OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, food plot management has become the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion dollar hunting industry. People are growing food plots for several reasons: as an alternative to baiting; to encourage increased antler development; for increased herd development; year round foraging; improved nutrient and vitamin supplementation; outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis; improved wildlife habitation; and for people who just love to watch wildlife flourish.

Food plots can range in size from 100 sq feet to several acres. They are grown in every area of the country and in all types of soils. The recommendations for starting your own food plot are as follows:

1. Get a soil analysis (multiple samples for bigger plots). This eliminates all the guesswork for what you are trying to achieve.
2. Bush-hog the area and then apply Round Up™ to defoliate the food plot. After 10 days, power rake and/or disc the defoliated area of dead leaves and grasses.
3. The soil should now be ready for seeding. After choosing the seed of your choice for deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, etc, apply the seed.
4. Apply a mixture of AGGRAND Natural Liquid Lime (NLL) and AGGRAND Natural Organic Fertilizer (NOF) in 50 to 60 gallons of water per acre, directly after seeding the soil. The amount of NLL and NOF mix ratio will depend on your soil analysis. A typical mix ratio would be a gallon of each mixed with 50 - 60 gallons of water per acre. The great advantage of using AGGRAND products is that you can mix the products together and apply them at the same time.
5. A second foliar application should be applied about five to six weeks after seeding. The food plot should have about four to six inches of green-up at this time. Use the same mix ratio that was used at seeding time.
6. If the food plot was planted in March or early April, a third foliar application may be applied in early June.
7. Let the food plot go with its dormancy period throughout the summer. In mid to late September, apply one last foliar application. Not only are you fortifying the forage for the fall and upcoming winter periods, you are also invigorating the soil and protecting the plants from cold weather stresses.
8. Repeat this process the following spring. It doesn't matter whether you have an annual or perennial cropping system. Replenishing the soil with AGGRAND benefits not only the soil, but provides increased microbial and earthworm activity. An acre's worth of healthy earthworms produces 700 pounds of earthworm castings a day. Earthworms also provide ample soil aeration.

For whatever reason you choose to grow food plots, AGGRAND is the natural choice to start and maintain food plot management for years to come.