How the food plot calculator works
Seed recommendations are published as pounds of Pure Live Seed (PLS) per acre. Your bag is never 100% pure live seed — the tag lists purity (how much is actually the species you bought) and germination (how much of that will sprout). The calculator converts the recommendation into bag pounds:
Bag lbs = method rate (drilled or broadcast) × acres ÷ (purity % × germination %)
Broadcasting needs more seed than drilling because seed-to-soil contact is worse — and the increase is species-specific, not a single number. MSU's Southeast guide runs from about 1.3× (alfalfa) to 2× (brassicas, ladino clover, soybeans); this calculator stores each species' published drilled and broadcast rate and uses a generic 1.5× only for custom rates. Cultipacking after broadcast improves survival dramatically — if you do nothing else, drive over small-seeded plots (clover, brassica) with something heavy after seeding.
Food plot seeding rates — Southeast (MSU) profile, planted alone
| Species | Drilled (lb PLS/ac) | Broadcast | Plant | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (ladino) clover | 4 | 8 | Spring or fall | ≤¼" |
| Red clover | 10 | 15 | Fall | ≤¼" |
| Crimson clover | 15 | 25 | Late summer | ≤¼" |
| Brassicas | 5 | 10 | Mid–late summer | ¼" |
| Chicory | 5 | 10 | Spring or fall | ¼" |
| Winter wheat | 100 | ~130 | Fall | ~½–1" |
| Cereal rye | 100 | ~130 | Fall | ~½–1" |
| Oats | 90 | ~120 | Spring or fall | ~½–1" |
| Soybeans (commercial) | 50 | 100 | Late spring | 1–1.5" |
| Austrian winter peas | 30 | 50 | Fall | 1–2" |
Rates follow Mississippi State's Southeast food-plot guide; your state's extension recommendations may differ — check locally. Clovers and other small seeds should never go deeper than about ¼".
Don't skip the soil test
Seed is the cheap part. A soil test through your state or county extension office (fees vary by state — often $8–20) tells you the lime and fertilizer the plot actually needs — and correct soil pH and fertility are foundational to successful establishment and nutrient use. Brassicas and clover in particular underperform badly on acidic, unfertilized ground.
Frequently asked questions
How much seed for a ¼-acre plot? Quarter the per-acre broadcast rate: white clover ≈ 2 lbs; brassicas ≈ 2.5 lbs; winter wheat ≈ 32 lbs (before the PLS adjustment).
When should I plant brassicas for deer? Mid-to-late summer (roughly 60–90 days before your first frost) so bulbs and leaves are ready when cold weather sweetens them.
Can I just throw and grow? Broadcast-only works best with tiny seed (clover, brassica) on exposed soil before a rain. Expect thinner stands — that's exactly why the broadcast rate is 1.5×.
Sources
- Purdue Extension FNR — Pure Live Seed calculations
- Penn State & MSU Extension — food plot establishment guides
- USDA NRCS — wildlife food plot seeding specifications