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This seems to be the divide in general for all states.

Welcome! Also hail from the Show Me State! :)

Yes, here is one from a few years ago, wanted to see what they gave. The information is very limited. Just macro level nutrients tested. Nothing for buffer PH, base saturation percentages, nothing for Sulfur which is a big miss for the macro level.. If you're just looking for PH and...

Jan 18, 2026 Review of marked timber shows fairly hard edge between woods and field. Even fairly larger stuff (with limited to no timber value) marked. Quite a few cedars have encroached the field with time. As many know, cedars are a pioneer species, often indicating what was once a...

I'd encourage you to get a forester to mark TSI for you. This will guide you on what is marketable, or safe to take. Then if you have the time, resources to self perform then go for it. Agree with the above, go to town. Deer will return quickly.

Yep.

Another good thread on the topic: https://iowawhitetail.com/community/threads/yearly-food-plot-maintenance.65471/

Midwest Labs is probably most popular. Just open an account and mail in samples. That easy. https://midwestlabs.com/ I use the S3C test to get a few more values. I paid around $55 for the last 2 tests I mailed in. Your local NRCS branch will also test.

A little confused by your question.. Recommendations for inputs are listed on your soil test for what you're intending to grow. Cover crops / no till are a very slow way to increase organic matter, and take a commitment of many years. Manure is a much quicker way to increase. You don't...

My $.02.. 1) All starts with a soil test. Without that, you're flying blind. A good one from Midwest Labs is an incredible tool. Test multiple locations, at least 6-8 along the highest point(s) in your planting area. This gives you the worst case scenario, as typically nutrients run...

Come on Az, that was your first mistake.. :D

I don't really see the upside to hinge cutting to be honest. In my experience, it just creates a mess that nothing can get through. Clean cutting will allow the tops to decay while the stumps still sprout. Future burns could clean them up. Also allows more sunlight to the forest floor...

Typical edge feathering practices call for 10-15 yards into the woodline. No hinge cutting, dropping completely. Will not treat stumps however, so expect regrowth for most everything except cedars.

December 2025 Update shows switchgrass over 5-6' high along low edge (right side of photo). Already kicking out rabbits. Noted increase use of deer in field in daylight hours. Due to lack of weed control, not a solid stand of switchgrass. The mosaic of variety was what I was hoping to...

July 2025 By the second year, the buffer is a dirty edge of switchgrass, ragweed and other natives. Exactly what I had hoped for. No weed control was used. Seeded the switchgrass in June 2023 and walked away. August 2025 - Mark Edge Feathering Local forester marked trees for edge...

Follow along as I walk through an edge feathering and switchgrass field buffer project in Central MO. Goals for the project are: - Screening for me to get in / out of stands without being detected. - Screening for the deer, between woods and field so bucks have to come out into the field to...

Good question. Lots of benefits IMO.. - Screening for me to get in / out of stands without being detected. - Screening for the deer, so bucks have to come out into the field to see all other deer. - Switch creates a nearby safety buffer, so deer feel more comfortable using in daylight hours...

We are burning in about 2 weeks, after season close here in MO. Then we drop the trees into the (burned) switch. From there, the switch will grow up through the open tree tops creating a mess of cover that benefits all wildlife, including quail, rabbits, turkey nesting, fawn hiding...

IMO - Big increase to daytime activity once I utilized switch buffers. Big fan here. Low side is marked for edge feathering by forester. Will burn the low switch edge and drop edge trees into it. Looking forward to the response.

Don Higgins talks about a droptine buck that threw it every other year. Never know with genetics, that's the beauty of them..