Trees

[Username Taken]

I just bought a Hobby Farm in Michigan. Hooray for me, right? Of course, it needs work. Lots of work.

Plus, it's in the middle of Farm Country. Cool. I love farms and farmers are an interesting breed. I grew up around them, too.

Anyhow, to the West of me are all open fields. 100's of acres. Sometimes they plant soybeans, sometimes corn. And they use Roundup on the fields for both.

I want to plant some trees, as a windbreak, on the border between the wide open fields and my property. The wind whipping through there can be strong and foreboding.

But with the use of roundup, I'm thinking it will kill my new trees.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to what trees (Prefer conifers) are more resistant to roundup than others??

Red Cedar?? Firs?? Pine Tree varieties??

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[old and tired]

Not sure about Michigan but if someone sprays and it drifts off target, fines and possibly lose their pesticide license. Also, if it's too windy, farmers don't want to waste money or chemicals by not hitting the target weeds so they don't spray over a certain wind speed... It might be different up there (like always windy) but that's not what happens in the south.

I'd plant whatever you want and hope you have smart farmers around you.

 

[ultrarunner]

Had a Redwood coming along nicely for about 20 years...

Redwoods often have sucker growth at the base and city was spraying right of way and tree died a slow death...

Tree was not in right of way but several feet inside.

 

[MossRoad]

I just bought a Hobby Farm in Michigan. Hooray for me, right? Of course, it needs work. Lots of work.

Plus, it's in the middle of Farm Country. Cool. I love farms and farmers are an interesting breed. I grew up around them, too.

Anyhow, to the West of me are all open fields. 100's of acres. Sometimes they plant soybeans, sometimes corn. And they use Roundup on the fields for both.

I want to plant some trees, as a windbreak, on the border between the wide open fields and my property. The wind whipping through there can be strong and foreboding.

But with the use of roundup, I'm thinking it will kill my new trees.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to what trees (Prefer conifers) are more resistant to roundup than others??

Red Cedar?? Firs?? Pine Tree varieties??

Any help would be appreciated.

We planted windbreaks of mixed shrubs and fruit trees, then acres of mixed pines and hardwoods right next to farm fields. Never had a problem.

If I were you, and you may already be thinking about this, I'd contact your local county extension agent before you do anything and see what kind of free services they provide.

Here in Indiana, they will come out and do a survey of your property, count the trees, identify the species, the soil types, look for invasives, etc., and write you up a nice report all for free. Then, if you like, they can write up a forestry management plan for all, or different sections of, your property. In that, they can identify species that will do best in your climate and soil types, what types of shrubs and trees to choose for a wind break, give you planting plans for do it yourself or hiring a tree planter.

You may qualify for classified wildlife habitat, classified forest, discounts on trees, planting services, erosion control through tree planting, all kinds of stuff.

But it's important to make the calls first, and find out what's available. If anything, it's nice to get a state forester or biologist out there and walk the land with them. They have a unique eye and can point out a lot of things you're likely to miss.

 

[Username Taken]

Not sure about Michigan but if someone sprays and it drifts off target, fines and possibly lose their pesticide license. Also, if it's too windy, farmers don't want to waste money or chemicals by not hitting the target weeds so they don't spray over a certain wind speed... It might be different up there (like always windy) but that's not what happens in the south.

I'd plant whatever you want and hope you have smart farmers around you.

I'm pretty sure Farmers are immune from lawsuits due to overspray of Roundup.

I know the guy I bought the Farm from grew berries. Strawberries (in pots, above ground, hydroponics) in ground raspberries of all types, and blackberries. No thorns.

And the overspray from the big, huge, giant machines damage all of it that was within 100' of the farmer's field.

This particular farmer owns the land but doesn't work it. He leases it out. Then that farmer contracts the spraying out. Don't matter.

We even went to the trouble of putting a wind sock up so the sprayer could see what direction the wind was coming from (almost always from the west but sometimes not).

Anyhow, I'm not important enough or wealthy enough to take on a Farmer who undoubtedly has Insurance that would fight me to the death. Or for at least 20 years.

They've been doing it forever, they're aware of the problems with wind drift. We even had the Michigan Department of (something) out there and they confirmed the damage was wind drift of roundup.

Went to see two different lawyers and they just werren't interested. Maybe if it was a multi-million dollar.

But I don't think they'd be interested in a lawsuit for my measly trees if they kill them.

I'd just rather avoid the problem. I can't take on multi billion $$ Monsanto or a mulit-billion dollar insurance company.

I just want to plant some trees that will look okay and slow the wind from ripping through there like a freight train.

But thanks for taking the time to care.

 

[Username Taken]

We planted windbreaks of mixed shrubs and fruit trees, then acres of mixed pines and hardwoods right next to farm fields. Never had a problem.

If I were you, and you may already be thinking about this, I'd contact your local county extension agent before you do anything and see what kind of free services they provide.

Here in Indiana, they will come out and do a survey of your property, count the trees, identify the species, the soil types, look for invasives, etc., and write you up a nice report all for free. Then, if you like, they can write up a forestry management plan for all, or different sections of, your property. In that, they can identify species that will do best in your climate and soil types, what types of shrubs and trees to choose for a wind break, give you planting plans for do it yourself or hiring a tree planter.

You may qualify for classified wildlife habitat, classified forest, discounts on trees, planting services, erosion control through tree planting, all kinds of stuff.

But it's important to make the calls first, and find out what's available. If anything, it's nice to get a state forester or biologist out there and walk the land with them. They have a unique eye and can point out a lot of things you're likely to miss.

Thank you. I'm right up the road about 100 miles north. Near Hastings, MI.

I'm gonna take your advice. Got a buddy who's into that kind of stuff. Was taking Ag Class at Michigan State before the pandemic.

 

[hube2]

I'm pretty sure Farmers are immune from lawsuits due to overspray of Roundup.

No, they are not, at least not here. While they can do a lot of things there are laws regarding overspray. But you have to be able to prove the overspray did it. This can be accomplished with a simple picture taken of them spraying when it is too windy and the drift can be seen.

For the most part I like farmers, but there is one in my area that is an extremely bad neighbor. A few years ago he had to pay a hefty fine and damages for some large trees that he killed, basically paid to have new trees put in that matched the ones he killed.

Unfortunately, roundup is not one of the chemicals that requires a license to spray here. Like I said, I like farmers, but I would not mind seeing this one put out of business.

 

[oosik]

I guess it depends upon the "type" of farmer your neighbor is. Do you think he would take kindly to you discussing this situation with him??

Otherwise - one mistaken application and your trees would be history. Whether young or old.

Moss - has a good suggestion. Contact you local county extension agent for advice.

 

[bigtiller]

I too, want to suggest doing what Moss said. I did the same thing in '98 and now I have a 100 x 600 ft. wind break on the north n west side of the house.

It's a federal program that will help you build the proper windbreak for your property. will save you money, time and aggravation

And now is the time to get the process rolling because they may require you to get your trees ordered soon, and planted before the middle of May....that's the way it was for me.

 

[hslogger]

Overspray is tresspass. Being a good neighbor means you don't spray over the line. Chemical drift is an intrusion and just because they have been doing it forever means they need to stop. I have had chemical drift and I won't stand for it. If you suspect it is continuing, document with pen and paper and photos and be prepared to go after them.