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Experiment #
1
Initial Results Available, Ongoing
Forest to Pasture: Comparing Two Post-Harvest Restoration Paths
We are documenting two approaches to converting harvested pine timberland into productive pasture: retaining stumps and more harvest residue versus removing debris, smoothing the ground, and creating a more conventional seedbed. We are comparing cost, speed, forage establishment, soil condition, erosion, equipment access, and long-term usability. THIS experiment will be a top level experiment that will include many smaller experiments. This experiment is where we will ultimately track the results of the primary goal of converting forest land to pasture land.
video of the property showing hardwood and pine forest, which slowly transitions to show the elimination of the pine trees in preparation for pastures.
Core Question:
Which post-harvest approach provides the best balance of pasture establishment, cost, speed, soil protection, and long-term farm usability?
Overview:
The property began with extensive pine timberland. Harvesting the timber created open land, but harvesting alone did not create pasture. The remaining ground included stumps, logging debris, woody residue, uneven terrain, exposed soil, and areas that would be difficult to seed, maintain, or use with conventional farm equipment.
Two distinctly different restoration conditions developed.
One area received substantial cleanup and smoothing, creating a field that more closely resembled conventional pasture ground. Another area retained many of the stumps, woody remnants, and irregular surface conditions left after the timber operation.
Both areas were seeded and began developing vegetation, creating an opportunity to compare more than appearance. The project is evaluating whether the additional expense and soil disturbance required to create smooth ground produces enough improvement in establishment, accessibility, and long-term use to justify the cost—or whether productive pasture can be developed with less intensive land disturbance.
The experiment remains active. Early photographs and aerial imagery document clear differences between the areas, but they do not yet establish which approach provides the better long-term result.
Current Result Summary:
The smooth and stump-retained pastures are located side by side and experience substantially the same rainfall, sunlight, temperatures, and seasonal conditions. When drone seeding or other drone applications are used, both pasture types will be treated using the same methods to support a more meaningful comparison.
The images already show significant differences between the two restoration approaches.
The smooth pasture provides easier access, fewer physical obstacles, and a surface that is more compatible with conventional tractors, mowing equipment, and other farm operations. However, current field observations suggest that the intensive clearing and smoothing process may also have resulted in greater soil compaction, more visible erosion, and reduced surface organic material and biological activity.
The stump-retained pasture remains rougher and contains more woody residue, roots, stumps, and other harvest material. This creates challenges for equipment access and may interfere with consistent seed-to-soil contact. At the same time, current observations suggest less compaction, less erosion, greater retention of organic material, and potentially better biological soil conditions.
These explanations remain working hypotheses rather than final conclusions. The experiment will continue comparing forage establishment, plant density, erosion, soil structure, biological activity, equipment access, maintenance requirements, cost, and eventual grazing performance.
The current evidence does not yet identify an overall better method. Instead, it suggests a developing tradeoff: intensive smoothing may improve accessibility and operational usability, while retaining stumps and harvest residue may preserve conditions that support soil recovery and reduce erosion.
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