Food Plots

[kribbz]

Guys,
I live in southern Illinois next to st louis.  looking to put a 1 acre food plot after I clear some trees.  this will be deep in the woods about 400 yards from a crop field.  My thoughts are to create a staging area for the deer. I have two questions, 1.) when should i plant the plots and 2.) what plots have you all had success with?