Trees

[Username Taken]

Poplar in particular does not like herbicides. Red/soft maple on the other hand is pretty stubborn about spray, as anybody who's done R/W spraying will attest. It will die, but generally there is a different chemical to make that happen.

I would first look into the laws in your state. I once got sprayed by the guy in the blueberry field adjacent to my line. I was not happy but didn't say anything to him, as he's a hard working guy and I gave him the benefit of the doubt. (He was parked on the road at the edge of the block, sending spray 180 feet to the far side of the field.) The next crop rotation he had a different sprayer which allowed more control... he was just starting out and it took a while to get situated properly.

I hear ya. My neighbor to the West is a re-married widow lady. Her husband died in the fields bringing in his crop about 3 years ago. Vehicle accident.

The other Farmers in the area got together, pooled their resources, equipment and time and brought her crops in for her. They wouldn't take any money for it.

No way I'm messing with her. Wouldn't do it anyway. There's just no point in it. It's not like it's malicious on the Farmers' part, they're just trying to make a living and I'm just a White Boy From Town.

 

[Hay Dude]

May not be much comfort to you, but I have myself sprayed and hired out spraying contractors to spray my hayfields when necessary.
The onus is on the operator to control overspray and to compensate for damages and plaNTS he destroys in the process.
In other words, they wont spray on a day when the wind will carry the herbicide into your trees.
And if they do smoke them, they should compensate you for them. They carry insurance and licensing. If they go around killing neighboring properties landscaping, they will be on the hook for the cost, and could lose their license.
I have sprayed along tree lines and never had a problem. But I know younger trees could be vulnerable.
Heck we have AG fields and there’s grape vineyards right next to them. Imagine the lawsuit for killing vineyard vines for wine!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We planted windbreaks of mixed shrubs and fruit trees, then acres of mixed pines and hardwoods right next to farm fields. Never had a problem.

If I were you, and you may already be thinking about this, I'd contact your local county extension agent before you do anything and see what kind of free services they provide.

Here in Indiana, they will come out and do a survey of your property, count the trees, identify the species, the soil types, look for invasives, etc., and write you up a nice report all for free. Then, if you like, they can write up a forestry management plan for all, or different sections of, your property. In that, they can identify species that will do best in your climate and soil types, what types of shrubs and trees to choose for a wind break, give you planting plans for do it yourself or hiring a tree planter.

You may qualify for classified wildlife habitat, classified forest, discounts on trees, planting services, erosion control through tree planting, all kinds of stuff.

But it's important to make the calls first, and find out what's available. If anything, it's nice to get a state forester or biologist out there and walk the land with them. They have a unique eye and can point out a lot of things you're likely to miss.

In Ohio the forestry dept gives you a list of foresters you have to hire to create a forestry plan.

 

[dodge man]

I have farm ground part way on one side of me. We have live here about 25 years and at least twice overspray has killed part of my yard. Not a big deal but if I had trees it would probably have hurt them. Once you can get them established you‘ll probably be ok. I agree, don’t plant them to close to the line.

Also I know they make an effort not to overspray, there is often a lot more weeds along the edge of the field along my yard but if they are there to spray and it gets windy, I figure they will spray.

 

[MossRoad]

In Ohio the forestry dept gives you a list of foresters you have to hire to create a forestry plan.

In Indiana they give you an extensive list of foresters that are certified to do the planting work. You pick from that rather long list. But the state forester does the plan. Or at least they used to. It was 1989 when we used them.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

In Indiana they give you an extensive list of foresters that are certified to do the planting work. You pick from that rather long list. But the state forester does the plan. Or at least they used to. It was 1989 when we used them.

I tried to have dad get a forestry plan done last year, but he didn’t want to, and lost his ag exemption since he gave up farming. He still markets trees.