Dove Fields

[Rob7]

Wanted to get the Dove Field thread started for this year. I enjoy reading about and seeing others fields. Due to upcoming time constraints we had to get the Dove Field planted earlier than normal. Mowed and Tilled Thursday and Friday and then Sprayed pre-emergence, Medal II EC Herbicide, and Planted the Clearfield Sunflowers on Saturday using the old John Deere 2 row corn planter with sunflower plates in it. Thankful for the rain today and the upcoming warm temperatures and additional rain in the forecast Planning to spray the field when the sunflowers are about a foot tall with the Beyond Herbicide and then come back a week later and spray with Clethodim. Right before season we typically let nature takes it course in lieu of any kind of burn down with a glyphosate. Before opening weekend we usually cut 1/2 the field anyway. Curious as to what others were planning for this year.

 

[jwalsh]

Looks great, how many acres do you put out?

 

[Rob7]

Looks great, how many acres do you put out?

Its right around 5 acres.

 

[bigpuddin43]

we got lucky this year as the mares tail came up before we planted usually its after and we just have to live with it. to late to spray 2,4-d so picked up some liberty and smoked it. waited a week and hit it again just for good measure and to hit a spot or two I missed. struggled with getting planter to plant perfectly. my popcorn/sunflower plates were not planting good at all switched to small corn plates and they were doing better but still over populating. after 3 hours of fooling with it I just got it best I could turned the monitor off and drove. we will see how they are when they come up. sprayed saturday after planting with medal2 and roundup.

 

[hunt-4-life21]

I normally like around the 15th of May, give or take 10 days. Really, the later the better for me. I'm not sure why but black oil sunflowers always turn brown by the first weekend of August for me. That normally makes the finches worse but also draws doves in sooner. I tend to peak in dove numbers the 3rd week of August.
I've done some clearing on my field and trying to add a few more rows. I sprayed 2 weeks ago for burn down and it's taken a while to kill stuff with as cold as it's been. I'll work my ground one more time before planting, hopefully this weekend if it dries out. I'll spray pre emergent called Authority Edge. We're spraying Authority Edge on soybeans this year too (normally it's Authority XL) so that's the first year chemicals for sunflowers and soybeans have worked together, which is a plus.

 

[OLE RASPY]

Yalls fields look good.

I’m gonna plant brown top millet and sunflower seeds around memorial weekend. Pick the seed up Thursday hopefully when they call me.

 

[bigpuddin43]

Sunflowers are starting to come up. Struggled with getting the right size plates figure out. But think it will turn out ok.

 

[smashdn]

Tell me about your JD planter. I've got an old 246 or 248 over at our old place. Probably been sold for scrap by the meth heads that rent the place or has a tree growed up in it now.

 

[Rob7]

Tell me about your JD planter. I've got an old 246 or 248 over at our old place. Probably been sold for scrap by the meth heads that rent the place or has a tree growed up in it now.

I acquired from a friend of mine a few farms away probably 15 years ago. He had gotten it from a friend of his probably 10 years before that. I will have to do some more research on it and see if I can find any markings on it. Its been super reliable. We simply clean it before and after use and grease each year and the only issue we have had was the drive train breaking one time which was an easy fix.

 

[OLE RASPY]

Seed it tomar

 

[KYH5N1]

I planted ours on 5/14, they were up on 5/19. Authority Elite as pre-emergant. Looking very good so far but could use some rain.

 

[Tankt]

Bushhogged field today and plant next weekend. Going with millet or milo or a mix. Any other recommendations besides sunflowers?

 

[KYH5N1]

Millet is great especially if you bale it. I have heard of people raking and burning the wind rows. I always tried to beat as much seed off as I could before putting it in the bale. Try to have your field as smooth as possible before planting.

 

[Feedman]

Millet is great especially if you bale it. I have heard of people raking and burning the wind rows. I always tried to beat as much seed off as I could before putting it in the bale. Try to have your field as smooth as possible before planting.

Run a hay tedder through it. It will beat a lot of seeds off. Run it twice.

 

[bigpuddin43]

Mine are looking fair. Not happy with how the planter did but think it will be ok to kill a few doves. On a side not duck corn is looking good. Waiting on a chance at rain so I can put some fertilizer down.