2011 Spring Seed Distribution is Completed

The final Seed Distribution took place on Saturday May 21, for the general public and it was a success. We intended to distribute the remainder of this years seed purchase at the Gander Mountain Store in Flint. We accomplished our goal but, we do have 3 bags of switchgrass remaining.  

If you are interested in planting switchgrass this year contact Jay, our habitat chairman at 810-635-7988.

Your chapter received the seed for the spring planting and are preparing for seed distribution to our members. The Michigan PF Chapters combine their orders for seed to get the best price and through the cooperation of all the Michigan Chapters of PF.

This years order included:

• 1500 lbs of Round-up Ready corn (150 acres)
• 200 acres of our Michigan Mix (corn, sorghum, sunflowers, and buckwheat)
• 1500 lbs of grain sorghum (240 acres)
• Nesting cover order information was received the week of 1/31/11 and is currently under consideration for order quantity.

Do You Need a Planter?

 Our chapter does have a no-till drill to rent.  It is a 6 foot Great Plains drill.  It can plant food plots, warm season grass, switch grass and nesting cover.  It cost $125 for the first ten acres and $6/acre above the ten acres.  If the ground has been tilled, this planter will still work.  The drill needs about a 50 horsepower tractor with hydraulics.  The hydraulics raises and lowers the drill to make corners and turns.  If the tractor is a 4WD with 40 hp will work.  The hydraulics is a standard ½ inch or 5/8 inch.  If you have a Kabota you may need your own ends.  We have John Deere ends and the standard is Pioneer ends. The link below has information on the 6 foot drill we have.

http://www.greatplainsmfg.com/products/notill/notill.html

Check our website for details on dates and location (geneseecountypf.com) and watch for our advertisement in the Flint Journal and View Papers, outdoor sections for exact dates and times.

2010 Seed Distribution Statistics

Our chapter distributed all of the seed we purchased for this spring. Our last seed distribution date, May 1, 2010 was very successful and all the seed listed below gone in just one hour.

• 2500 lbs of Round-up Ready corn, (260 acres)
• 200 acres of Michigan Mix (corn, sorghum, sunflowers, and buckwheat)
• 2250 lbs of grain sorghum (150 acres)
• We will be ordering nesting cover, warm season grasses and switch grass as soon as we get pricing ( approx. 150 acres)

2009 Seed Distribution Statistics

125 Cooperator contracts written, 475 Food Plots acres, 215 acres of nesting cover and switch grass.  There was a 30% reduction in food plot acreage but a 307% increase in native grasses which are key to improving pheasant habitat.