Food Plot Seed Rate Calculator
Pounds of seed per acre and for your plot — single species or mixes, broadcast or drilled, adjusted for pure live seed.
Plot size to scale seed for
Monoculture broadcast rate: 135.0 lb/acre (range 120.0 lb/acre – 150.0 lb/acre)
Seed tag (PLS) & price
Monoculture broadcast rate: 25.0 lb/acre
- Rates are pure live seed; coated seed weighs more — use the PLS fields (MSU)
- Inoculate legume seed (most clover is sold pre-inoculated) (MSU)
Seed tag (PLS) & price
Monoculture broadcast rate: 10.0 lb/acre
Seed tag (PLS) & price
Seed needed
Total: 39.2 lb of seed for 0.500 acres
67.5 lb/acre bulk
8.8 lb/acre bulk
2.0 lb/acre bulk
Pure-stand rates from MSU Extension M1591. Pure live seed adjusted via NRCS formula.
Start from your soil-test lab's recommendations and your state extension's planting dates. Always follow product labels.
Start from a pure-stand rate (MSU's Southeast guide: e.g. crimson clover 15 lb/acre drilled or 25 broadcast), give each species in a mix its share of that rate, and divide by the seed tag's pure live seed. NRCS's example: 94 % purity and 80 % germination plus 5 % dormant = 79.9 % PLS, so 12 lb PLS needs 15 lb of bulk seed.
How it's calculated
Pure Stand Rates: Single-species baseline rates are the midpoints of the published ranges from Mississippi State University Extension Publication M1591.
Mix Share Calculation: In a blend, each species' target rate is calculated by multiplying its pure stand rate by its percentage share: PLS rate = pure stand rate × (share % ÷ 100). The shares must total 100 %.
Pure Live Seed (PLS): To account for seed tag purity and germination, PLS % is calculated per USDA NRCS: PLS % = (germination % + dormant %) × purity % ÷ 100. Bulk planting rate = PLS rate ÷ (PLS % ÷ 100).
Food plot species reference table
Rates and dates: Mississippi State University Extension, Deer Food Plot Planting Guide for the Southeast (M1591). Planting dates are for the Southeast US; check your state extension.
| Species | Class | Season | Drill (lb/ac) | Broadcast (lb/ac) | Planting Dates (Southeast US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa | L/P | cool | 15 | 20 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Austrian winter peas | L/A | cool | 30 | 50 | Sept. 1–Nov. 1 |
| Brassicas (rape, kale, turnip, canola) | F/A | cool | 5 | 10 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Chicory | F/P | cool | 5 | 10 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Oats | G/A | cool | 90–100 | 120–150 | Aug. 15–Oct. 15 |
| Rye (cereal) | G/A | cool | 90–100 | 120–150 | Aug. 15–Oct. 15 |
| Triticale | G/A | cool | 90–100 | 120–150 | Aug. 15–Oct. 15 |
| Wheat | G/A | cool | 90–100 | 120–150 | Aug. 15–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, arrowleaf | L/A | cool | 8 | 12 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, balansa | L/A | cool | 5 | 10 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, berseem | L/A | cool | 10 | 20 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, crimson | L/A | cool | 15 | 25 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, ladino (white) | L/P | cool | 4 | 8 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, Persian | L/A | cool | 10 | 15 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Clover, red | L/P | cool | 10 | 15 | Sept. 1–Oct. 15 |
| Alyceclover | L/A | warm | 15 | 20 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| American jointvetch | L/A | warm | 15 | 20 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Buckwheat | F/A | warm | 30 | 50 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Corn | G/A | warm | 8 | 12 | Apr. 1–May 15 |
| Cowpeas | L/A | warm | 50 | 75–100 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Grain sorghum | G/A | warm | 8 | 12 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Lablab | L/A | warm | 15 | 30–40 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Soybeans | L/A | warm | 50 | 100 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Soybeans, wildlife | L/A | warm | 20 | 40 | Apr. 15–June 15 |
| Sunflower | F/A | warm | 10 | 25 | Apr. 15–June 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why broadcast rates are higher
MSU gives higher broadcast rates.
Coated clover seed
Rates are pure live seed; coated seed weighs more — use the PLS fields (MSU).
How do I mix species?
Give each species in a mix its share of its pure-stand rate. Shares must add up to 100 %.
Sources
- MSU Extension M1591 — Deer Food Plot Planting Guide for the Southeast
Species seeding rates (drill/broadcast), Southeast dates, notes
- USDA NRCS — Seed Quality (PLS)
PLS formula and worked example
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26
Built and maintained by Numberwright. The formulas come from university extension publications (Mississippi State, Clemson, Alabama Extension) and USDA NRCS, linked below. Found a mistake? Contact details coming soon.
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