Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:30 amHelping out my buddy this morning, gonna try some jap millet mix and see how it does.
WaterfowlForum.Net
Duck Hunting Forum, Goose Hunting Forum, Waterfowl Hunting, Duck Boats.
https://waterfowlforum.net/
Farming for ducks
Page 1 of 6
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:30 amRe: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:59 amI usually just plant corn a few days before the hunt. Your way might work too.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:00 amAnd dumb dumb is here
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:34 amHell yeah dude. That's awesome, I've always enjoyed making food plots. As long as the little finches and stuff stay off of it when it heads out I bet it'll be fine.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:27 pmHope it does well for you. A friend (who's kind enough to invite me for afternoon hunts when I'm free to play) is giving golden millet, which is new to me, a go this year, and I'm anxious to see how that turns out.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:56 pmAre you guys gonna do a flash irrigation. Or hold water on it for the summer?
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:18 pmGadwallGetter530 wrote:Are you guys gonna do a flash irrigation. Or hold water on it for the summer?
Its situated so that we can charge it with water from another pond that is slightly higher and holding water. I guess we need to get it 4"-6" high before adding any standing water.
I dont know though, I just volunteer labor and get lots of invites in return.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:24 pmYeah. If you have constant hot weather you can keep an inch or so water on it. It Kinda acts like rice. The safe bet is just do what you are doin. Like you said once its established holding water on it will make it explode. Cool stuff buddy.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:36 pmOn the bag it was labeled as "duck mix". Half jap millet, some kind of dove millet, sorghum, buckwheat and something else.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:43 pmGood luck! It would be fun to farm and see the results when hunting season rolls around.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:55 pmIs that stuff a perennial?
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:02 pmassateague wrote:Is that stuff a perennial?
It said we could see some volunteer growth next year, but if you want a full crop it has to be replanted.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:29 pmGet a hold of some water grass. Basically the wild version of jap millet. Comes back strong every year and with a couple of irrigation in the summer. Its hardy plant compared to millet, with around the same yield per acre. Ducks love the stuff too.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:58 pmAlways cool trying out new stuff. We did some jap millet here last year and it did ok. Some guys dropped the ball on irrigation. We're trying a sorghum Sudan hybrid this year. We grow it for cover crop at the farm so I know how to work it. Good luck
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:29 pmgila-river wrote:Always cool trying out new stuff. We did some jap millet here last year and it did ok. Some guys dropped the ball on irrigation. We're trying a sorghum Sudan hybrid this year. We grow it for cover crop at the farm so I know how to work it. Good luck
Do you know how much water the millet mix should take for germination or is the soil moisture enough to make it sprout?
Its my buddies deal, I was just lending a hand today.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 11:39 pm3legged_lab wrote:gila-river wrote:Always cool trying out new stuff. We did some jap millet here last year and it did ok. Some guys dropped the ball on irrigation. We're trying a sorghum Sudan hybrid this year. We grow it for cover crop at the farm so I know how to work it. Good luck
Do you know how much water the millet mix should take for germination or is the soil moisture enough to make it sprout?
Its my buddies deal, I was just lending a hand today.
From the pics. Your soil looks pretty heavy. It may be enough to sprout. It's hard for me to say without feeling it but we sprinkle everything to an inch or 2 here because the soil is very light and even if you go easy flooding it will wash out and bunch a lot of seed in low spots and makes a shitty stand.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:06 amI'd hit with a shot of water. Millet likes it when the ground is wet and moist. I've planted alot of millet at my place and my buddy's over the years.
Whats the average high temp there in the summer?
Whats the average high temp there in the summer?
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:10 amIts is pretty damp. The water table is high and this pond is close to the river (less than 1/2 mile) and adjacent to the WMA which stays flooded year round. Elevation of the pond is also lower than the river, he floods in and pumps out.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:09 am3legged_lab wrote:Its is pretty damp. The water table is high and this pond is close to the river (less than 1/2 mile) and adjacent to the WMA which stays flooded year round. Elevation of the pond is also lower than the river, he floods in and pumps out.
Dry farm it. At least til it germs.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:24 amI farm too!!!!
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:26 amJuice Box wrote:I farm too!!!!
Farming fat chicks at concerts doesn't count
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:26 amI was drunk and she was easy lol
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:31 amIf she was fat she wasn't dry...
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:15 amAKPirate wrote:If she was fat she wasn't dry...
:lol::lol:Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:25 amGadwallGetter530 wrote:Get a hold of some water grass. Basically the wild version of jap millet. Comes back strong every year and with a couple of irrigation in the summer. Its hardy plant compared to millet, with around the same yield per acre. Ducks love the stuff too.
What other names does this go by? Barnyard millet?
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:27 amJR, it will work as long as you have enough water when it is needed. Jap millet is the main thing they use at Sauvie's Island WMA, besides corn that is. It will take a few years for the birds to build in good numbers, unless they already use the property. That's also depending on if it's in the flight path too, if it isn't already a feeding area.
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:17 amHahaJuice Box wrote:I farm too!!!!
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:11 pmJuice Box wrote:I farm too!!!!
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:14 pm3legged_lab wrote:Its is pretty damp. The water table is high and this pond is close to the river (less than 1/2 mile) and adjacent to the WMA which stays flooded year round. Elevation of the pond is also lower than the river, he floods in and pumps out.
In the photo of you working the ground. Is that as much moisture you're gonna get in the dirt? Or are you planning on water subbing in from the next field over?
Re: Farming for ducks
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:24 pmGadwallGetter530 wrote:3legged_lab wrote:Its is pretty damp. The water table is high and this pond is close to the river (less than 1/2 mile) and adjacent to the WMA which stays flooded year round. Elevation of the pond is also lower than the river, he floods in and pumps out.
In the photo of you working the ground. Is that as much moisture you're gonna get in the dirt? Or are you planning on water subbing in from the next field over?
I really dont know, im not the farmer, just the volunteer labor. We can open a gate and let water in any time though.
Also I told him about the water grass you mentioned and he said to ask you where to get it and how much is it.