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You’ve killed the weeds, raked away the brush and broke the soil for your food plot. It’s time to plant some seeds, right?

Wrong!

Each year, many well-intentioned hunters and landowners make the mistake of planting food plots without learning their soil’s pH levels. This is a huge mistake that wastes time and money.

A plant’s survival depends strictly on the soil’s fertility level. The pH level gauges the soil’s acidity. On a scale of 1 to 14, 1 is acidic, and 14 is alkaline. Neutral soil — 7 — is the optimum level for plant growth. Low pH levels prevent plants from absorbing nutrients. The pH levels in fallow fields with sandy soil commonly range from 4.7 to 5.4. Lime applications can bring these levels closer to the neutral range. It isn’t necessary to
get to 7, but the closer you are, the more productive your plots will be.

Tests are inexpensive and easy to complete. The easiest way to get your soil tested is to visit your local farm co-operative.