As my local agent told me "it is all about the intent". Mowing is an agricultural practice...knocking crops around is not.
If the area is flooded, waterfowl prefer the standing crops as cover while they feed. If it is on land, they will very rarely use standing food plots. Mowing, disking or burning is a must. Those short little legs have trouble navigating around the taller growth and it's harder to land in.
