Don't Plant Yet! Soil Health Secrets for Growing Giants | 100% WILD Podcast Ep. 473

In this episode of the 100% WILD Podcast, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellesvik transition from the end of spring turkey season straight into the dirt science of whitetail deer habitat management . They welcome Mark from Nutrien Ag Solutions, a leading plant and soil health field manager, to demystify the underground ecosystem that dictates antler development, herd health, and vegetation success. Mark breaks down why viewing soil as a living biome is the ultimate mental shift required to stop throwing money away on unsuccessful food plots, outlining how micro and macro-organisms support high-tonnage forage .

The crew dives deep into actionable summer and fall strategies, exploring the critical difference between plant palatability and digestibility and why certain seed varieties attract deer better than others . From detailing proper soil sampling techniques to using drought-tolerant seed technologies and liquid applications to survive late-summer droughts, this episode addresses the single biggest mistakes food plotters make . Whether you are managing an intensive clover plot, prepping fall brassicas, or looking for ways to suppress noxious weeds without compromising nutrition, this conversation provides layman-friendly blueprints to grow bigger bucks on your hunting property.

00:00:00 – Last-minute turkey camp recap and the massive fish fry

00:01:40 – The Great Fried Biscuit Incident of 2026

00:02:56 – Introducing soil health expert Mark from Nutrien Ag Solutions

00:04:31 – How soil health directly dictates antler development

00:06:52 – Soil as a biome: Why no-till drills protect macro-organisms

00:08:58 – Memorial Day planting timelines for corn and soybeans

00:12:52 – Liquid vs. granular applications to jumpstart soil biology

00:17:14 – Why soil sampling is the vital first step for weekend warriors

00:20:37 – Beating the summer drought with heat-tolerant seed technology

00:24:40 – Fall food plot prep for brassicas, radishes, and winter wheat

00:26:59 – Palatability vs. Digestibility: What deer actually crave

00:34:37 – Clover plot maintenance: Suppressing noxious weeds safely