Trees to pasture...any advice

[wobbie1775]

I have approximately 100 acres of trees and maybe 20 of scrubby brambles and saplings etc. I think I am going to call out a dirt work type company and see what they think. But in the mean time I wanted to see if anyone has done this? I suspect there is some value in the trees, but probably not enough to pay the whole bill? Just have them cut trees and leave the stumps? Push the trees over? Anyone have a cost per acre? South Missouri, near West Plains. Once its cleared has anyone turned ground into Native Warm Season Grasses using state money? Open to ideas, so please bring em on!!

 

[Warren Allison]

I have approximately 100 acres of trees and maybe 20 of scrubby brambles and saplings etc. I think I am going to call out a dirt work type company and see what they think. But in the mean time I wanted to see if anyone has done this? I suspect there is some value in the trees, but probably not enough to pay the whole bill? Just have them cut trees and leave the stumps? Push the trees over? Anyone have a cost per acre? South Missouri, near West Plains. Once its cleared has anyone turned ground into Native Warm Season Grasses using state money? Open to ideas, so please bring em on!!

what kind of trees?

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Hold onto your hat when you get a price to stump 100+ acres.

Here there isn't enough value in the trees to pay for all of the clearing, but it does offset some of the cost.

The mills here want clean wood so the trees are logged off first by a logger, then you would hire a dirt guy to do the stumping.

 

[kenny thomas]

I have approximately 100 acres of trees and maybe 20 of scrubby brambles and saplings etc. I think I am going to call out a dirt work type company and see what they think. But in the mean time I wanted to see if anyone has done this? I suspect there is some value in the trees, but probably not enough to pay the whole bill? Just have them cut trees and leave the stumps? Push the trees over? Anyone have a cost per acre? South Missouri, near West Plains. Once its cleared has anyone turned ground into Native Warm Season Grasses using state money? Open to ideas, so please bring em on!!

Most state money is geared towards conservation and to reduce runoff into streams. Trees are the best way to accomplish that.
You can probably buy cleared land as cheap as what you will have in the clearing, grading, liming, fertilize, and seeding. And you can be using it soon. It takes years to get timberland cleared and into good grass production.

 

[wbvs58]

Are you allowed to clear the land?

Ken

 

[kenny thomas]

Are you allowed to clear the land?

Ken

Most places yes it is allowed.

 

[Texas G@l]

I don't know the cost in Missouri but here it cost us right at $20k to clear 30 acres of heavy trees/brush and plant native grass this spring.

 

[Hereford2]

In your area Most guys charge $100 to $150 Per Hour. For clearing/ dirt work type work. I know a guy in your area that is real good, he does it all Logging, Stumps land clearing, he has a waiting list to get on his waiting list.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

Are you allowed to clear the land?

Ken

That is a good question. If there isn't any wetlands, he will probably be fine. If there is a wetland and he doesn't take mitigation steps.......well, he needs to hope no one finds out that will notice that.

 

[tsellars]

I'm just south of you in Ash Flat. General rule around here is 1k an acre to go from woods to pasture.

 

[Ouachita]

I'm just south of you in Ash Flat. General rule around here is 1k an acre to go from woods to pasture.

That is real close to my experience. I cleared 40 acres about 5 years ago, and this is the first year the grass has kept up with the cows similar to older established pasture. Dozer, lime, chicken litter, seed.............a shade over $40k so far. It took a couple or three years to really start seeing the benefit of the lime, so it can be a bit depressing if you're in a hurry.

 

[Silver]

That is real close to my experience. I cleared 40 acres about 5 years ago, and this is the first year the grass has kept up with the cows similar to older established pasture. Dozer, lime, chicken litter, seed.............a shade over $40k so far. It took a couple or three years to really start seeing the benefit of the lime, so it can be a bit depressing if you're in a hurry.

That's interesting. Around here the few years of grass or hay and particularly the first year after clearing and breaking the land the crops will be incredible.

 

[Ouachita]

That's interesting. Around here the few years of grass or hay and particularly the first year after clearing and breaking the land the crops will be incredible.

Our soil is really acidic on these pine and mixed hardwood forest. A reading of 4.5 isn't uncommon

 

[kenny thomas]

That's interesting. Around here the few years of grass or hay and particularly the first year after clearing and breaking the land the crops will be incredible.

The difference here is as the area was settled in the 1800's the good soils were cleared and the bad, wet, or rocky soils were left in trees. If the old timers didn't clear it there was a reason.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

This piece of ground was logged 2 1/2 years ago. Just basic clean up of slash, burned just the slash piles, no broadcast burning. The only thing planted back was Douglas Fir. The grass is a foot and a half to two feet taller than the young trees. There are several different varieties of grass that just show up anytime an area is logged. I don't know what varieties they are, some people think they could be native grasses. If not overgrazed it will stay green year round. But it's like this seed has laid basically dormant for 40-60 years between timber harvest.

 

[Silver]

The difference here is as the area was settled in the 1800's the good soils were cleared and the bad, rocky, wet, or rocky soils were left in trees. If the old timers didn't clear it there was a reason.

I don't think that's different. If was never previously cleared it will put out for at least a short time. The poorer land won't put out for long but there is an initial output that make you think you're onto something before it quits.

 

[wobbie1775]

what kind of trees?

Yes lol. No pines. All leaf bearing trees. Probably an assortment of oak, beach, hickory, walnut. No maple.

 

[wobbie1775]

Are you allowed to clear the land?

Ken

Yes. 100%

 

[wobbie1775]

That is a good question. If there isn't any wetlands, he will probably be fine. If there is a wetland and he doesn't take mitigation steps.......well, he needs to hope no one finds out that will notice that.

No wetlands on this property.

 

[wobbie1775]

I'm just south of you in Ash Flat. General rule around here is 1k an acre to go from woods to pasture.

This is very helpful from the finance side. Gives me something to think about if I only have X Dollars. I got another piece of ground I am closing on soon and that one is about 70 acres of woods. So we got lots of this work ahead of us.