[farmnhunt]

Be careful when releasing your white oaks, that you don't leave them too bare if they've been shaded, otherwise they won't survive. Leave cover on at least 60%. If the tree's haven't had full sun they will die from sun scald if you leave them bare. I lost a beautiful white oak in our last TSI because we cut too hard around that tree.

I am concerned about that but NRCS specs want less than 50% canopy. I left as much as I could. I may wait 2 years until 1st burn so I don't thin anymore than I have. Trees will have adjusted by then and if the fire terminates some the remainder should be okay.

On second part I'm going to girdle/treat more trees instead of cutting to reduce fuel load for first fire.

 

[farmnhunt]

6.5acres of Savannah complete, on to TSI.

 

[BC-Buck]

6.5acres of Savannah complete, on to TSI.

Need to post some pictures.

 

[farmnhunt]

Edge feathering along a wheat plot.

 

[farmnhunt]

Glade restoration

 

[farmnhunt]

Savannah

 

[farmnhunt]

Another of the savannah

 

[farmnhunt]

glade from other side

 

[farmnhunt]

another of savannah I don't think I loaded the 1st one correctly

 

[rat]

Looks great. Actually doing the work rather than sitting behind a keyboard complaining about everyone elses habitat is likely personally more productive.

 

[farmnhunt]

Looks great. Actually doing the work rather than sitting behind a keyboard complaining about everyone elses habitat is likely personally more productive.

I've been doing improvements for 26 years, just have a lot more time now that I'm retired. My farm isn't a perfect wildlife haven because I still have fescue to feed the cows 9 months out of the year. But it's going to be a an even better mix of wildlife and a production cattle farm. Cows do help support me.

I have 2 covey of quail, which is rare in south central. Turkey numbers are still at the lowest I've seen in 26 years. Rabbits are increasing.

I also think trapping helps, so I took out 42 nest predators and 8 coyotes.

 

[farmnhunt]

TSI is going slower than I expected. The rain isn't helping and I'm not a tough as I used to be. Started at 130 basal area/acre(that is thick) lowering to 51. On the first area. Next area has a lot lighter stand as it has some previous work 15 years ago. I'm not a forester so my cutting may not be the perfect amount of reduction. I'm trying to estimate what 60% of basal area removal looks like. I'm cutting all cedars, all hickory's except a few shag bark, all elm, sassafras and hackberry, thinning oaks(post oak is predominate on site I'm leaving the red, white and water oaks) and removing all black jacks unless that would create a big bare spot. Left a few mulberries, all the persimmons and some dogwoods. Then removing undesirable shaped trees or trees with defects. One person said don't leave a tree within 10' of another tree, that rule seems like it's working so it is my last step. Wildlife habitat is more important that a future harvest to me.