Early Spring Pasture Clearing

Tim
Mar 14, 2017
2 min read

I was able to get out and brushhog a pasture that I've been wanting to clear for a while. With no snow and frozen ground I decided today was the day. The pasture was over grown with a mix of Diamond Willow, Laurel, Ash, and Popular. We don't use chemicals on our farm so that meant I either had to burn or mechanically remove it by mowing. I burned the pasture about 5 years ago but much of it was never grazed so it was turning brushy. I thought it was too dry here to burn this year so I mowed it. Tractor made fairly quick work of it (Thank God for John Deere) and I was able to cut it down in one pass and mulch it on a second pass. This field will make great pasture for the livestock this year. Its been sitting fallow for the last 10+ years (it was on a corn/soy bean rotation when we bought the land but I put it into pasture and hay) and the time has come to finally use it again.

On another note, I was able to buy some Non-GMO corn from a local farmer this morning. He told me it was a heritage strain, non hybrid, grown in the area since the 1800's. It has the brightest oranges and red colors I've ever seen in corn, much like old "Indian Corn". Nice to be able to support a local natural farmer and get a quality, healthy product that I could never find at a feed store or grain elevator. He has a enough to run me well into fall. The hogs LOVE it!