real world soybeans
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: craigmcalvey
25-Nov-19
I am considering planting some of these or a similar type bean next year. we have heavy deer pressure here in mid Michigan and my thought was to mix a regular ag bean along with the northern blend forage bean. anyone planting this stuff in zone 4?
Craig
From: Habitat
26-Nov-19
check out deerhunterforum.com if you don't hear anything here
From: 1boonr
26-Nov-19
I’ve tested all the specialty seeds against the seeds a farmers uses. I have never found a noticeable difference in any of em. Clover, beans, turnips etc. the only difference is the price.
From: Pat Lefemine
26-Nov-19
I've had great luck with their beans. They come up great every year, and provide a super balance between Bean and forage production. I also like that they are RR since weeds drive me crazy. I tried Eagle but like RW much better. No idea how they stand up to ag beans but there's no sense in experimenting when you find something that works reliable year in and year out.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
26-Nov-19
Craig,
I have outstanding results, IMHO, with regular ag soybeans. I broadcast heavy and cover with a drag harrow. Soil fertility and pH seems to be more important than variety.
These were sprayed when about 4" tall. Nary a weed and no tracks after full growth. Not worth the extra money IMO.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
26-Nov-19
Plenty of browse matter and plenty of beans.
From: t-roy
26-Nov-19
Are you wanting them mostly for the forage aspect? Real World beans are not considered “forage” type beans. They are an “ag” type soybean, but the deer will definitely devour them when green. I’ve planted both the Gen2 & their other variety. The biggest advantage of the Gen2 beans is they are more shatter resistant, which means the pods don’t open up as easily and hold the beans in the pods better and later into the winter.
I agree with Frank, in that I don’t think they are worth the extra costs vs what I can get regular ag beans where I’m at, here in the Midwest.
From: craigmcalvey
26-Nov-19
t-roy I don’t need summer forage, I need November and December food and through the winter. I already do a brassica and cereal grain plot but want to add more. My thought with the forage type beans would be that they tolerate browsing better than plain ag beans. I will be broadcast seeding them and then discing them in
From: WI Shedhead
26-Nov-19
If you have heavy pressure better plant 3+ acres or fence them in or they will never make it
From: lewis
26-Nov-19
X2 Wi don’t ask me how I know Lewis
From: t-roy
26-Nov-19
If you’re wanting food for the deer in November/December, I’d go with the ag beans. The forage beans don’t seem to produce nearly as many pods. Totally agree with WI shed. You either have to plant enough of them, that the deer can’t keep up with the growth, or keep the deer out so they can mature. The fencing system works pretty well. It won’t keep all of the deer out, but will help tremendously.
From: drycreek
26-Nov-19
If you want to fully understand your deer density, plant soybeans or iron clay peas. :-)
From: WI Shedhead
26-Nov-19
I don’t have enough ground to plant soybeans so I went to May planting of sugar beets and I will have plenty of bulbs into the winter and it’s way cheaper.
From: JL
26-Nov-19
I was thinking of trying sugar beets next year too. I did two types of clover, New Zealand clover, wheat and purple top turnips this year. The deer responded to the turnips the best. I tried soybeans but the deer cleaned them out before they got too far. It sounds like you fence them in or plant heavy....I did neither....teachable moment WRT soybeans
From: Pat Lefemine
26-Nov-19
Sugar beets are great but they grow slow and there’s nothing you can spray on them to control weeds. It was a battle trying to control pigweed in my sugar beet plots.
From: t-roy
26-Nov-19
X2^^ They’re a great draw, but the most finicky thing I’ve ever planted, and a nightmare for weed control for me, at least. I planted some RR ones years ago that turned out incredible. Then Monsatan put the kibosh on anyone other than actual ag farmers growing them.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
27-Nov-19
Look at the pods. Broadcasted rye grain into the beans as they started to turn yellow.
From: t-roy
27-Nov-19
Wow! Those beans really did well, Frank!
From: Habitat for Wildlife
27-Nov-19
Thank you. The deer started hitting them again as cold weather moved in and all surrounding crops have been harvested.
From: Pat Lefemine
27-Nov-19
Damn. My beans are good but not That good! Are they RR?