New Member Introduction (Restoring 40 acre centennial farm)

[Brian662]

I went with RC Bigrock, really looking for height to block our house and a neighboring house. You're absolutely right, they never had pins set on the property so I set stakes to satellite lines and he plowed to them. Probably really need to have a survey and put up corner posts.

I have had luck with RC Bigrock by broadcasting it into moist soil and cultipacking. It doesn't need to be frost seeded. Driving over it with 4 wheeler or tractor tires will work the same. The RC lines of switchgrass germinate quicker than the unimproved varieties, so you should be very cautious of using glyphosate after seeding.

Here are a few videos with good information to get you started.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I have had luck with RC Bigrock by broadcasting it into moist soil and cultipacking. It doesn't need to be frost seeded. Driving over it with 4 wheeler or tractor tires will work the same. The RC lines of switchgrass germinate quicker than the unimproved varieties, so you should be very cautious of using glyphosate after seeding.

Here are a few videos with good information to get you started.

Man am I ever confused now! I will take John's word as the bible as he's the one I bought the seed from but it contradicts EVERYTHING else I've heard. It sounds like I can't do anything for weed management if I frost seed then?

I really respect what you have to say Brian, you've done some awesome work and I really appreciate your passion for pheasants too. My Weimaraner turns 10 this year. I don't know that we'll ever get on another wild bird without taking a long road trip. I'm praying with a lot of sweat and time and good thick cover, I could see some wild birds again. Last bird I saw in this county was 5 years ago but the habitat just keeps disappearing. No one does a thing about it but plant a bunch of native mixes that provide ZERO cover as soon as we get snow. I don't know why everyone's so hung up on NWSG around here. I know it's got tons of benefits in it's season but what's the point of these huge plantings when you can clearly see they are barren wastelands during the winter.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I have some switchgrass in my CRP acreage and it looks really good. I planted my CRP on ground that was soybeans the prior year, so weed pressure was minimal. I disked and dragged the ground the field, then broadcasted my seed blend (clover, alfalfa, oats, switchgrass, several other grasses) and cultipacked. The clover/alfalfa/oats provided some solid deer food the first year and then the grasses took over in the following years.
The wildlife seems to like pockets within the stands that have more switchgrass. The random pockets with more weeds, shorter grass, etc. tend to get more usage than the areas with a higher % of switchgrass.

 

[Brian662]

Man am I ever confused now! I will take John's word as the bible as he's the one I bought the seed from but it contradicts EVERYTHING else I've heard. It sounds like I can't do anything for weed management if I frost seed then?

I really respect what you have to say Brian, you've done some awesome work and I really appreciate your passion for pheasants too. My Weimaraner turns 10 this year. I don't know that we'll ever get on another wild bird without taking a long road trip. I'm praying with a lot of sweat and time and good thick cover, I could see some wild birds again. Last bird I saw in this county was 5 years ago but the habitat just keeps disappearing. No one does a thing about it but plant a bunch of native mixes that provide ZERO cover as soon as we get snow. I don't know why everyone's so hung up on NWSG around here. I know it's got tons of benefits in it's season but what's the point of these huge plantings when you can clearly see they are barren wastelands during the winter.

John is correct about the RC line of switchgrass. Also it was mentioned earlier, don't feel the need to frost seed with RC. It has a bigger seed that cave-in-rock for example which means less stratification is required and better seedling vigor (off to the races sooner).

You wait for the spring flush of weeds to poke through the corn stubble and then spray those with gly/atrazine or gly/simazine, then broadcast your seed either onto moist soil then pack OR just before a good rain. You can do this process whenever fits your schedule between May and July, the RC line is really worth the extra money for this reason.

Thanks for the kind words. 90% of what I know was taught to me by others, mostly on this site and a few others. 10% was learning the hard way from trial and error.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I went and scoped the site out again, this corn "thatch" is thick , they chopped stalks in some areas. Definitely has me feeling uneasy about putting $850 worth of seed into it. I may have no choice but to wait for it to breakdown more and then broadcast later in the spring. Or I could try and rake it with the tractor while the ground is still froze but its inevitably going to disturb the dirt some. I'm ok with some diversity in the switch but the number goal for this planting is bedding cover because there's virtually none on my property (yet) as it was all cattle pasture. It's roughly an 8 acre planting.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

I have some switchgrass in my CRP acreage and it looks really good. I planted my CRP on ground that was soybeans the prior year, so weed pressure was minimal. I disked and dragged the ground the field, then broadcasted my seed blend (clover, alfalfa, oats, switchgrass, several other grasses) and cultipacked. The clover/alfalfa/oats provided some solid deer food the first year and then the grasses took over in the following years.
The wildlife seems to like pockets within the stands that have more switchgrass. The random pockets with more weeds, shorter grass, etc. tend to get more usage than the areas with a higher % of switchgrass.

Good information to know! And I'm definitely going to create diversity pockets to give them browse options. I just want to get the switch established first as I'm in desperate need of bedding cover and then I'll go back in as time allows and make clearings, add brush, etc..

 

[Brian662]

I went and scoped the site out again, this corn "thatch" is thick , they chopped stalks in some areas. Definitely has me feeling uneasy about putting $850 worth of seed into it. I may have no choice but to wait for it to breakdown more and then broadcast later in the spring. Or I could try and rake it with the tractor while the ground is still froze but its inevitably going to disturb the dirt some. I'm ok with some diversity in the switch but the number goal for this planting is bedding cover because there's virtually none on my property (yet) as it was all cattle pasture. It's roughly an 8 acre planting.View attachment 73475

What do you have for a mower? I've had decent luck mowing the corn stalks low to the ground and then the wind seems to blow the leaves/husks away a little easier.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

This is the only travel corridor on the property and connects to a very wide fallow field edge that runs for several miles to some major wildlife holding properties. My hope with putting the switch here is that this corridor will become a highway that dumps right into the switch for safe cover and keeps critters feeling safe as there's nothing habitat or even tree-wise beyond my property for miles.

 

[Mortenson]

You might not be happy with the lack of Breakdown. Anybody on your block have a disc? They'd probably do a for hire job on 8 acres if it wasn't too inconvenient.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

You might not be happy with the lack of Breakdown. Anybody on your block have a disc? They'd probably do a for hire job on 8 acres if it wasn't too inconvenient.

I've got a few farm friends around the corner and I think PF has one I can use but the problem is, the creek crossing. A tractor should make it fine (Creek bottom is solid rock) but I'm concerned about anything long and wide being towed. I've really been on the fence about getting a 3pt disc because I think it would be so handy. My 3020 is 7' wide and most of the newer heavy box frame models are only 80". If you jump up to a 96" that costs more then the tractor...

Do you think discing would open up a new can of weed worms?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

What do you have for a mower? I've had decent luck mowing the corn stalks low to the ground and then the wind seems to blow the leaves/husks away a little easier.

I sold everything when we had to sell my family's land, (Tractor, bush hog, disk, plow, drag, log splitter.) I'm planning on getting a 7' bush hog when work picks up a bit. But you're right, I was kicking the trash up today and the wind would whisk it outta sight in no time.

 

[Brian662]

I've got a few farm friends around the corner and I think PF has one I can use but the problem is, the creek crossing. A tractor should make it fine (Creek bottom is solid rock) but I'm concerned about anything long and wide being towed. I've really been on the fence about getting a 3pt disc because I think it would be so handy. My 3020 is 7' wide and most of the newer heavy box frame models are only 80". If you jump up to a 96" that costs more then the tractor...

Do you think discing would open up a new can of weed worms? View attachment 73488

Looks like a good spot for a culvert and stone crossing or bridge. Do you ever get some raging rapids through there after a hard rain or is it always a mellow stream?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Looks like a good spot for a culvert and stone crossing or bridge. Do you ever get some raging rapids through there after a hard rain or is it always a mellow stream?

That's what I'd like to do eventually. My friend had a mini on another job and let me use it a few hours so I did what I could to make it crossable. It was so wallowed by cattle, couldn't even get the wheeler across. It was done in September so I haven't seen what will happen with heavy rains, but it's completely spring fed about 1/2 mile from me and I can say, I've never seen the water level fluctuate or freeze for that matter.

The spot to the left of the crossing is actually about 16' wide and 3-4ft deep. It's full of creek chubs and some little suckers. I've flushed wood ducks there, a heron frequents, and even kicked a woodcock up last spring. I'd love to dig out a pond but don't know what I can "legally" do.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

That's what I'd like to do eventually. My friend had a mini on another job and let me use it a few hours so I did what I could to make it crossable. It was so wallowed by cattle, couldn't even get the wheeler across. It was done in September so I haven't seen what will happen with heavy rains, but it's completely spring fed about 1/2 mile from me and I can say, I've never seen the water level fluctuate or freeze for that matter.

The spot to the left of the crossing is actually about 16' wide and 3-4ft deep. It's full of creek chubs and some little suckers. I've flushed wood ducks there, a heron frequents, and even kicked a woodcock up last spring. I'd love to dig out a pond but don't know what I can "legally" do.

Just found this thread. Nice place to work with. Is that stream maybe a limestone spring? If so - that's a great thing to have! Great pics of the property.

How's the house reno plan coming along?

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Just found this thread. Nice place to work with. Is that stream maybe a limestone spring? If so - that's a great thing to have! Great pics of the property.

How's the house reno plan coming along?

Thank you! Yes it is a limestone spring. The water’s very clear and seems to maintain a constant temp year around. I wish could dig a pond and stock it for the kids.

House is coming along slowly. We didn’t have any lighting upstairs but a single wall sconce. We ran power up from the basement to each room and now have lights, ceiling fans/switches and smoke detectors in all rooms. Also hung a new drywall ceiling in the hallway. Insulated the attic with new blown-in. New carpet upstairs. About 80% there.


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[Bowsnbucks]

Limestone spring is a gold mine. Superior water quality for all critters - big & small. Great for insects = fish food. Long-time Trout Unlimited member / fisherman here. I wish our camp had a limestone spring on it!!

Great move on the smoke detectors. Safety first. Congrats on the progress so far! Keep us updated as you get time. Love the old home reno's.

 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Limestone spring is a gold mine. Superior water quality for all critters - big & small. Great for insects = fish food. Long-time Trout Unlimited member / fisherman here. I wish our camp had a limestone spring on it!!

Great move on the smoke detectors. Safety first. Congrats on the progress so far! Keep us updated as you get time. Love the old home reno's.

Thank you, I’ll definitely do so!


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[cbw]

I have had luck with RC Bigrock by broadcasting it into moist soil and cultipacking. It doesn't need to be frost seeded. Driving over it with 4 wheeler or tractor tires will work the same. The RC lines of switchgrass germinate quicker than the unimproved varieties, so you should be very cautious of using glyphosate after seeding.

Here are a few videos with good information to get you started.

100% agree.


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[TreeDaddy]

I went and scoped the site out again, this corn "thatch" is thick , they chopped stalks in some areas. Definitely has me feeling uneasy about putting $850 worth of seed into it. I may have no choice but to wait for it to breakdown more and then broadcast later in the spring. Or I could try and rake it with the tractor while the ground is still froze but its inevitably going to disturb the dirt some. I'm ok with some diversity in the switch but the number goal for this planting is bedding cover because there's virtually none on my property (yet) as it was all cattle pasture. It's roughly an 8 acre planting.View attachment 73475

Think: clover, hairy vetch

bill