Many food plot failures can be attributed to a flaw in the planting process. Many times it is seed depth or a lack of good seed to soil contact that results in a poor stand. Using a cultipacker can greatly improve seedling survival by ensuring a more even and consistent seed bed. This is especially important when planting small seeds such as clover, alfalfa, chicory, or brassicas for example. These seeds are tiny and do not contain the energy to push through a deep covering of soil. A ¼ inch is all these small seeds need.
This ideal seed bed can be best achieved by disking or tilling your soil and then pulling a cultipacker over the plot to firm the seed bed up and even out the soil. Small seeds can then be broadcast at the recommended rate onto this seedbed. If no immediate rain is in the forecast, pulling the cultipacker back over the plot to incorporate the seeds into the top ¼ inch of soil will work wonders. Using cultipackers also helps to conserve soil moisture after disking or tilling a plot. Check out these new ATV/UTV cultipackers that the GameKeeper’s are using, built like a tank and made to be used. These cultipackers also have a place for weights that can be added for really tough planting conditions.
