Forest to Fields

[BrokenTrack]

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.

 

[oosik]

Whew!!! THAT is an ambitious project. 70 acres is a lot of clearing. So - what will you be doing with the fields?

 

[smstonypoint]

Thanks for posting.

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

Steve

 

[Thomas]

Spring thaw slow down or shut down operation?

 

[BrokenTrack]

Thanks for posting.

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

Steve

Around $3500.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Corn, Hay (grass silage) and pasture, as I typically rotate my fields on a 7-10 year rotation.

 

[BrokenTrack]

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.

 

[smstonypoint]

Corn, Hay (grass silage) and pasture, as I typically rotate my fields on a 7-10 year rotation.

What do you get in the way of corn yields in your area?

Steve

 

[Blstr88]

Did you post a picture? It isn't loading for me...

Nice to see you here from FHC!

 

[BrokenTrack]

What do you get in the way of corn yields in your area? Steve

Around 24 Tons to the acre.