"I would agree with Brett, this is pretty impressive Ben. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Brett, I totally agree with you on trefoil and i have observed the same things here in Michigan, Trefoil is only growing out in the full sun areas of…"
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Ben Harris
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- Benjamin Harris
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Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Kable Thurlow Sep 11. 12 Replies 0 Likes
As I thin some woods and open up some edge lines, I'm hoping to seed some perennial shade-tolerant forages. I'm mainly focused on wildlife at this point (I don't yet own livestock), and hope to get…Continue
Searching for tree seeds
Started Jan 11 0 Replies 0 Likes
Hey y'all,I'm in search of tree seeds - fruits, nuts, fodder, N fixers, etc. Do you have favorite seed/nut sources or cultivars? I'm looking for production and vigor. Disease resistance will reveal…Continue
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"Impressive, Ben - and clear that you're carefully thinking it all through"
"That's great!
Thanks for the feedback Ben!"
"Hi Sienna,
I haven't planted anything, just created the opportunity for the seed bank to express itself. This area is in a floodplain along a riverbank that usually floods at least once/year, often 2-3 times per year. A few years ago, this was…"
"Hey Ben,
Your forest looks great so far after your selective tree thinning! Were those grasses that you currently have already present when you thinned or did you plant them?
We have a few goats and have been selectively thinning our woods and using…"
"Yeah, lots of understory trees, for sure; I've tried not to open things up too fast. A good portion of them are shell bark hickory and pawpaw, which I like for the wildlife value (and, for myself...pawpaws are delicious). Many are other…"
"Ben,
From the photo, it appears that your nice trees are well-spaced for silvopasture, but that there are still a significant number of small-diameter stems - most or all of which are probably non-commercial species and/or suppressed shade-tolerant…"
"Thanks, Brett!
Unfortunately, stilt grass is growing in the sunnier spots right now. BUT in sections of the woods that I selectively thinned 1-2 years ago, the same stilt grass has given way to a much more diverse mix of cool and warm season grasses…"
"Limited shade tolerance studies indicate that Reed Canary, Orchardgrass and Tall Fescue and Bluegrass are amongst the most shade-tolerant cool season grasses, roughly in that order. However, varieties within species seem to matter.
The…"
"Again, I am not sure where you are located, but in my regular pastures in central MI, i have a fair amount of trefoil, which i like. I wonder how that would perform in a silvopasture. If any on this forum can weigh in, i would like to learn about…"
"Thanks, Kable. I've looked at orchard grass, and it's towards the top of my list. If only it spread more prolifically... That it's so deep-rooting is appealing, for sure."
"Hi Benjamin, here is MI, our forage specialist recommended Orchard Grass as one of the grass species. Not sure what you would plant in your area. Good Luck! "
Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
As I thin some woods and open up some edge lines, I'm hoping to seed some perennial shade-tolerant forages. I'm mainly focused on wildlife at this point (I don't yet own livestock), and hope to get perennial or re-seeding annuals with substantial root mass to break up heavy clay North Carolina soils. Recommendations for species / mixes / seed sources? I've done some preliminary research, but am hesitant to buy mixes without specific input from silvopasture practitioners.See More
"definitely listen to them, and not me!"
"woooooey!
A year or two of goats or sheep to help thin the underbrush? Then a season of pigs to disturb the ground for seeding (don't over-winter them... send 'em to the butcher instead)? Obviously you'd need to come through with your…"
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- Durham
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- learner, prospective practitioner
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- I'm the director of a nature-based children's summer camp on a 96-acre property, interested in environmental education and ethics.
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Hedgerows and windbreaks: The paddocks edges.
Started by Joanne Vaughn on Wednesday. 0 Replies 0 Likes
As we developed our plan we considered what to do about paddock edges. Hedgerows, windbreaks came to mind. Can't have an inside without a boundary condition.Is there a list of plants which are safe…Continue
Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
Started by Ben Harris. Last reply by Kable Thurlow Sep 11. 12 Replies 0 Likes
As I thin some woods and open up some edge lines, I'm hoping to seed some perennial shade-tolerant forages. I'm mainly focused on wildlife at this point (I don't yet own livestock), and hope to get…Continue
Online International Congress on Beef Cattle
Started by Érico de Sá Petit Lobão. Last reply by Érico de Sá Petit Lobão Sep 10. 1 Reply 0 Likes
The International Online Congress on Beef Cattle (CONACORTE) is an event for all stakeholders in the beef production chain, especially for lovers of quality information from one of the largest world…Continue
protecting young trees during fly season
Started by Brett Chedzoy. Last reply by Kable Thurlow Aug 3. 3 Replies 1 Like
As we get ready to move our 5 bulls from the "bull pen" pastures this weekend off to their respective breeding groups and other parts of the farm, I'm reminded that we're currently at the height of…Continue
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