By Tyler Newton, Quail Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist
A silvopasture is a distinct form of agroforestry involving the practice of growing trees for timber revenue and grazing livestock in the same area. Silvopastures are an important practice for wildlife management as they provide a diverse array of habitats while producing needed revenue from the land for the property owner. They can be created by planting trees in an existing pasture or by thinning a forest to create pasture.
A great example of silvopasture establishment was completed of Miller Adams, of Adams & Adams Of Red Oak LLC. To begin the process, a strip of pines 50 feet wide were cleared. The next 50 feet of pines was then thinned to a basal area of about fifty square feet per acre. This pattern of clearing a 50-foot section followed by a heavy thinning continued throughout the 20 acres. By clearing and thinning 50-foot sections, sunlight began to reach the forest floor, which encouraged forage growth.
One factor that influenced the layout of the strips was aspect; the way the sun moves across a property and the direction shade will be cast from the remaining trees is an important consideration when planning your project. Shade is valuable in a grazing system, especially in the summer months, so it is important to capture as much of the shade as possible. The width in between the tree rows also needs to allow for equipment to navigate through these strips easily. This better access aids in the future management of the stand whether it be a bushhog, hay equipment, or a fertilizer spreader.
The understory vegetation was also removed during the pine thinning. Any debris that was left from the thinning was burned during a prescribed fire. Following the prescribed fire, a grinder was used to remove any stumps that remained in order to prepare the stand for the planting of a native warm-season grass called switchgrass After the completion of the burn and grinding, any hardwoods that regenerated were spot sprayed for the next year. In the spring of 2021, switchgrass, a native species, was planted in the 50-foot strips that were cleared.
Planting a native warm-season grass that is a high-quality forage, like switchgrass, can provide more summer grazing opportunities and promote healthier cattle. While Miller’s primary objective was focused on his cattle operation, he has also seen an increased use of the area by a wide variety of wildlife species. This silvopasture will provide great wildlife habitat while the landowner also benefits from timber and cattle production. The greater diversity of trees, brush, grasses, and forbs now has enhanced the habitat value of his property. Any landowner who is interested in creating a silvopasture or improving wildlife habitat on their property should reach out to their local private lands biologist. Achieving your property goals may just be a phone call away.
This story originally appeared in the 2022 Winter Issue of the Quail Forever Journal. If you enjoyed it and would like to be the first to read more great upland content like this, become a Quail Forever member today!