2
Usually a mixture of food plot
plants is better than a single
species. You might want to try
the following mixtures for an
acre:
For upland areas:
s
Soybean
3 to 4 lbs.
s
Gold millet
2 lbs.
s
Japanese millet 2 to 5 lbs.
s
Milo
3 to 4 lbs.
s
Buckwheat
1/2 lb.
For wet/lowland areas:
s
Big Bluestem
1-1/2 lbs.
s
Switchgrass
1-1/2 lbs.
s
Black oil Sunflower 4 oz.
s
Black-Eyed Susan 4 oz.
s
Ladino Clover
1 lb.
For dry/upland areas:
s
Little Bluestem 1-1/2 lbs.
s
Sideoats Grama 1-1/2 lbs.
s
Black Oil Sunflower 4 oz.
s
Black-Eyed Susan 4 oz.
s
Ladino Clover
1 lb.
One good single crop to plant
for wildlife is sunflower. It is a
favorite food for goldfinches,
house finches, cardinals, blue
jays, titmice, chickadees, and
many other birds.
It’s easier to manage a single
crop for higher production than
multiple crops.
Some mixtures may contain
species of plants that may
dominate and crowd out the
others. Whatever you plant, the
crops must be compatible.
For most crops, the seed is
the most important food
source, although wildlife
consume both the seed and
vegetative portions of some
crops.
If you want to match the crop
to the wildlife you want to
cultivation, or both, will be
beneficial because some species
prefer to feed on ground that is
not filled with vegetative
growth. Black oil is the best
variety.
Grasses
Provide browse and nesting
areas to a variety of wildlife,
and some birds feed on the
seed.
Grasses used for wildlife
plantings are usually perennial,
thus making them long-duration
crops.
Clipping after young wildlife
are raised will help reduce weed
problems. These grasses are
often grown with legumes, such
as alfalfa and some of the
clovers.
Small Grains
Oats are preferred as browse
by most wildlife. But geese and
ducks prefer wheat as browse,
while doves eat the seed.
Planting strips of wheat and
sunflower or proso millet have
produced excellent feeding
areas for doves.
attract, here are a few
suggestions:
Millet
Both the seeds and
vegetative parts are consumed.
Wild fowl and upland birds are
most common. Proso millet
attracts mourning doves, but
beware as the seed might be
contaminated with Johnson-
grass, which is tough to control.
Corn
Food source for a variety of
wildlife. Geese will eat it as their
primary feed when available.
Ducks, squirrels, deer, and
turkeys like it also.
Soybeans
Plants are eaten by deer and
quail. Deer eat the foliage, while
quail eat the seed. Geese and
ducks will also eat the seed, but
prefer other feed.
Sorghum
Preferred by many species.
The bird-resistant type
contains tannin, causing a
bitter taste that discourages
feeding until the grain is fully
ripe. This discourages
blackbirds, bobolinks and
grackles.
Plant short varieties if you
want ducks and geese to be
able to reach the seed head.
Buckwheat
Provides an attractive feed
for waterfowl. Although it will
not last long, it will entice birds
to your land. Because of its
short-term usefulness, do not
use it as a sole crop.
Sunflower
Excellent food for doves and
songbirds. Planting the crop in
rows and using herbicides,
WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to help
individuals and families establish or
improve the wildlife habitat on their
properties.
For more information or for the
name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please
contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Ct.
Myersville, MD 21773
Phone: 301-293-3351
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
