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Plans for 2018?
- Thread starter tlh2865
- Start date
Bowhunter
Well-Known Member
- I plan on increasing the size of a few of my fields so that I can make them a little bit easier to set up tree stands on.
- One of the fields I plan on planting a Corn and Soybean mix which I've never implemented yet.
- TSI for roughly 60 acres. All of our Ash needs to go because of the Emerald Ash Borer.
- Bedding area improvement by means of planting some type of plot screen around perimeter.
H20fwler
Member
I don't have any current satellite pics of the farm, I've been waiting a couple years for them to update my area as soon as they do or I get a buddy to do a drone pic for me I will post it up.
I have a fifteen acre plus woods on the south side of farm that is mixed hardwoods that was selective logged about ten years ago, to the north is a fifteen acre pasture planted to native grasses two years ago with a one acre shallow wetland pond and a two acre wetland pond, the smaller is around 3' deep at deepest larger is close to 5' at deepest they both hold water good year round. I put the spoil pile from them on the east end of pasture along road to help block the view and planted two rows of conifers that are from 2'-6' tall now along edge of farm as a road screen and I will keep adding to those for the next couple years I want them thick and grown together as a wall of green.
I planted shrub strips all along the north and west ends so the pasture will eventually be completely boxed in by trees, I made four rows fifteen feet apart on both of them and planted originally with hundreds of red osier willow, hundreds of pin oak, a couple hundred crab apple and hundreds of native dogwood all those are around 3'-4' tall now give or take. Last year I added thirty hazelnuts a few dozen chestnuts and thirty highbush cranberry along with a couple groups of 4' white pine and cedar in groups of 8-10 as thermal bedding areas and for diversity in the strips, going to do more of the same this year. On the north end of farm is rotated row crops with the north east end of farm outside of all that is a couple acre orchard I put in with a little over fifty apple and pear trees.
The big part of my planting is done, now its just maintenance on the property.
David
Active Member
X-farmerdan
Well-Known Member
Why didn't you say so? LOL
Let's see if this works. It may not look like anything you've seen before so far as the container is concerned. Its 2017 imagery, mostly June.
https://arcg.is/049PLr
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X-farmerdan
Well-Known Member
I didn't look before I leaped, but Google Earth looks like it's updated with 2017 imagery....for Ohio
David
Active Member
My plans for 2018 have been derailed a little. The PTO clutch in the tractor was busted and needed repalacing. My farm is so farm off the beaten path that it is a monumental task to have that thing hauled in. I elected to get the engine rebuilt also. Since the day i got the place i have wanted a paint job on the nearly 50 year old John Deere, so add the bill up for all of that and its simply not wise for me to invest any more substantial money into the place this year.
Saying good bye
Getting inside
New fly wheels, bearings, PTO clutch....and so much more
Things that remain on my list....
Saying good bye
Getting inside
New fly wheels, bearings, PTO clutch....and so much more
Things that remain on my list....
- Controlled burn on the 12 acres that was left fallow last year. This is phase II of my fescue kill. After the burn, the fescue will probably poke its head up again quickly, at which point i will hit it with some gly and then let mother nature take over again for a few years.
- I made my first attempt at planting some acorns in a make shift greenhouse in my basement. Plans are to re-pot them in spring and place them in my back yard at home. let them grow all summer and plant next winter.
- I had plans to put in a couple of orchards, but they will have to be persimmons only this year. bare root persimmons are 2$ a piece at my local nursery, the pears and apples are pushing 20$ a piece (maybe i will plant one or two pears ).
- I plan to continue to mess around with some select TSI for funneling purposes. (in process)
- Release the 20-25 chestnuts that are beginning to get shaded out by larger oaks. (done)
- soil tests (done)
- Continue to develop my personal plotting philosophy....Thanks to all who have had input on the other threads. Definitly looking in the direction of implementing the LC plan.
- Frost seed some spots in clover
- I have 2 springs on my farm, and i spent an entire day walking the area just exploring. Trying to figure out how they influence and effect wildlife.
- I still have the timber on half my farm under contract, so i am waiting for the harvest.
- I would like to place a couple of banks feeders out so that there is a permanent source of food on the farm in 2 areas.
H20fwler
Member
OK!
Thanks for the sweet links!
This shows the farm two years ago.
This pic shows what the area is like, farm in middle;
This shows the farm closer, good view of the ponds. The shrub strips run right down center of field and pasture and on left side of pic up to tilled field, orchard is block on right above pasture.
Thanks for the sweet links!
This shows the farm two years ago.
This pic shows what the area is like, farm in middle;
This shows the farm closer, good view of the ponds. The shrub strips run right down center of field and pasture and on left side of pic up to tilled field, orchard is block on right above pasture.
X-farmerdan
Well-Known Member
Welcome.
Two years ago? The imagery should be from about six months ago. Can you give me a hint, somehow, PM or here about where it is? Two years ago makes some sense, but it would an old, misplaced image tile. I can get it fixed if it is.
Love them old John Deere’s- I’ve got Dads 1969 4020 here on the farm, and my BIL and I spent a few days and $800 bucks getting it running last fall. Probably going to sell it, as it’s just too much tractor for 30 acres. I’m hoping the auction values bounce back a little before I need to sell, this one is really nice, with less than 500 hours on it.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I'm new to this forum stuff but it seems to be a great place find ideas from people with a common goal. Improving the land!
I have a rather rigorous list that my wife and 2 girls will play a part in making last several years.
1. Remove locust trees. Should be done by the time I'm 70. If not I quit!
2. Return some pasture to farmland. (Unfortunately I have to pay for it somehow)
3. Create a variety of food plots. Alfalfa, Corn, clover, milo strips for birds, and sunflowers for doves. Biologist suggested to previous landowner that foodplots were not necessary in Illinois due to abundance of ag fields. I respectfully disagree. They may not be necessary but can't hurt any.
4. Plant pollinator CRP program.
5. Start planting trees in the areas cleared of locust. Next years project.
6. Put a shooting tower on a trailer to take my girls hunting with me. (Doing what I can to get them interested)
Hope to be done with highly intrusive projects before June or early July to let the deer settle down before season.
I think I enjoy land management as much as actually shooting deer.
I have a rather rigorous list that my wife and 2 girls will play a part in making last several years.
1. Remove locust trees. Should be done by the time I'm 70. If not I quit!
2. Return some pasture to farmland. (Unfortunately I have to pay for it somehow)
3. Create a variety of food plots. Alfalfa, Corn, clover, milo strips for birds, and sunflowers for doves. Biologist suggested to previous landowner that foodplots were not necessary in Illinois due to abundance of ag fields. I respectfully disagree. They may not be necessary but can't hurt any.
4. Plant pollinator CRP program.
5. Start planting trees in the areas cleared of locust. Next years project.
6. Put a shooting tower on a trailer to take my girls hunting with me. (Doing what I can to get them interested)
Hope to be done with highly intrusive projects before June or early July to let the deer settle down before season.
I think I enjoy land management as much as actually shooting deer.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
Rosey, you have some work to do ! I heartily agree with your view on food plots vs. ag crops. While I don't live in ag country, common sense tells me that a variety of food plots that may be more desirable to deer, and in more desirable locations (close to cover, etc.) is a good thing. Getting rid of undesirable trees is also a good thing. In fact, I can't see anything in your agenda that I would disagree with.
And to your last point, land management does tend to be just as much fun as the actual hunting. Good luck !
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Locust trees are like a weed in some respects. When I clear food plots locust trees are the hardiest of any tree species, they keep coming back for years, right in the middle of a tilled, sprayed and planted field.
