[Market-farming] Bringing ground back into production

Fellenz fellenz at fltg.net
Thu Jan 31 23:52:45 EST 2008


I will probably be adding a field this year which has been out of 
production for almost 20 years. It has been mowed, but was in CRP for 15 
years and after leaving CRP just sat for a few more years.  Lots of 
wildlife - deer, turkeys, raccoons, woodchucks and almost anything else 
with lives in NY has moved in and gotten used to living here.  I will 
probably grow some sweet corn and winter squash here this season and am 
wondering what might be good tactics to manage the wildlife.  The field 
is several hundred feet from the nearest road and totally out of site 
from the road and any neighboring houses.  It is also several miles from 
my home farm, so I won't be out in the field every day.  I'm hoping to 
spend at most a few hours a week in this field.  The field is 10+ acres 
and part of a 100+ acre parcel which has been out of production for 15 + 
years and is slowly going back to woods.  I will probably plant just an 
acre or two in corn and squash this year and begin working up the 
balance of the ground for planting in 2009.  This is about the only 
available ground which is organically certifiable in my neighborhood, so 
I'm pretty determined to put together an effective  wildlife management 
plan.  Any suggestions?



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