Duck Lake crop

Tilla · 02-08-2003, 10:06 PM

I am looking for an new idea in planting the duck lake next year. We currently work with millet and corn. Has anyone had success with something in between. The millet seems to gain favor for a week or so Oct/Nov in the season and it's gone. The corn (of all varieties) is gone later in the season if at all. I was wondering if anyone has successfully worked with a Milo or "woodier" stalk type grain that would last into the early Dec time frame. We average 1 foot water. It would be dry farmed.

bigshark · 02-08-2003, 10:24 PM

I suggest you try a strip of Buckwheat that touches the water a some point. The birds usually won't hit it until after Thanksgiving but once they hit it, WOW. If you can, keep most of it out of the water or they will go through it too fast. It's only about 45 to 50 days to go from sprout to mature seeds. Also not bad on the dogs eyes as millet can be in some cases.

Crashin' Bait · 02-09-2003, 04:32 PM

[ 02-09-2003, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Crashin' Bait ]

K16 · 02-09-2003, 05:31 PM

Tilla, Take a look at biologic duck feed crop. Try and find the history and biology on this stuff it's pretty impressive.

Just briefly, it was a failed commercial rice crop from one of the southern universities. Biologic folks found it and the things that were wrong with it for a food crop made it exceptional as a duck crop.
-Strong stem, withstands heavy frosts.
-Multiple stalk heights, for food at every level of the pond.
-will grow in standing water, irrigated plots and mud.

I have not tried it yet at my pond still need to get permisssion from the land owner.

Hope this helps. K16

duck-boy · 02-13-2003, 07:15 PM

Sorry Tilla hanen't been on for a few days but to answer your question, we plant 4 duck lakes on our farm here in the Forest Grove Cornelius area. We have had good success with planting millet with the corn and in the open areas we hunt we plant a mixture of millet, millo (sorhgum), buckwheat, spring wheat, barley, and field peas. This has been a good mix and it can all be added and mixed up in a grain drill. The millet with the corn can be planted with a corn planter at the same time, a little millet gets taken out when you cultivate it but the trade off is great. When the water gets higher there's plenty of feed for the birds. I hope this helps if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at moe315@earthlink.net Iv'e been doing this for over 15 years and i do belive we have a good program for the bird during hunting season and afterwards. Wich in my opion is important to establish a good lake.

duck-boy

Tilla · 02-13-2003, 11:35 PM

We do plant about half the corn with millet also. I agree, this is a great idea. So this blend your talking about is OK dry farmed? And you can feed through the same "drill"? The Milo (Sorghum) is what we are interested in since it should stand up longer than the millet. The Peas sound intriguing.

bigshark · 02-14-2003, 10:18 AM

Tilla

We tried sorghum for three seasons and it was a bust for us. Birds never touched it.

When I hunt the Pasco\Richland area we have hunted in pea fields several times. Its VERY effective over there. Our club hasn't planted it here as we were told you need lot of heat. Hope you give this a try and I will try to touch bases with OSU people. Duck Boy may have a great idea with the mixture idea.

Tilla · 02-14-2003, 02:46 PM

I think there is a variety of Pea the farmer plants as a crop now, I was eating the peas raw while checking on the lake. . It still doesn't solve the Millet to Corn bridge. Looking for a "tweener".

willametteriveroutlaw · 02-14-2003, 03:19 PM

Rice works very well. There is an older guy who runs a club up near Amity who has some really good rice blends for ducks. I'll look for him # and try and post it later.