Forest to Fields

   / Forest to Fields #1  

BrokenTrack

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2018
Messages
1,422
Location
Maine
Tractor
Tractors, Skidders, Bulldozers, Forestry Equipment
I took on an ambitious project this year; clearing 70 acres of forest and putting it into fields.

Normally I do the logging myself, but property taxes and getting cancer has really caused me to contract that part out this winter, and I have been pretty happy with the result. They can do in 1 week what would take me two years! Obviously I do not make anywhere near the money that I would doing my own logging, but all the brush and tops are removed and chipped too.

Of course in land clearing, logging is the easy part; stumping, removing rocks, grading and seeding down takes the most time and effort, but is also what makes the pay off worth it. Right now at least, where I live; tillable farmland is going for more money then even house lots, so once the work is done, the pay off is substantial. When I am done I will end up with a new 30 acre field, a 40 acre field, and then a 10 acre field.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0047.JPG
    DSCN0047.JPG
    3.5 MB · Views: 325
  • DSCN0048.JPG
    DSCN0048.JPG
    3.5 MB · Views: 387
  • DSCN0050.JPG
    DSCN0050.JPG
    3.3 MB · Views: 365
  • DSCN0051.JPG
    DSCN0051.JPG
    3.4 MB · Views: 399
   / Forest to Fields #2  
Whew!!! THAT is an ambitious project. 70 acres is a lot of clearing. So - what will you be doing with the fields?
 
   / Forest to Fields #3  
Thanks for posting.

Just curious. What is tillable land selling for in your area?

Steve
 
   / Forest to Fields #4  
Spring thaw slow down or shut down operation?
 
   / Forest to Fields
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Corn, Hay (grass silage) and pasture, as I typically rotate my fields on a 7-10 year rotation.
 
   / Forest to Fields
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Spring thaw slow down or shut down operation?

Not really. The soil here is gravelly loam so water peculates through it very well. That makes it a bit easier to get on, especially with tracked machines. Pulling stumps during mud season makes it a lot easier as well, but also means more soil comes out with the stump, which is not good. So that is kind of a Catch 22, especially with a smaller excavator which is what I will be using (312 Caterpillar Excavator). Logging would be shut down, only because the roads are posted and it can be tough to get wood to the mills, but they will be done logging pretty soon anyway, probably within the next two weeks. The roads are posted now, but its been getting below freezing at night, so they have been working nights to get the wood out.

So to answer your question: yes and no. There are workarounds to all of it.
 
   / Forest to Fields #9  
Did you post a picture? It isn't loading for me...

Nice to see you here from FHC!
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2014 Genie S60X Boom Lift (A50490)
2014 Genie S60X...
2019 Chevrolet Express Van, VIN # 1GCZGGFPXK1323582 (A48836)
2019 Chevrolet...
John Deere 80C Excavator (A50490)
John Deere 80C...
TOMMY LIFT REAR LIFT GATE (A50460)
TOMMY LIFT REAR...
12-Wheel Pneumatic Pull-Behind Asphalt Compactor (A49461)
12-Wheel Pneumatic...
2016 WITZCO RG-35 RGN LOWBOY TRAILER (A50459)
2016 WITZCO RG-35...
 
Top