Since all you old hands here are so patient...

[dodge man]

Another option is to let the blow downs lie there and don't do anything to that piece of ground. I know you want to get in there and clean it out, but its up to you to decide if its worth the money or effort. You can do it slow and easy and take several years, but that gets old after a while.

 

[Soundguy]

doing it that way, it's unsafe to walk or ride thru the area in case of deadwood falling on you...

soundguy

 

[DAY]

I have a patch of woods where the occasional dead tree hangs up on a neighbor. Having plenty to occupy me already, I just wait until we get a good hard blow, then go cut them up, when they are safely on the ground. As they say, "Discretion is the better part of valor."

 

[IslandTractor]

> but either way you need a 4x4 50hp tractor an loader todo your other work.

Wow... so, what should I be looking at?

Tractor size has been discussed. I own a Kioti DK40se after owning a CK20. I upgraded when the amount of land I was clearing/working went from 5 acres to 20. The 40hp range is IMO about right for that size land and the types of tasks you envision. The 50hp range tractors don't have significantly more loader capacity and as most of us use our tractors at less than flat out 90% of the time, you need to have a good reason to move from 40-50 (at least in the Kioti lineup as the tractors are identical except for 8hp).

Having someone else log the area makes sense but if you choose to do it consider getting a backhoe. There are lots of uses for a BH besides ripping out trees and while it is true that you can rent mini excavators as needed, most folks who bought BHs would not sell them. Too many uses especially for someone developing an orchard.

 

[DAY]

good point, island Tractor, on the backhoe/orchard. Remember, too that a "TLB" is a Tractor LOADER Backhoe. That means you can buy a whole lot more used tractor if it doesn't have a FEL!

 

[Soundguy]

maybee get a used industrial.. better mahine than a 'hang on' loader or hoe.

of course for light duty, a 3pt hoes with some sub framing can do alot. my woods 6500 on my ford 850 with a 1-arm loader makes a funny lil TLB.. but I have dut up a few large shrubs / small trees with her easilly... wouldn't want to do ALOT of work with her like that..

soundguy

 

[BradGad]

Well, looks like the point is moot. We had sent everything to the agent, to make the offer on Monday morning, but on Sunday night, we got word that the place we really wanted -- 20 acres up near Cleveland, Ga -- *might* be coming back on the market on Friday, so we told the agent to hold off for a few days. And, in that time, someone swooped in, and the property we've been talking about went under contract. (It had only been on the market 6-7 days.)

So, thanks everyone... but.

This other property, I may not need a tractor at all, at least for a while. (Plus, it's 100K more, so cash will be tight for a while).

But... it's gorgeous. 20 acres up right flush up agin' the mountains. 15 or so acres are very nice woods, 5 acres rolling pasture. Nice little creek on the property. So, we'll just get self-sufficient first, and then work toward one of our agribusiness scenarios a year so down the road.

It's definitely a nicer property, but dang, I was getting excited about the tractor!

MarkV, we may be neighbors soon. But, it's still all up in the air and uncertain... I'm calling in any Kosmic Karma I've managed to accrue, hoping very much we get it.

 

[BradGad]

MarkV said: "The ideal of truffles is interesting. I know someone that looked into it a long time ago and didn't find it practical for the N Georgia area. Do you know anyone successfully growing them up your way? If I remember correctly the start up cost were pretty big. Eight to ten acres will be a challenge. Keep us informed when you get started."

And it may still not be practical, but from what I read, there have been some definite advances in the past 5 - 8 years. This site is instructive:

Garland Truffles - Truffle Cultivation - Home

I was planning to ask them to do an assessment of the property, and if they said it looked good, then seriously consider it. And if not, then do something else.

I mention this because it's still a possibility with the property we're trying to get.

The cost for trees (trees alone... NM irrigation, equipment, etc.) is about $11k per acre.

 

[TRR]

Since you plan on an agribusiness, have you investigated who your customers are going to be and how you are going to market to them?

 

[BradGad]

Since I still don't know yet what property we will have, I don't know what my agribusiness will be. So, no, I have not yet done any specific market research.

But, I am smarter than I look, online at least, so, yeah, I'm planning to do that at some point.