Trees to pasture...any advice

[tsellars]

Have you considered buying a machine or two and paying someone to run it or running it yourself some? Then once done with the work sell the machines.

 

[wobbie1775]

Have you considered buying a machine or two and paying someone to run it or running it yourself some? Then once done with the work sell the machines.

I was going to type this idea out and then deleted it lol. I'm not opposed to that given the scale of the work I need done. What's an operator cost? 20$ an hour? Assuming that I own the equipment and pay all the fuel/maintenance.

 

[mwj]

Take repairs into consideration! There are not many cheap repairs when you have a problem. Some would pay a big part of the hired cost.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

A good operator who will take care of the the equipment should be making better than $20 an hour probably closer to $35-40 depending on location.

I have a couple miles of fenceline to clear and 100 or so acres to clear. My choice was buy an excavator and run it myself when I have time.

 

[Twisted]

I would check with the soil conservation office to make sure you aren't in a protected watershed as well. That may be poking the bear but could potentially save you a lot of money in attorney fees and fines. You may can still clear it but the steps to retain runoff into adjoining streams and properties may be a hindrance. One of the biggest land owners in our area is from West Plains and he had to pay a healthy fine for contaminating a stream while building a pond in the Spring River watershed.

 

[kenny thomas]

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

Consider what the hardwood trees are making you compared to pasture land. Good hardwoods can have up to a 10% return with no additional cost. Good yellow poplar especially.

 

[wbvs58]

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.

We have tight restrictions on what we can clear here. I don't know how you can supply meat to the EU market without being persecuted there. I think Mr Trump may have had something to do with that the last time he was the boss.
Ken

 

[wbvs58]

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!!

In our situation it is advantageous not to cut the trees down before clearing as you need the leverage of a higher push on the tree to get it over root ball and all.
I have a lot of country that is treed but I am restricted by law with the clearing, basically I can clear 2 ha on each parcel of land for essential infrastructure like house, sheds or yards, fortunately I have 8 titles on one block and I do a bit of clearing myself but it is hard work and getting it cleaned up and the big root balls burnt takes time. I will never get what I am allowed to do done before I die.

Ken

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Leaving the tree on the stump makes it easier to push over, but lowers the log value as there is often damage to the stem and dirt imbedded in the bark which mills dislike.

 

[wobbie1775]

I would check with the soil conservation office to make sure you aren't in a protected watershed as well. That may be poking the bear but could potentially save you a lot of money in attorney fees and fines. You may can still clear it but the steps to retain runoff into adjoining streams and properties may be a hindrance. One of the biggest land owners in our area is from West Plains and he had to pay a healthy fine for contaminating a stream while building a pond in the Spring River watershed.

I don't think we have that issue on this property. I have the forester coming out in a few weeks to see what he says about the trees.

 

[wobbie1775]

We have tight restrictions on what we can clear here. I don't know how you can supply meat to the EU market without being persecuted there. I think Mr Trump may have had something to do with that the last time he was the boss.
Ken

Im not sure about any of this...but in my experience, in the States, at least a red state like Missouri...the gov will not tell me what I can do with my land unless it boils over by polluting a stream or something of that sort.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I don't think we have that issue on this property. I have the forester coming out in a few weeks to see what he says about the trees.

Good to hear you have a forester coming out. You may want to inquire about EQIP for the woods/forest when he does. About the wetlands I mentioned. I did not mean you can't do anything with them, if they existed. It is your land to do with as you see fit. There are some rules in place that have to be complied with in order for you to do some of those things.

 

[Ebenezer]

Native warm season grasses for the most part have a 120 grazing period. What will you do the other 245 days a year? Will you be willing to wait 2 or 3 years to start grazing?

 

[wobbie1775]

Native warm season grasses for the most part have a 120 grazing period. What will you do the other 245 days a year? Will you be willing to wait 2 or 3 years to start grazing?

I have 40 acres of fescue. I was thinking maybe if i got up to 150 acres of grass, and 30-40 was warm season and the balance was cool season, I might have an easier time getting through a tough summer

 

[Mark Reynolds]

Native warm season grasses for the most part have a 120 grazing period. What will you do the other 245 days a year? Will you be willing to wait 2 or 3 years to start grazing?

I saw that and I had that thought cross my mind somewhat, but I don't know exactly where he is and what his rainfall is. The fact that he has the broadleaf trees does have me wondering about the possibility of some cool season grasses. If they are possible (check soil, rainfall timing and amounts) consideration of a novel endophyte tall fescue (same plant, different endophyte as KY-31) may be in order. Fast establishment and great forage producer. Stockpiles extremely well. But, he may be looking for something to fill a 'summer slump'. The native WS fill that nicely.

Ugh! I've said before I type too slow. He answered before I finished. That 2:1 is what I'd aim for. Maybe a bit heavier on the CSG, but its good.

 

[Dave]

Log the trees. Burn the slash and brush. If it is pasture don't worry about the stumps. Cows will walk around stumps and they will rot away eventually.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I have 40 acres of fescue. I was thinking maybe if i got up to 150 acres of grass, and 30-40 was warm season and the balance was cool season, I might have an easier time getting through a tough summer

There may be a potential of warm season annuals. It's not for everyone, but some who do this are quite successful with it, especially those that run a stocker operation. It can be good for cow/calf as well.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Log the trees. Burn the slash and brush. If it is pasture don't worry about the stumps. Cows will walk around stumps and they will rot away eventually.

That's sorta what I'm doing. Clearing the fencelines out nice and wide then letting cows clean up the tree regeneration.

Then when my 7yo boy wants to play in the excavator I let him pop stumps and pile them up.

 

[Rmc]

I would use animals rather than mechanical means to remove trees. It takes. a little longer but why not generate money instead of spending it. Scottish Highland cattle do a great job of removing brush /trees so do goats ! Also no loss of soil this way as well .

 

[wobbie1775]

I would use animals rather than mechanical means to remove trees. It takes. a little longer but why not generate money instead of spending it. Scottish Highland cattle do a great job of removing brush /trees so do goats ! Also no loss of soil this way as well .

No way that cattle remove trees of any real size. I have corrientes...aka the goats of the bovine world, and they do pick at some non-grass plants, but they aren't turning woods into pasture...ever. Impossible.