imported>Hussier1 at 21:19, 29 June 2025

2025-06-29T21:19:32Z

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{{Short description|Area acting as a food source for wildlife}}
[[File:Wildacker in Ganderkesee.jpg|thumb|Food plot in Germany]]
A '''food plot''' is a planted area set aside to act as a supplementary food source for [[wildlife]]. The term was coined by the [[United States|U.S.]] hunting and outdoor industries and food plots are most commonly planted for game species.

Food plot crops generally consist of but are not limited to [[legume]]s (clovers, alfalfa, beans, etc.), [[Food grain|grains]], or certain [[wildflower]]s. The plants may be annual or perennial and specific recommendations for local varieties that perform best in your area for specific wildlife species are often available. <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Wallau|first1=M.|last2=Blount|first2=A. R.|last3=Campos Krauer|first3=J. M.|last4=Lashley|first4=M. A.|last5=Rios|first5=E.|last6=Vendramini|first6=J. M. B.|last7=Dubeux|first7=J. C. B.|last8=Babar|first8=Md. A.|last9=Mackowiak|first9=C. L.|last10=Quesenberry|first10=K. H.|date=2021-10-18|title=A Walk on the Wild Side: 2021 Cool-Season Forage Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in North Florida|journal=EDIS|volume=2021|issue=5|doi=10.32473/edis-ag139-2021|s2cid=239258913 |issn=2576-0009|doi-access=free}}</ref> In agricultural areas, food plots may be planted in fields after the crop has been harvested, and left standing through the fall, winter, and early spring for the use of wildlife.<ref name = "Indiana">{{cite web|title=Wildlife Food Plot Program Job Sheet - Indiana, June 2012|work=United States Department of Agriculture}}</ref>

In some cases farmers and landowners may be reimbursed by the government for providing food plots that meet government specifications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gf.nd.gov/private-land-programs/plots/landowner/program1|title=Wildlife Food Plot Program|work=North Dakota Game and Fish Department|accessdate=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915091712/http://gf.nd.gov/private-land-programs/plots/landowner/program1|archive-date=15 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Among other considerations, a food plot should be located close to a source of cover for the animals, and it should be only one part of a comprehensive habitat management program.<ref name="Tennessee">{{cite book|last=Harper|first=Craig A.|title=A Guide to Successful Wildlife Foot Plots|url=http://www.bearsmart.com/docs/WildlifeFoodPlots.pdf|year=2008|publisher=University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture}}</ref> Ideally a food plot should be small (2 to 4 acres), irregularly shaped, and located away from roads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/publications/wildlife/wildlife_food_plots.pdf|title=Wildlife Food Plots in Northern Minnesota|work=Division of Fish and Wildlife|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref> A variety of cool-season grasses and [[forb]]s can be used to attract and enhance nutrition of multiple game species simultaneously when mixed according to recommendations. <ref name=":0" /><ref name="Tennessee" />

Food plots differ from [[revegetation]], which is intended to stabilize and rebuild the soil of disturbed land using naturally growing grasses, legumes, shrubs, and trees. Food plots are intended to feed wildlife rather than rebuild the soil, and generally use agricultural forages rather than native or naturally occurring plants. The oldest company to start developing products for food plots is the Whitetail Institute of North America in 1988. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/|title=Website|work=Whitetail Institute of North America|accessdate=25 August 2015}}</ref>

Food plots can greatly increase the wildlife [[carrying capacity]] of a particular ecosystem, enhancing opportunities for hunting or wildlife viewing. Target animals include [[whitetail deer]], [[bear]], [[moose]], [[rabbit]], [[woodchuck]], [[deer]], [[wild turkey]], [[grouse]], and [[Songbird|songbirds]].<ref name = "Indiana" />

In 2001 the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] announced that 8.7 million people across the country maintained some sort of planting for the sole benefit of wildlife. This group of people spent $699 million on these plantings.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Food plots}}<br />
{{Portal|Agriculture}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Ecology terminology]]
[[Category:Habitat]]
[[Category:Wildlife conservation]]

Food plot - Revision history

imported>Hussier1 at 21:19, 29 June 2025