Food Plot Calculator
Enter your plot size and crop to get seed rates, fertilizer recommendations, and cost estimates from top brands. Free, no account required. New to food plots? Start here → Or browse our in-depth crop guides.
Select a crop and enter your plot size to see seed and fertilizer recommendations.
Food Plot Seeding Rates by Crop
Broadcast rates per acre. Drill about 20–25% less. Fertilizer rates are a starting point for when you don't have a soil test.
| Crop | Seed rate | Fertilizer | Depth | Plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clover (white) | 8 lbs/acre | 200 lbs 0-20-20 | Surface broadcast or no deeper than ¼ inch | Spring or fall |
| Clover (crimson) | 20 lbs/acre | 200 lbs 0-20-20 | ¼ to ½ inch | Fall |
| Chicory | 5 lbs/acre | 300 lbs 13-13-13 | ⅛ to ¼ inch | Spring |
| Brassicas (turnips/radishes) | 5 lbs/acre | 300 lbs 13-13-13 | ¼ to ½ inch | Fall |
| Winter wheat | 120 lbs/acre | 300 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 1.5 inches | Fall |
| Oats | 100 lbs/acre | 250 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 1.5 inches | Fall |
| Soybeans | 50 lbs/acre | 200 lbs 0-20-20 | 1 to 1.5 inches in good moisture | Spring |
| Corn | 25 lbs/acre | 350 lbs 13-13-13 | 1.5 to 2 inches | Spring |
| Alfalfa | 15 lbs/acre | 200 lbs 0-20-20 | ¼ inch | Spring |
| Annual ryegrass | 30 lbs/acre | 250 lbs 13-13-13 | ¼ to ½ inch | Fall |
| Lablab | 20 lbs/acre | 150 lbs 0-20-20 | 1 to 1.5 inches | Spring |
| Cereal rye | 100 lbs/acre | 250 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 2 inches when drilled | Fall |
| Austrian winter peas | 60 lbs/acre | 200 lbs 0-20-20 | 1 to 2 inches | Fall |
| Grain sorghum (milo) | 15 lbs/acre | 300 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 1.5 inches | Spring |
| Buckwheat | 50 lbs/acre | 150 lbs 13-13-13 | ½ to 1½ inches | Spring |
| Chufa | 50 lbs/acre | 300 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 2 inches | Spring |
| Sunflowers | 10 lbs/acre | 250 lbs 13-13-13 | 1 to 2 inches | Spring |
For planting dates in your state, see the food plot planting calendar.
How the Calculator Works
For each seed product we track, the calculator multiplies your acreage by the seeding rate on that product's bag, then rounds up to whole bags, because you can't buy part of a bag. Fertilizer is the crop's per-acre rate times your acreage. Costs use each product's current price and a typical price per pound of fertilizer.
To measure a plot, multiply its length by its width in feet and divide by 43,560. A quarter-acre plot is about 104 feet square; a full acre is about 209 feet square. For odd shapes, draw the plot on the property map and it measures the acreage for you.
Food Plot Seed & Fertilizer Questions
How much seed do I need for a 1-acre food plot?
It depends on the crop: about 5 lbs of brassicas, 8 lbs of white clover, 20 lbs of crimson clover, 100 lbs of oats or 120 lbs of winter wheat per acre when broadcast. Blends list their own rate on the bag. The table on this page has the rate for every crop.
How do I figure out how many acres my food plot is?
Multiply the plot's length by its width in feet and divide by 43,560 (the square feet in an acre). A 100 × 200 ft plot is about 0.46 acres. For an odd-shaped plot, draw it on our property map, which measures the acreage for you.
Should I broadcast or drill food plot seed?
Drilling puts seed at the right depth and usually needs about 20–25% less seed. Broadcasting is easier and works well for small seed like clover and brassicas on a firm seedbed; large seed like wheat, oats, peas and soybeans should be covered with a light disking or drag after broadcasting.
How much fertilizer does a food plot need?
A soil test is the only way to know. Without one, most food plots get 200–350 lbs/acre of a balanced fertilizer such as 13-13-13 for grains and brassicas, or a no-nitrogen blend such as 0-20-20 for clover and other legumes. Lime matters as much: most crops want a pH of 6.0–7.0.
How much does it cost to plant a food plot?
Seed, fertilizer and lime are the main costs. Cereal grains bought in bulk are the cheapest seed per acre; small-bag premium blends cost the most. Enter your acreage in the calculator for an estimate from current prices of the seed products we track.
Know when to plant.
In planting season, the Friday Hunting Briefing ends with food plot reminders by state: which planting windows open and close in the next two weeks. Plus seed deals and hunting news. Free, unsubscribe anytime.