DougMD

I got guys pushing off my clearcut as I type this. They just did my cabin site, and I see where there is lots of gravel there. Sandy loam with gravel type soil. The guys do farm some, and both seem to think I should be able to grow stuff there, albeit not hay or something like that. Will this type of soil be hell on farm equipment, and should I be ok as far as getting stuff to grow? I am getting excited, because I'll be able to get a lime truck in there, and it will be the only place for miles that will have something planted for deer. I would love to eventually do alfalfa if I can, but will start off with rye or something per your advice.

As always, thanks!

lawnfarmer

Anybody on this panel that's been here a while will tell you to get a soil sample taken. You can't grow anything on a rock. Get Cleeby and Ibback to tell you how to con a bunch of guys into doing the rock picking for you. Talk to the locals, the feed store , and see what grows best. I seems that, here, rye will grow in just about any soil and it will add nitrogen when you till it in. Good luck, I'm sure you will get some very good responses to your question here. terry

LIVE FREE OR DIE

Dan O.

lawnfarmer said it.

Soil test
Correct/fertilize the soil for the crop you want
Plant
Admire

Don't worry about rocks and sand. If you just cleared virgin soil you may have a good deal of fertility. One property that I drive by is the most rocky place that I've ever seen cultivated. It looks like gravel with a bit of soil. At this time of the year it's one of the nicest corn fields in the area.

Dan O.

farm hunter

Yep - sandy loam leaning towards gravel, can be a very good soil type. You will need to be a little more concerned with drought as this type of soil will not hold moisture as well as a clay based or loam alone type soil will.

Your choice of a cereal grain the first year is a good one. The cereal grain will inhibit weed groth, and add organic matter to the soil. It is important prior to trying a legume like clover, to mow, and till in the green growth if you can. Even if its gone brown, its better than nothing. The important thing is NOT to rake off the feild after you mow, or prior to planting. Green growth tends to break down quicker than dry, brown rye or oats. The "straw" will eventually break down if you leave it, but its painfully slow if the Nitrogen content in the soil is low.

Good luck with your plots, I think you will find that rye will grow very well, especially on new mineral soil.

DougMD

Thanks, guys! I would love to have them push the other clearing, but the neighbors are getting upset since they've been in there for a month now, and knocked down and pushed stuff on one neighbor too. I will let you all know what happens. I only hope the deer don't browse it off before it has a chance to grow!

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DougMD

hunter4ever01,

It is only roughly 1 acre. The other clearing is about the same. I don't think anything will be left over for hay after the deer find it. It is in an area with no crops or anything grown around except an overgrown field of useless grass 1/2 mile away. I am going to shoot a lot of does this year and pray stuff can grow fast enough. I have a few friends with ATV stuff and a small tractor to maintain the field.