Wildlife food plot seed available from Saline County Soil and Water Conservation District

SALINE COUNTY - The Saline County Soil and Water Conservation District will once again have wildlife food plot seed available. The SWCD has acquired sunflower, corn and soybean seed for planting food plots for wildlife. The seed is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests will be taken for the seed until the supply is depleted.

A planting site should be selected near natural cover such as a brushy draw, the edge of a wooded area, a shrubby fencerow or drainage ditch or any odd area not being used for crop purposes. Keep in mind that wildlife must be able to reach the food patch without exposing itself to natural enemies. One food plot, ¼ acre in size, is sufficient for every 40 acres of farm ground. Long, narrow strips are usually more desirable to wildlife and will provide more edges than will block plantings. The width of the planting site need not exceed 20 feet. Each bag of seed the Soil and Water Conservation District has available is enough to plant ¼ acre if broadcast or drilled with a small grain drill.

Over seeding produces competition with poor crop value, whereas proper seeding rates result in heavy seed production for good food value. Prepare a good seed bed by plowing and/or disking and fertilize as for small grain. Food plots should be planted between May 15 and June 15th. Seeds have been treated and should not be left exposed. Plant the seed ¼ to ¾ inches deep, depending on seed and soil moisture conditions.

Requests can be made by calling the Conservation District office at (618) 252-8621, Ext. 3 or by coming into the office in the USDA Service Center at 912 S. Commercial in Harrisburg. Please leave a message if no one is in the office or available to take your call. A signup sheet is also available in the foyer to place your request. Landowners will be contacted by phone when seed is available for pick up.