I'm new to food plots.
I'm using a pea blend and here are the steps I have worked out

Test soil and kill weeds.
Fertilize and Disc soil and wait a few days to kill more weeds.

Now here is where I'm not sure. I have read to firm up the soil to make a good seed bed.
So, should I run my roller over it now and then broadcast seed on a flat surface. Followed by a light disking?
Or plant the seed and run my roller over it?
This is sandy loam soil.
Thanks for any help.

You plant the seeds, then roll it. Small seeds you can broadcast, then roll them in. Rolling just compresses the dirt for good soil to seed contact.

BTW, I have never used a "cultipacker" and have always had good luck, but if you have one, sure use it.

If you disk a few times over the next month, you probably wont have any weeds left, as long as it's hot and dry.

I'm not a farmer but I have a great plot here's what I do.
Mow and spray weeds about now
Plow a week or so later
Kill weeds again
Plow
Plow
Plow until time to plant
I may plow twice or three times depending on rain but I always turn it over a couple times
I broadcast all my seeds and use Turner Seed mix
On the day I plant I run over it again broadcast seed then drag to cover and hope it rains
Usually the week after I plant I go back to check and see how much of the seed the turkeys have eaten and sometimes I will fertilize then.
Not sure how its suppose to be but Ive had great luck doing this for several years.

I grew up farming and will add this:
1) Always get a soil sample
2) if you need to add lime, do it at least 30 days before planting
3) always fertilize the day you plant, fertilizing a week or more ahead of time just waste most of the effects.

It is a good time of year to kill the weeds with herbicide right now (this will kill your warm season weeds). I like to mow them and then spray a week or so later. After the burn off, I will then plow the field. I like to wait to seed until there is moisture in the ground.

Sorry to hi jack but there is some good info here. I'm in Bosque county when is a good time to start for planting oats?

After its up and starts getting eaten, you can come back and top dress it with another shot of fertilizer. Go off the soil sample recommendations.

I usually aim for mid September, if you can get it in just prior to a rain, you should get a good start. I have had mine in for near 3 weeks before it rained. The closer you can plant with rain though, the better IMO

You can start working the plot anytime, if it has allot of cover, you may want to get it plowed and disked a few times before planting time.

Broadcast Milorganite after planting and dragging. Had the same problem with turkeys. Read this somewhere years ago and they wont go near it.