All Blog Posts (65)

Adding pasture to woods and plantation

There are two ways to create silvopasture, add pasture to woods or add trees to pasture.  Adding pasture to woods involves manipulating the existing woods to allow enough sunlight to the forest floor to stimulate the growth of desired forage species.  Always seek input from a forester when manipulating woody vegetation (either planting or cutting).

In the most general sense, the process of adding pasture to forest will remove some trees while leaving other trees. The goal is to…

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Added by Peter Smallidge on January 2, 2012 at 9:42am — No Comments

Walnuts and climate change

This is from Purdue University regarding walnuts and climate change.  Walnut aren't a major forest component here in Western Mass but this may be more of a concern for those of you in NY and PA.

 

http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/111128JacobsWalnut.html

Added by Jeff Jourdain on November 30, 2011 at 5:49pm — 1 Comment

Silvopasture Conference in the News

One of the NE Silvopasture Conference attendees has provided a nice description of the conference, but even more so, the concepts of silvopasture. The key points offered in that blog recognize that silvopasture is more than just releasing livestock into the woods, but rather is a deliberate and intensive process that provides benefits to trees, livestock, farmers and the…

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Added by Peter Smallidge on November 17, 2011 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Creating a silvopasture by adding trees to the pasture

An interesting story about a livestock farmer who is adding trees to the pasture.  He has focused on creating swales and establishing fruit trees.  The farm is based in Bloomington, IN.  The story (see the link) has some nice photos and diagrams of the design. 

The author mentions films by Geoff Lawton, but I have not seen these. 

Added by Peter Smallidge on November 10, 2011 at 11:43pm — No Comments

Controlling buckthorn with hogs

I found this story about an application of silvopasture to both use the pasture of the woods, but to do so and deliberately control undesired vegetation....the plant we love to hate Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn).  This farmer is aware of the concerns of silvopasture, potential for compaction and damage to residual trees, but also alert to the value that it brings. The…

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Added by Peter Smallidge on November 10, 2011 at 11:00pm — No Comments

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overwintering sheep in the woods

Started by Gabe Smith. Last reply by Brett Chedzoy Feb 5. 1 Reply

Is there a reasonable way to manage grazing in the woods during winter or using it as an overwintering site in place of a barn (there is no current barn)? The woods are shruby with multiflora rose,…Continue

river locust anyone grazing animals on it

Started by Jonathan Bates Nov 14, 2024. 0 Replies

Wondering what folks experience is with this plant Amorpha fruticosa... Here is a cool video that includes a silvopasture that is utilizing it:…Continue

willow fodder block

Started by Emily Macdonald. Last reply by Joanne Vaughn Oct 4, 2024. 5 Replies

Can anyone share experiences with willow fodder for sheep?  What cultivars did you use? Good sources for obtaining cuttings? What density did you plant?  How did it work out? Did the sheep like…Continue

How Can We Know If Livestock Benefit or Harm Our Trees?

Started by Scott O'Bar Aug 29, 2024. 0 Replies

I was watching this conference with Ian Mitchell Innes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27fUjjlwm7UAt about…Continue

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