to plant rye and still get some fall growth?

Thanks.

Larry in Michigan

What are you planning to plant in the spring?

I'd be planting corn and sorghum food plots. Or I might let the rye go to seed.

Larry in Michigan

Rye grows just like wheat so watch the wheat farmers. Rye will grow like crazy in the spring so you will get more growth then. I've had some grow four feet tall before I could get it plowed down, due to a wet spring.

For food plots I assume good yeilds aren't that important.
Corn won't do well if the site is poorly drained and nothing else you do to improve things are for naught as well. So drainage is usually the first thing that has to be checked and corrected if needed. That is done with perferated drain tile. Next would be soil ph. I doubt in Mich. you have high ph or alkaline soil. More likely it is low which is fixed by adding ag lime to the soil. The amount depends on a soil test for ph. Test kits are available at garden stores. You can plant buckwheat anytime now and it should help smother weeds. Rye can be planted when winter wheat is planted. Late sept or early oct. is good.

Drainage is definitely not a problem; the ground is very light. Might need lime. I'll get soil tests.

Larry in Michigan

If you access to cow/steer manure I would give it a good covering of that & plow it under. Then sow your buckwheat then plant your rye this Fall. Hal

One of the best things you can do for it is manure, doesn't matter what type just manure and a good bit of it. Plow it in real good and you will have things grow good very good
Hobby farm

If you don't have manure sow it in soybeans then plow them under in the fall and sow your cover crop. Soybeans will loosen, and add organic matter to your soil. We have done this with great success for years on tobacco beds.

I think you are spot on with your initial plan of a buckwheat/winter rye rotation. To be as cost effective as possible you may want to consider a planting of clover next spring or fall instead of corn/sorgham. With proper pH and soil fertility as well as weed control you will get a good 3-5 years productive use out of your stand instead of just the annual benefit you would get from the corn and sorgham. Considering what input costs are now, your cost /acre with be much less extended over the life span of your stand. Besides clover is the undisputed king of forages for deer and turkey. Little else compares in terms of palatibility and crude protein content. I would consider either Durana or Whitetail Clover. If you have a sprayer or can hire it out spray with Glyphosate now. Mow everything down to 4-6" first if the field is full of grass and weeds and wait a week or two for things to start growing again before spraying. Wait another week or two after spraying and disk heavily or moldboard plow. Plant your Buckwheat and cultipack. Buckwheat will do well enough in acid soil down as low as pH of 5. It will also act as a smother crop to choke out other weeds that come up. It also releases chemical substances that kill weeds. Deer like Buckwheat alot also. The growth cycle of Buckwheat is short, only about 60 days. Get your soil samples done before you plow down the Buckwheat in September. Add the required lime to reach at least a pH of 6.5 over the next three years. Plow down the Buckwheat, disk and plant you winter rye by the end of September, beginning of October. As soon as it's dry enough in the spring to get in the field plow down the rye. broadcast your required fertilizer per soil sample and plant your clover. Now all you have to do if everthing works right for the next 3-5 years is mow once or twice a season, fertilize in either spring or fall and keep weeds and grasses in balance with a selective spray like Pursuit. The deer and turkey will love you for it and you will have good hunting. If you are serious about doing this you need to jump on it right away since it's already near the end of June. Good luck.
Rick

Add manure of any type and lots of it as the others have said.Also Buckwheat is way over rated in my opinion.Plant a Legume like soybeans or similar plants to til under.Also an excellent mineral builder is a product called Planters II.

My late dad was a big believer in planting soybeans. Then plant corn in that field the following spring. Hal

My food plots are for released quail, not for deer. That's why I lean toward corn and milo. I'd like to try some soy beans if I can find a small quatity. I'd also like to try some lespedeza--excellent cover for birds and rabbits. I have a bumper crop of vetch that I might be able to disk in, and if the weather is dry tomorrow, I'll get started. I thought buckwheat 'cause it will grow almost anywhere and I can add some organic material to the soil.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions. I may try them all in different fields or plots.

Fergie:
You're the one who needs to decide what will work best to meet your goals. Do some research. Lots of good info on the web regarding use of Buckwheat/Rye as a green manure. By all means as others have said apply as much animal manure, if avaialable to you, as you can acquire. A Buckwheat/Rye rotation has long been accepted as an excellent practice for building/conditioning the soil in fields that have not been under regular cultivation. Since this field is only going to be a food plot you are of course not realizing any return on your investment other than to attract game, improve their nutrition,and build your own satisfaction. I would estimate that planting Soybeans would nearly increase your input costs about 10 times over that of Buckwheat and Rye. If you establish Clover, since you will have to mow it anyway, you may be able to sell off cow hay to offset some of you input costs. All I know is that deer around here will cross a Soybean field to get to my Clover.
Rick

Rick;

I don't mean to sound trite, but when the dog goes on point and I walk in on a 20-bird covey rise, that's all the return I need. But I understand what you are saying. I only have about 30 acres that's tillable and it hasn't been farmed in over 35 years. Lots of invading brush and trees. I have a couple of wood lots for cutting wood and I'm doing some timber stand thinning. It's going to take some time and money to get it built up again. But I'm almost to the age I can retire, so at least I'll have the time. I do have a very good timothy stand, but there's so much other junk--brambles, shrubs, etc. mixed in it, it's not much use for livestock. And there's not a lot of acreage. The deer seem to like to bed in it and the wild turkeys brood their poults in it. I'll check the websites as you suggest.

Larry in Michigan

Larry:
Yes, I understand perfectly. That's why most of us that plant food plots do it, for the shear satisfaction and pleasure it brings us, and tractor seat time not the least. Sorry, I didn't realize your target species was quail. Just seems most folks are into the deer/turkey thing now-a-days, hence my bad assumption. None the less, the Buckwheat/Rye plan is still a great technique to reclaim your old fields as you progress. Whatever you do I wish you the best of luck and have fun.
Rick