Economic advantages are enhanced by a wide variety of financial and technical assistance available.
When Conservation Reserve Program contracts expire, options for future use of the land could include forestry and wildlife management. Such uses may be the best economically and environmentally.
Economic advantages include:
Economic advantages are enhanced by the wide variety of financial and technical assistance available from the Indiana Division of Forestry, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, other federal agencies, and private organizations. Tree seedlings are available from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources' tree nurseries. County Extension offices can assist. Seedlings should be ordered in the fall. Technical assistance is recommended for improved assurances of success.
Environmental advantages are obvious:
Then there is the opportunity for the landowner's and family's enjoyment of nature-trees, wildflowers, and wild animals big and small-a place to walk, relax, and enjoy the beauty of nature in its infinite variety.
Potential answers may be timber production, recreational, source of steady income production, long-term investment, or a combination of any of these. Answers and priorities placed on each will determine how, where, and how much of which activity should be pursued.
For instance, if timber management is the key objective, any wildlife management will be incidental to timber harvest and stand improvement. Or, if providing wildlife habitat and timber management are equal objectives, harvesting and timber stand improvement can create and enhance wildlife habitat. Income is earned simultaneously.
Whatever the objective, a wildlife biologist or forester should be consulted and given some indication of your long-term ownership objectives, because wildlife and forestry management often are very long- range endeavors.
It is difficult to justify, solely in economic terms, hardwood plantations, except for black walnut. Other hardwoods, like oak, grow slowly. Black walnut can be harvested in a minimum of 35 to 40 years. Depending on the species, other hardwoods may be harvested in 65 to 80 years. A mix of species often provides the most benefits.
Tree plantations do better on former forest sites. Recently cropped land requires more attention to determine suitability for certain species. Soil conservation plans list the appropriate tree species for various soil types. Indiana Division of Forestry's district foresters also have this information. Riparian zones are good sites for trees. Trees in them can help prevent soil erosion and water pollution from cropped-land runoffs.
Management that is implemented also may positively or negatively affect future property values. Management includes weed control in the first years of new plantings. Weeds compete for water and nutrients. Stands also must be monitored for damaging pests.
In 15 to 20 years, when tree crowns are touching, it will be time to begin thinking about thinning undesirable trees and volunteers and selecting those for future harvesting.
Most land management practices require time to develop. There is no such thing as an instant forest or prairie. But forest plantations can enhance the value of land and the estate in the future. If a wildlife biologist's or forester's recommendations seem too ambitious, remember that goals can be accomplished in stages.
Most management practices will favor deer. But while desirable to many landowners, too many deer can create damage problems and be inconsistent with new tree plantings, nursery operations, nearby vegetable crops, and in some situations, row crops. These associated species are an integral part of the natural environment and are essential for a healthy ecosystem. A wildlife biologist can minimize some damage potential by the design and placement of certain habitat features. Fences, repellents, and other exclusion devices can be used as the need arises.
This illustrates the need for carefully considered and communicated objectives. If you work as an active partner with your wildlife biologist or forester, you can be assured of developing a plan to meet current and future expectations.
FNR-36 Planting Forest Trees and shrubs in Indiana
FNR-87 Forestry and Wildlife Management Assistance Available to the Private Landowner
FNR-137 Forest Ecosystem Management in Indiana
FNR-58 Forestry and Water Quality Pollution Control Practices
FNR-102 Woodlot Wildlife Management
FNR-149 Important Information About Planting Black Walnut in Indiana
Sources: Brian K. Miller, 494-3586, William L. Hoover 494-3580
New 9/95
Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of Indiana. Purdue University, and U.S Department of Agriculture cooperating H. A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the acts May 8 and June 30,1914. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access institution.