QDMA Pennsylvania State Chapter

Food Plot/Habitat Tip of the Month: May 2010
Brought to you to stimulate thinking, and help with your Habitat improvements!
BRASSICA TOXICITY IN DEER
A REAL DANGER OR A MARKETING PLOY?
Steve Trupe – Trupe’s Wildlife Management

About 10 years ago a “new” group of plants called Brassicas hit the Wildlife Management and Food Plot Planting Scene and became the “hands down” most popular annual planting for Fall Attraction and Winter Feed for Deer, especially in the snowy North Country. Brassica is not a plant, but an entire family of plants that includes Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale, Canola, Radishes, Turnips and Rape. These plants can be planted in late Summer and will grow and mature in late Fall. They withstand extreme cold and remain upright in deep snow to provide a high protein and high carbohydrate forage well into the Winter. The large leaves are usually consumed first, and then the roots of Turnip and Swede are often eaten into the Spring. Nearly every Food Plot Seed producer markets a Brassica Mix. Northern hunters are sold on Brassica Food Plots.

In the past few months an ad by a well known food plot seed producer that does NOT market Brassicas has been appearing in outdoor publications suggesting that Brassicas are toxic to Deer. They are using results from 30 to 40 year old research on CATTLE. The research was conducted in a fenced pasture where the cattle could only consume the brassicas that were grown there. By publishing this data they are suggesting that we might be poisoning our deer with Brassicas. The scare tactics are to get us to quit using Brassicas and instead use their cereal grain product.

It is true that Brassicas CAN contain large amounts of toxic alkaloids, glucosinolates, thioglucides and SMCO that are linked to several unhealthy conditions such as: anemia, goiter, nitrate poisoning, rumen stasis, bloat, diarrhea, respiratory disease and others. Again, these conditions can also be associated with many other improperly used types of forages. In spite of these potential problems, Brassicas have been used as livestock forage in this country for decades and in Europe and Asia for centuries. A bit of knowledge and common sense can minimize or even eliminate any threat of Brassica Toxicity in wild or domestic Cervids.

In a recent phone conversation, I asked Ed Spinnozola, well known to QDMA members as “Mr. Brassica”, about Brassica Toxicity. His response was that it is a concern BUT a deer would have to consume over 75% of its food intake in Rape or Turnips to even begin to have an adverse effect. He stated “If Brassica toxicity were such a serious problem Southern folks would have to stop eating turnip and collard greens and cole slaw; Indians would have to stop grazing their sacred cattle in forage rape fields (which they have been doing for 3000 years) and New Zealand, the world leader in Red Deer meat and antler velvet production, Sheep production AND forage products would have to stop feeding and developing Brassicas. Alfalfa, Clover and Corn can also be toxic to deer if fed exclusively or they are not introduced to it gradually”.

The important points to remember to greatly reduce or eliminate any threat of Brassica Toxicity are:

Deer have a much smaller Rumen than cattle and must forage selectively on high quality foods, rather than just stuff themselves with whatever is at their feet. They forage on the move and pick up a wide variety of foods in the process. They also have an uncanny ability to determine which foods are best for them at the time and which are not.
Plant a variety of different food plots and/or plant combinations. Plant high carbohydrate crops such as corn and cereal grains or have natural foods like browse, fruit or acorns in close proximity to your Brassicas.
Plant your Brassicas in mixes with other plants such as cereal grains (oats, wheat, rye, triticale), soybeans, Winter Peas and even corn. One of my favorite mixes is Wheat, Oats or Rye with a Brassica Mix and Austrian Winter Peas. Ed Spinozzola likes that mix and also likes a Brassica Mix with late planted Forage Soybeans.
Avoid planting Brassicas in high Sulphur soils and/or using high sulphur fertilizers. High amounts of Sulphur can compound the occurrence of SMCO and glucosinolates. High amounts of Selenium in the soil, other foods or dietary supplements can counter those effects.
Use more Canola or Improved Forage Rape and Turnip varieties in your Brassica Seed Mixes. Most seed mixes from reputable companies contain such varieties. Since the 1980’s forage producers have been developing Brassica forages with highly reduced amounts of glucosinolates and euric acid, the main culprits in Brassica Toxicity. See the following report from the Canadian Government, dated 2008/09, I found on the internet by “Googleing” SMCO as instructed in the Brassica Toxicity AD. Note the dates of all the Brassica Toxicity research cited, it’s 21 to 50 years old!!

General poisoning notes: From Canadian Gov’t. Biodiversity Information Facility
Brassica oleracea includes common cultivated crops such as kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. All these vegetables are capable of forming toxic quantities of SMCO, a chemical that can cause hemolytic anemia in livestock. These plants also contain glucosinolates, which can cause goiter. In general, these widely used vegetables are safe for human consumption. Cases of livestock poisoning occur when they are used almost exclusively as fodder for animals (Kingsbury 1964, Smith 1980, Cheeke and Schull 1985, Benevenga et al. 1989). Glucosinolates contained in kale, cabbage, and broccoli (Brassica oleracea) can cause goiter in humans. These plants cause goiter in less than 5% of cases in humans. The chemicals cause a reduction in performance of young livestock, especially swine and poultry (Fenwick et al. 1989). It is important to note that the frequency of toxicity has dropped dramatically since a few decades ago. Researchers have changed the quantity of toxic compounds in the entire Brassica spp., creating new cultivars with lower quantities of these chemicals. The threat of poisoning from some of the plants has diminished or virtually disappeared in some cultivars. For example, the Canadian development of rapeseed into the so-called "double-zero" cultivars (low in glucosinolates and in erucic acid) has allowed rapeseed meal to be used for livestock at much higher levels without reducing performance (Cheeke and Schull 1985).

In my opinion, this “Brassica Toxicity Scare”, is just that. A marketing ploy used by one company, twisting the facts from decades old research, to scare the food plot planting public into avoiding the “competition” and planting only their products. If you follow the recommendations in this article Brassica Toxicity should NOT be a problem for you deer herd.

Any comments or Questions Please Contact Steve Trupe @ stroupe@frontiernet.net

Senior High Project; Food plots of for Wildlife.
By Greg Fry Pa. Bucktail Graduate
Spring Grove High School
Spring Grove, PA.

My name is Greg Fry. I'm seventeen years old and a junior at Spring Grove High School. In the future I plan to become a Whitetail deer biologist. As a graduation project for school, I wanted to do something related to whitetail deer. I worked with Drew Lambert of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to plant a food plot. In August I met with Drew to plant the plot. We planted a plot about 3/4 of an acre on Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Our first step was to fertilize the plot. I learned that fertilizing and liming the plot before you plant it is important to the young plants growth. Then we disked up the weeds. When we were done it was time to plant the seeds. We planted a clover and chicory blend from the Whitetail Institute. The seed came up very nice and the plot is doing well. I learned many new things about planting food plots like how much fertilizer and seed to throw on a plot. I would like to thank Mason-Dixon Branch of QDMA for supplying the seed, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and a BIG thanks to Drew Lambert for his expertise in assisting me with my graduation project.

Thanks,
Greg

Wildlife biologists often speak about "balancing" the deer herd. What does this mean? How many of us really know just exactly what it is they are trying to accomplish, how to go about it, or how to know when we have gotten there? Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering several programs this spring on deer and habitat management -- balancing the herd.

Deer populations larger than the habitat can support pose serious problems for homeowners, agricultural producers, woodland owners, and the public. Safety is one issue affecting many people -- from Lyme disease to deer-vehicle collisions. A recent Maryland survey found that 1 out of 6 citizens knows someone who hit a deer with a car. Deer browsing reduces farm crop yields, damages landscape plantings, and reduces forest plant diversity. Managing deer populations so they are in balance with the available habitat is essential.

Research has repeatedly documented deer impacts on tree regeneration and forest herbaceous plant diversity. The ability of a forest to support deer is a function of both deer density and forage availability. By selectively browsing preferred palatable plants, deer influence tree seedling numbers, species composition, and seedling height growth. Because deer are free to move, it is important to consider their management at a landscape level and to understand how concentrated preferential feeding can shift plant communities. As deer feed on one species, another species that is not preferred can become increasingly common. Research findings indicate that when deer numbers exceed what the land is capable of supporting, deer can severely impact the forest’s ability to regenerate itself following natural or man-made disturbances.

Landscape level forage availability relates directly to the ability to support a healthy deer population. When deer populations are out of balance with available habitat, preferred forage species decline and subsequent foraging is even more detrimental to preferred plant species. Preferred plants continue to decline in abundance and may even be locally eliminated from the landscape. In regions where over-browsing for decades has severely depleted food species, even very few deer have major impact and the habitat can only support very few animals. In landscapes with little preferred forage, deer numbers in balance with available habitat must be kept low. To sustainably increase the number of healthy deer the habitat can support, landscape forage availability must increase. It is possible to increase desirable forage through management activities such as controlling undesirable vegetation and harvesting trees.

When deer numbers are out of balance with their habitat, look for obvious browse lines, evidence of severe browsing on non-preferred species such as American beech, striped maple, and black cherry, and forest understories dominated by species deer avoid (e.g., hayscented fern, striped maple, American beech, hophornbeam, mountain laurel, blueberry, spicebush). Across Pennsylvania it is relatively easy to recognize areas where the deer-habitat balance has been upset for years: non preferred plant species, such as hayscented fern, cover the forest floor. Many Pennsylvanians have never seen a healthy forest understory. Can these habitats recover over time? How do we move them from undesirable species to create better deer habitat? What kinds of management decisions will lead to the best solutions? Resource managers have some of the knowledge and tools necessary to improve conditions, but sometimes the answers are evasive.

Web seminars and hands-on workshops offered this spring by Penn State Educators and partners will answer some of your questions. The first webinar entitled "Regenerating Hardwood Forests; Managing Competition, Deer, and Light," is on February 9 at noon and 7 p.m. The second webinar, entitled "Deer Habitat Management," is on March 9 at noon and 7 p.m. For webinar details or to register to participate, visit: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PaForestWeb.html.

Penn State will also offer several hands-on workshops entitled "Deer Density and Carrying Capacity Workshops." These workshops are open to landowners, hunters, and anyone interested in learning more about deer and their habitat. During the session participants learn how to evaluate a given habitat, how its condition relates to deer biology, density, and carrying capacity. For a listing of dates and locations for these workshops, visit the Renewable Natural Resources Extension webpage at: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu, and click on the "Calendar" Quick Link on the right hand side of the page.

The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management. For a list of free publications, call 800 234 9473 (toll free), send an email to RNRext@psu.edu, or write to Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in Partnership with Penn State's Forest Resource Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.

Written by: Dave Jackson, Extension Forester
Phone: 814-355-4897
Email: drj11@psu.edu

Central PA (Blair, Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, and Union Counties)

Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5. Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture: Harvesting in the Back Forty: Agroforestry in the Mid Atlantic and Beyond. Penn Stater Conference Hotel, State College (Centre County). Registration $140; limited to the first 30 participants. Visit http://www.pasafarming.org/conference2010/track2.htm for more information and to register.

Saturday, February 27. Central Region Forest Landowners Conference: What Every Forest Landowner Needs to Know, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m, Penn State School of Forest Resources Building, University Park. Registration is $20 per person. Please register by February 19. Contact Dave Jackson, Penn State Cooperative Extension – Centre County, 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu.

Folks, here in the Northeast we are having extremely good weather for clover/chicory plots. This is probably not true for other parts of the country, but NY and PA and surrounding states are sitting pretty. Now that our little heat wave is over, we have had rainfall and moderate temperatures. Cooler weather has arrived as I type this. A lot of you who do food plots are focusing on getting those fall plantings in, but don't forget the perennial clover plots.

Clover is a cool season crop and it loves this weather. This past week has been just about ideal for mowing white clover plots. We don't have to worry about hot dry weather cooking the bare ground and stressing the plants. I cut mine SHORT this time. I try not to do that when hot weather is looming (although I have and always got away with it here in NW Pennsylvania) , but ladino and other 'New Zealand' or white clovers will tolerate close mowing better than most plants...so it is an opportunity to get a little advantage over competing weeds.

Most perennial legumes have a good growth surge in the fall, especially new seedlings, which helps them thicken-up and get established against competing grasses and weeds. Rule of thumb: if your yard is still green and growing then the clovers are growing, too.

Weather is supposed to be dry this coming week, but I think we have a good situation for fall plots to get started also (grains, brassicas, etc.).
Phil Anderson, PAS
Emlenton, PA
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&pageID=4802#&cm_sp=qdmm2009-_-08_28_09-_-na

With a lot of help from the Dillsburg food and cover crew, we were able to plant 1+ acres of wildlife forage on public lands.

First step, we contacted land manager Jeff Mackey to see what he needed. We agreed that winter forage for whitetails would be a great asset to surrounding habitat. Jeff took soil tests as we purchased seed. We decided to diversify the plot into grains and brassicas. Our choose for the grain was Buck Forage Oats’ “Harvest Plot” due to it’s ability to survive temperatures down to 10 degrees. Brassica mix was purchased from QDMA’s Ed Spinazzola’s “Deer Attraction”.

The Food and Clover team tilled, and disked the field three weeks before the planting. The field sat idle for two weeks to let any weed and grass seed to germinate. After this germination the F and C team sprayed it with a glyphosate product. Now we are ready to plant. Some of you are saying wait, where is the lime! Well, back to the soil test. Northern York County usually has a ph of 5.0-5.5. The test showed 6.5, in the good range for our plots. I asked Jeff how this happened, and like any good land manager; he limed the entire field in this area last year!

Dick gave some very helpful tips and gave Jeff the keys to the tractor to spread the special blend of bulk fertilizer. Your lucky you got the keys back Dick!

The oats were drilled, and the brassicas were broadcasted and culipacked.
Stay tuned for updates on the plot. Better yet, see if you can find it!
Free QDMA Hat to the first person to find it. Just contact me.

Jeff Mackey checks the settings on the drill as Director Glenn Yohe kick starts a bag of Buck Forage Oats. We don’t know if this works, we’ll try ALMOST anything to make things grow!

Beautiful morning in South Central Pennsylvania planting a food plot.
Thomas Nelson, Pa Bucktail graduate, using the hand spreader.

1. Since these funds will be requested from the PA State Chapter for funding, all must follow protocol and complete the Adopt-a-Food-Plot applications.

2. Determine if branch is receptive and will commit to a multi- year maintenance of a food plot. If this decision is dependant on future funding from the PA State Chapter provide details, as best you can. If your Branch cannot make a commitment for up to 3 years - stop here.

3 . Contact your Regional PGC Land Manager, Forester or Park superintendent or other applicable supervisor. Make arrangement to meet and discuss Adopt a Plot Program. These lands should be open PUBLIC ACCESS and HUNTING like Game Lands, State and National Forests and State Park lands.

4. Find out if they are receptive and determine their willingness to cooperate and participate in the Program. Without his help and commitment, this will not work.

5. If he/she is receptive, discuss where he/she might want an Adopt-A-Food-Plot. They might have a food plot program already established, and supplementing a this program might be easier (and cheaper) than breaking fresh soil.

6. Point out to Land Manager it would be in Branch's interest to locate a plot near to the branches main point of operation. Long travel will reduce Branch member participation and interest.

7. Agree on site and plot goals. ( Cool season perennials vs.. annual carbohydrates or combination of both).

8. Soil Tests will be required and copies of these need to be submitted with your Application forms. Photos of the site and rough measurements would be helpful. Hand drawn or outline on a topographical or aerial photo will help in identifying the location proposed, as well.

9. Find cost of Lime and Fertilizer and Herbicide. Spend some time soliciting Farm Supply, Agway, fertilizer sales etc. for donations of same. Also solicit seed from seed suppliers. Offer to put their name on a plaque or sign at or near the location.

10. Every effort to raise funds and donation locally should be made BEFORE Application. This program should not be viewed as a "give away", but as an assistance program.

11. Discuss w/ Land Manager (PGC or Others) who will be responsible for machinery. Most food and cover corps have plows, drills and mowing equipment available and on site. It is easier for them to use their equipment than get liability clearance for us to do it. . Discuss costs for planting and long term maintenance. Include details of this and any other volunteer or discounted assistance as part of the Project Application.

12. Document all costs including: Lime and Fertilizer, Seed, Herbicide, Site prep, seeding, and possible selective herbicide spray program. Also estimated costs of mowing if perennial. Estimate on-going maintenance costs and estimated needs from this Fund for such maintenance for at least 3 more years.

13. Submit completed 'Application For Adopt A Food Plot Funding' cost sheet to State for funding consideration. You may be contacted by the committee to clarify portions of your Application or with questions which may include suggestions on reducing the size of your project to enable more Branches Applications to be funded or partially funded. Mail application and any other supporting documentation to PA QDMA, 35 Grow Ave, Montrose, PA 11801.

15. Project progress reports and photos are required and should be sent to PA QDMA at various stages of completion including the completed project and the following year(s) including a brief evaluation and comments. This does not have to be a comprehensive report, just the Branch's overall evaluation on the success or lack of and why they think it happened and if they have suggestions to improve this and similar projects in the future.

16) Perhaps we may enlist Kip, Trupe or some other professional to make random site visits to see what we or they can do to make the Adopt-a-Food-Plot project a better. This may mean 1 visit to some plots and 3 or more visits to others depending on peoples access and availability.

Senior High Project; Food plots of for Wildlife. By Greg Fry Pa. Bucktail Graduate Spring Grove High School Spring Grove, PA.

Senior High Project; Food plots of for Wildlife.
By Greg Fry Pa. Bucktail Graduate
Spring Grove High School
Spring Grove, PA.