Imperial whitetail alpha-rack 1.25 acres 16.5 lbs
Instructions:
For best results, complete all steps in the order shown. Stay within the planting dates for your area as shown on the back of the bag. Cutting comers can negatively affect your results!
Seedbed Preparation
1. Select a site with moderate to well drained soils.
2. For optimum results, perform a laboratory soil test in advance of planting to determine lime and fertilizer requirements. Have the lab test for establishment of a giant white clover/alfalfa/chicory mix.
Tip: For best results, use a soil-test kit that requires you to send a sample of your soil to a qualified soil-testing laboratory for analysis (not a do-it-yourself test). The Whitetail Institute's laboratory soil-test report is very easy to understand.
3. Add the amount of lime recommended in your soil-test report. If no soil test is available, then add a minimum of 2 tons of lime per acre. For best results, disk or till the lime thoroughly into the top few inches of the seedbed. If possible, lime should be added several months in advance of planting.
DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! MAKING SURE SOIL pH IS OPTIMUM (6.5-7.5) IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN CONTROL TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL PLANTING!
4. Disk or till to prepare a good seedbed. If possible, perform this step two weeks before planting to help reduce the amount of weed seed that might germinate.
5. Add the fertilizer recommended in your soil-test report to the seedbed. If no soil test is available, then add 400 lbs. of 6-24-24, or equivalent, fertilizer per acre.
6. Lightly disk or till the fertilizer into the top few inches of the seedbed.
7. Smooth and firm the seedbed with a drag or cultipacker.
Planting
Tallinig
8. Broadcast the seed at a rate of about 13 pounds per acre.
Tip for Using Shoulder-type Seeders: Set the gap in the seeder so it looks like some seed ail, come out, but not enough. Put one half of the seed required for the plot into the spreader, and try to cover the entire seedbed with it. Leave about 12 feet between each pass. Then, repeat the process with the other half of the seed, but this time putting the seed out from a different direction by walking across your first path.
9. DO NOT COVER THE SEED!
If you used a drag to smooth the seedbed before seeding (Step 7): Do nothing further after you put the seed out. The seed will naturally fall into good contact with the soil.
If you used a cultipacker to smooth the seedbed before seeding (Step 7): Cultipack the seedbed again one time after putting the seed out to help press the seed into good contact with the surface.
*Tip For Monitoring Grazing Pressure: After planting, place a small wire basket over a portion of
Forage Maintenance
All perennial forages require a little maintenance each spring and summer to stay lush and attractive, and last as long as they should. Making sure soil pH and nutrient levels remain optimum with lime and fertilizer is crucial for making sure the forage stand stays as lush and thick as possible so that it's harder for weeds to get a foothold. Grass and weeds that do appear should be controlled in a timely manner.
1. The most important perennial-forage maintenance priority is grass control. If grass appears in your plot, spray Arrest MAX® in early spring. Wait to spray Arrest MAX® until you see that the grasses are actively growing taller. Whitetail Institute's SureFire Crop Oil is also highly recommended for use with Arrest MAX® when grasses to be controlled are perennial and/or mature.
2. Maintaining proper soil pH and fertility is critical for forage health, performance and longevity. Perform a laboratory soil test in early spring, and add lime and/or fertilizer as recommended in the soil-test report. Only a laboratory soil test can tell you exactly what lime and or fertilizer amounts you need so that your planting can flourish, and that you save money by eliminating wasted lime and fertilizer expenses.
If no soil test is available, then top dress the plot each spring with 500 lbs. of lime, and
400 Ibs. of 0-20-20 fertilizer, or equivalent, per acre. (Tip: Maintenance fertilizer may be applied in one application, or split in half with one application in the spring and the second in the fall.)
3. Mow the plot once or twice in the spring as soon as you see the forage plants, or any grasses or other weeds starting to flower. This can help keep weeds from producing seed, and it also helps keep Alfa-Rack Plus lush and attractive so that it's harder for weeds to establish. Do not mow the forage plants below 6 inches. Do not mow when the forage plants are stressed, for example during excessively hot weather or drought.