Smoothing Clear Cut Land

[ecdan]

A couple of notes:

Unfortunately we bought the land after the contract was put in place. We got an amazing deal because of this.

The contract does not state they will clear up ruts but the company has been responsive and reasonable to other requests.

They will be fixing the road after they are done.

We are considering leaving the stumps alone as we can drive between them with the tractor.

So would a reasonable course of action be to clear the ground of large debris using a grapple, use something like a box blade or this TR3 Rake - ABI Attachments to smooth the ground and then broadcast seed between the stumps?

Keep in mind that sheep are more like goats and will eat plenty of weeds/woody growth.

I will likely leave some slash piles that are at the edges alone. The one big one in the middle of the property I’ll pull it into smaller piles and slowly burn it.

Bulldozer is not in the cards as the cost is extreme.

 

[jyoutz]

A couple of notes:

Unfortunately we bought the land after the contract was put in place. We got an amazing deal because of this.

The contract does not state they will clear up ruts but the company has been responsive and reasonable to other requests.

They will be fixing the road after they are done.

We are considering leaving the stumps alone as we can drive between them with the tractor.

So would a reasonable course of action be to clear the ground of large debris using a grapple, use something like a box blade or this TR3 Rake - ABI Attachments to smooth the ground and then broadcast seed between the stumps?

Keep in mind that sheep are more like goats and will eat plenty of weeds/woody growth.

I will likely leave some slash piles that are at the edges alone. The one big one in the middle of the property I’ll pull it into smaller piles and slowly burn it.

Bulldozer is not in the cards as the cost is extreme.

I think your plans are a reasonable approach. But I would also ask the logger to back drag the deep ruts and break up the largest piles. Can’t hurt. And if they say that’s not in the contract, you might ask what it would cost. They have the appropriate equipment on site and can do this far more efficiently than you can with a tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

So would a reasonable course of action be to clear the ground of large debris using a grapple, use something like a box blade or this TR3 Rake - ABI Attachments to smooth the ground and then broadcast seed between the stumps?

Rake - ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW (Version 1)

ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0 I received this previously owned ABI TR3~6.5~Command~Rake December 18, 2017. Photo #1. TR3 "Command Series" is ABI's commercial model TR3 rake, with six hydraulically operated scarifiers plus tooth sections fixed on the leveling bar. While...

www.tractorbynet.com

I believe one of the two following implements will better fill your requirements:

A HEAVY, Three Point Hitch mounted (Category 2) Chain Harrow, like these 8' or 10', 785+ pound models from Wingfield, should be considered. Chain Harrows will not "hang up" on stumps or roots. You will need all 785 pounds of Harrow weight to move enough dirt in your application.

I have one of Wingfield's lighter model Three Point Hitch mounted (Category 1) Chain Harrows.

3pt Heavy-Duty Chain Harrow | Wingfield American Harrow

The Wingfield 3 Point Heavy-Duty tractor harrow is designed to grow along with your needs. You start with a center frame, then add hydraulic wings, and finally transform to a pull cart. The heavy-duty three point pasture drag is an ideal unit to break up manure, thatch, aerate, and seed a pasture.

www.americanharrow.com

Also consider a Yorkmodern Rake, model "RI-HEAVY".

The Model RI is available in two versions, Landscape or Heavy. The Landscape version uses 1" rake teeth and 1" spacing for a finer finish. The Heavy uses 1-1/4" rake teeth and 1-1/2" spacing for a coarser finish. These units combine many versatile features and adds the convenience of a Hydraulic Angle Option and a permanently mounted drop-down blade option. The Landscape and Heavy RI models are available in 6', 7', 8', 9' and 10' widths. The Model RI is now also Quick Hitch Compatible.

A York RI-HEAVY model rake with optional blade and optional wings will move as much dirt as a Box Blade. York rake will windrow in addition. Scarifiers as useful on a "RI" as on a Box Blade.

LINK TO YORK RAKE SPECIFICATIONS:

https://www.yorkmodern.com/downloads/RI%20LandscapeHeavy.pdf

 

[Egon]

Problem solver right here.. Find a guy with one:

https://imgur.com/ZJjFK5p

That is the best option. Follow up with a breaking disk and the land should be cultivatable. A larger Cat would be preferred.

There really is no light duty equipment option for removing large stumps and levelling the land. Get the proper equipment and clean it up. In the long run that is the best option.

 

[rScotty]

That is the best option. Follow up with a breaking disk and the land should be cultivatable. A larger Cat would be preferred.

There really is no light duty equipment option for removing large stumps and levelling the land. Get the proper equipment and clean it up. In the long run that is the best option.

So true. I was just reading through this thread and thinking how common it is here on TBN to see that same question.
Someone has bought 5 to 50 acres - or more - and a wants to know how to clear the land with their tractor.

The answer is simple. Hire a bulldozer. That's what they do. Saves money, time, and your tractor.
rScotty

 

[Fielding]

Hire a bulldozer for the roots, clean up after him.

If you can get a permit to burn, and its safe to do it gets a pile of work in very little time.

 

[jyoutz]

Hire a bulldozer for the roots, clean up after him.

If you can get a permit to burn, and its safe to do it gets a pile of work in very little time.

Bull dozer with root rake. You don’t want to scrape off the topsoil.

 

[landruma]

Not related to your question, but you can save on property taxes for the mixed use with an Agriculture Property Tax Conversion for Wildlife Management. Google it for your state. Click on the .gov websites, as the other links will try to sell you their services for something you can easily do yourself. Here's Texas: TPWD: Agriculture Property Tax Conversion for Wildlife Management

Tony, CPA

 

[ecdan]

Having a dozer come work the property would be nice but the quotes ive gotten have ranged from $1500 an acre or more...

So it really is not an option.

 

[jyoutz]

Having a dozer come work the property would be nice but the quotes ive gotten have ranged from $1500 an acre or more...

So it really is not an option.

If the logging contractor is still on site, you can get them to do some things a lot cheaper. The equipment and employees are already there, so no move-in, move out costs and they know the land.

 

[dcarman]

We have 100 acres that was just clear cut of pines. The ultimate goal is to make much of it mixed forest/pasture for sheep.

Tractor - Kubota MX5400 with bucket and bushhog

Slash - They piled most of it up into massive piles. We might try and burn some of it or just leave it to rot? We plan to get a grapple to collect up the bigger pieces left over into rot/burn piles and leave the small stuff to rot.

Stumps - We plan on getting a PTO stump grinder to tackle the stumps (not in a rush).

My main question is around the mess the loggers made with their equipment. There are quite a few big tire trenches and uneven spots on the land. What is the best implements to use to smooth these out/fill them in?

I did some land clearing in Alaska for a guy who was going to raise crops on it. When we got the trees done he had a hydraulic excavator come in and bury all the slash and stumps piles we had made. A little spendy but done now. This worked great for his schedule and then he went over it a few times with the box blade to smooth and level it using the spikes initially to clear out any roots that were still left. It there is overburden there such as forest detritus and roots any instrument is going to pull that stuff up unless you haul dirt over the top of it first.

 

[airbiscuit]

Stumps break tractors and bend loaders. I'm glad you aren't going to mess with them. Use this for your slashing.

 

[airbiscuit]

For the ground work, find a heavy old Bog Disc.

 

[airbiscuit]

Or do this

 

[ZTMAN]

Skidder ruts are sometimes 3-4 feet deep with stumps in the middle. A D6 would be more inline with smoothing them out vs a box blade.

I agree, but I think the OP asked what implements would be best suited for his tractor.

 

[erikjohn67]

Alot of good advice being given previously. As a manager at a large heavy civil GC in florida for the last 20 some years I been involved with subcontractors and clearing of thousands of acres of land.

Clipping and removing the good wood is always the cheapest route for the subcontractor or the landowner trying to cash in before making a sale because they can actually make money and have the sub pay them to take the wood when they don’t have to remove the stumps. The stump removal is the largest cost to the sub.

That being said it will be a minor cost to them compared to what it would cost you to get them to get the ruts leveled out. You should try to work a deal with them because you need to be able to move around on the property. You can burn the piles it just takes a little time and effort but we do it all the time. If your in GA and maybe it is a little swampy that can actually make things less dangerous than burning on completely dry ground.

As far as the stumps they are a huge PITA to remove after the tree has been downed. It is much easier to knock the tree down and lever the stump out with the tree then to have to try to remove it after the top has been cut, which I have has to do before as well. They only way to really do it at that point is with a large tracked excavator land dig them out.

If you can get the land leveled, burn the brush and then maybe cut the stumps at ground level with a large chainsaw, that is probably your best bet to make the property usable.

 

[charles todd]

Having a dozer come work the property would be nice but the quotes ive gotten have ranged from $1500 an acre or more...

So it really is not an option.

WOW. 2009 I paid $400/acre for an excavator to grub stumps and a 2 dozer to pile them.

CT

 

[Fixastuff]

WOW. 2009 I paid $400/acre for an excavator to grub stumps and a 2 dozer to pile them.

CT

Just curious, how long did it take them to clear an acre?

 

[Rockbadchild]

the slash pile i would definitely try to burn some… depending on your area which i am not familiar with, but what i am familiar with is by the time that stuff rot the new threes are growing back so 5 to 10 years …

For the tire trench first options you could fill them with the wood of the brush pile or chips from your brush hog so they rot there and it will fill them over time, this would take time and you will probably have to do it a few time.
second options If you have or could get a furrow plow you could plow a section then disk it of till it then take that dirty and fill the tires trench …
Option 3 furrow plowed the trench area, disk and seeds.

 

[erikjohn67]

WOW. 2009 I paid $400/acre for an excavator to grub stumps and a 2 dozer to pile them.

CT

Price/cost is dependent on how many stumps per acre and how big the stumps are. Just like any estimate or cost, what they charge you is a function of work required to perform the work.

Factors that affect clearing cost are:
Size of trees
Subsurface conditions (wet or dry)
Density of trees
Can the wood be marketed
Can you burn or do you have to chip/mulch

Stump removal is usually a given unless someone is just making a money grab to sell the wood and flip the property.