Plan-B Plots

When Food Plots Fail: A Lesson From Two Brutal Summers

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Let’s get one thing out of the way right now: food plot failure sucks. Especially when you’ve poured time, money, and energy into your fields… only to watch them wither under a cloudless sky. I’ve been there—twice.

In both 2023 and 2024, I planted soybeans on our family farm in south-central Kentucky with high hopes. The timing seemed fine at first—both years, I got the seed in the ground in late May or early June, right ahead of a forecasted rain. The beans germinated just fine. But shortly after, the weather turned hot and dry, and those young plants never had a chance to establish a canopy. Without the shade to cool the soil and conserve moisture, the plots couldn’t keep up with drought stress or browsing pressure.

It was devastating. These aren’t just food plots—they’re part of my livelihood. And while I don’t control the weather, I do take responsibility for pushing the planting window later than I should have.

This year was different. I got the beans in the ground at the end of April, and thanks to consistent rainfall through spring, the results have been night and day. The fields look great. But more importantly, the failures of the past two years taught me lessons I wouldn’t trade.

Let Nature Work for You

Once I realized my bean plots weren’t going to amount to much, I didn’t panic. I spot sprayed only the worst weeds—like Johnsongrass—and left the rest of the field alone. Ragweed, daisy fleabane, partridge pea, and a dozen other broadleafs began to fill in the space. That plant community, while not what I intended, helped hold the soil, support insects, and provide some browse.

Instead of tearing it all up mid-summer and stressing an already moisture-starved landscape, I waited until late July to start prepping those same fields for fall. And that’s where the story turned around.

Fall Blends to the Rescue

With summer beans a bust, I pivoted to cool-season food plots. I drilled a diverse fall blend—Smorgasbord by Eagle Seed Company—which includes brassicas, clovers, collards, cereal grains, and more. I’m not married to any one brand, and I often recommend blends based on soil type, budget, and client goals. But no matter what mix you go with, here’s the beauty of fall plots:

• They're easy to establish

• They provide a longer feeding window

• And they often draw more deer than dried-up summer plots ever could

I saw it firsthand. Those same fields that were supposed to be filled with rattling bean pods in November were instead vibrant with leafy greens and lush diversity—and the deer responded. In fact, I had better late-season movement in those cool-season plots than I’d had with standing soybeans in years prior. The variety of forage seemed to keep deer around longer, especially during daylight hours.

Reworking the Landscape

Plot failure also gave me space to reimagine some of the layout. I converted certain zones to native early successional habitats, and established others as perennial clover firebreaks. By changing how I manage those areas, I added long-term value to the farm that I never would’ve considered if the beans had just “worked out.”

When the Plan Fails, Pivot with Purpose

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If you’re staring at a crispy summer plot right now, I get it. It’s easy to feel discouraged. But don’t waste the opportunity to try something new. Every failure in the field is an opportunity to reshape, reseed, and rethink what your property could be.

A New Chapter: Licensed Real Estate Agent in Tennessee

In addition to running Whetstone Habitat, I’m now officially licensed to help you buy or sell farms in the state of Tennessee. This has been a long time coming, and I’m thrilled to add this service to my toolbox to help landowners just like you.

Whether you’re looking for your dream hunting property, selling land you’ve poured years of work into, or just kicking around ideas—I’d love to talk.

Schedule a habitat consultation at www.whetstonehabitat.com
Or reach out directly if you’re interested in purchasing a farm: (717) 645-4050

Let’s give your property—and your plans—an edge.

—
Zack Vucurevich
Certified Wildlife Biologist
Licensed TN Real Estate Agent
Founder, Whetstone Habitat