Thanks for all the info still can't decide what to do though.

Has anyone on here tried the Sunn Hemp since it has been legalized. We were fortunate enough that some of the experimental growing by AU was done on our property. It was amazing at the diffence in our antler development in 1 years time. The added bonus was when we planted our fall and winter food plots we did not have to fertilize. This was a great savings. AU will not be planting this year so if anyone knows where to buy the seeds, please pass that info along. Thanks

I was thinking about planting some this spring.

There were some posts last summer on it. It was never illegal to plant - it is not the same hemp as the one you smoke. It is a Crotalaria, not Cannabis. I use it on some situations where I need a little organic material to incorporate in the soil. It is not highly selected as a deer browse, although they will readily eat it. It also gets very fibrous early and needs to be mowed to be readily eaten. Forage soybeans are MUCH better for both selection and nutrient quality, however if you have too many deer for beans it is an option. The seed is also readily available, some seed and feeds carry it.

Why does burning cogon grass spread it? Airborne seed?

I've never heard of burning cogongrass spreading the grass. It is spread by either seeds in the spring blooms, although the percentage of seeds viable is low, or thru the rhizomes. Usually bulldozers, bushhogs, logging equipment, road graders or some other machinery will spread the rhizomes. Burning that crap is about like throwing a match in a gas can.

I would recommend spending your money on planting soybeans it lasts as a year round food plot and deer come from everywhere to eat it Place milorganite around the field to keep the deer out until it gets started good and watch all the neighbors deer come to your property You can feed them out of a bag and it will help but I don't think as well as soybeans and it won't draw deer in like soybeans Kudzu is very high in protein and easily established but most people don't want it on their property. You will see results either way but it will take about 4 years to see any major results. Healthy does equals bigger bucks

Sunn Hemp is about $150 for a 50lb bag of seed.

I plan to plant about 7 or 8 acres of sandy plots in it. I plan to mix it 50/50 with Buckwheat and plant the combination at 25-30lbs/acre. Mow to a height of about 12"-16" every 30 days and till under 45-60 days before planting Fall forage.

Anybody have any different ideas/suggestions?

Cogon seeds out very early in the spring and becomes very airborne on a breezy day. The bare dirt left by a recent burn makes a good seed bed.

You are correct that spreading the rhizomes through dirt disturbance will certainly spread it, but I assure you the seeds on a fresh burn will do the same in short order.

I didn't mean to derail this into a cogon thread, but did see it valid to point out.

...And you are right, fire in an established patch is like using gasoline. It burns extremely hot and can kill a mature stand of desirable trees quickly.

This is what I'm going to experiment with. Hopefully, by using this as a summer crop and liming, I can do away with having to fertilize at all. A friend of mine has been experimenting with it in his garden for the last couple of years with pretty impressive results.

That stuff is EVERYWHERE in west Nebraska..... seems to grow naturally there..?

Thanks. Had one patch of cogon grass for couple of years I didn't promptly deal with and now have it in several locations along new fire lanes created last year. Obviously spread by dozer.