Broadcasting Beans

After seeing the result of how the beans came up after broadcasting in my other food plot with a mix of things, I am pretty confident that I am going to broadcast my larger plot in beans later this month. I picked up the seed, 5 bags this weekend. I was going to have it be row planted BUT I forgot that the other crops would be up around so there is no GOOD way for the big planter to fit in with out driving through the other fields or taking down fence.

After I cut the hay off the big plot, I will get it bailed and then Ill roundup everything in sight. Lightly till the surface crust and then broadcast beans everywhere. I bought a big 800# roller that worked really well on the other plots that I drag around with my 4 wheeler.

Anyone have any input as to seeding rates? I was going to go pretty heavy, also was going to sprinkle in a few handfuls of corn just for fun.

SKTR

When I used to broadcast beans I went about 30% heavier on the seed and that worked really good. Beans are pretty easy to grow so you should do fine broadcasting them.

I have no words of wisdom but was thinking of doing the same next year. Keep us updated.
DT

I can only tell you the recommended seeding rates that I’ve read so these are not rates I’ve tried.

Do you have general ag or forage soy seeds? That is the first thing to determine.

Ag seeds have less leaf mass than forage.

For forage the general recommendation is 60 to 80 lbs per acre.
For ag beans I’ve read 70 to 100.

Sticker pls reality check these. Do they sound right?

Grouse

I am not sure about forage beans, I have always planted ag and row planting I am putting in 50-60lbs per acres, so add 30% to that and yeah 70-100lbs would be about right. I would think 100lbs might be a little much, especially if your are lightly discing them in or packing them, but too much isn’t a bad thing.

If you have high deer density 100lbs might not be a bad idea as the deer will thin the crop. They have already started to browse my beans at home at 6″ tall.

If I understand correctly, the theory on planting ag beans heavier than forage beans is that the ag varieties have less stalk/leaf vegetative mass compared to the forage beans. Ag beans are all about pod numbers and yields and minimizing anything that doesn’t contribute.

I would agree, when planting ag beans, 100 lbs/acre SOUNDS very high to me. I would think 80-90 for ag beans. You could certainly do one test strip of 100/ac and just see what happens! I love experiments.

At some point, the density of the planting in any plant species causes excessive competition among plants such that growth is stunted. So while you may have more live plants per square yard, you will have LESS leaf and forage mass–ie the stuff the deer actually EAT. Which defeats the whole point of growing a food plot crop… Less is more sometimes.

Grouse

Yes they are AG beans. I think the biggest difference is that AG beans are all about the beans and pods whereas forage is more about leaf tonnage. Also AG beans are almost all ROUNDUP READY, which some forage varieties are not. Beans fields are a real hassle if you cant spray them a few times.

I might error on the side of closer to 100 because of the broadcast aspect of things, there will undoubtedly be thin spots and thick spots and very high browse. Also with a late planting I am running the risk of running out of moisture for young plants in July and Aug.

Shake the dice see how they lay! Its fun to day dream all day about soybeans!!