Pine straw may be harvested mechanically or raked by hand. Mechanical operations are often conducted by a contractor who has a tractor-drawn rake that pulls the needles into piles between the rows of trees. Once the needles are raked into piles, a tractor-drawn baler collects and bundles the needles into bales that are bound with twine or wire. Bales may be round or square depending on the baler type used. Round bales may weigh as much as 40 pounds and …
Harvesting Pine Straw from a Forest
If you have longleaf, loblolly, or slash pines growing on your land, your forest is producing pine straw. But if you wish to harvest pine straw, simply having it is not enough—as with any forest farming activity, planning and active management are the keys to success. There are many stand and property characteristics that make a site suitable for pine-straw harvests. Consider the following factors to help you decide whether pine-straw harvesting is right for your property.
Understory Brush
…YouTube Channel Ginseng Series
Independent ginseng expert, Bob Beyfuss, explains the differences between woods-cultivated, wild-simulated and truly wild ginseng. We review the methods for cultivation and the resulting appearance and monetary values that are attached to each type of ginseng.
The forest type and the understory herbaceous layer are equally important when it comes to determining a good site to plant ginseng. The forest type will determine the proper shade levels and general soil type that will support ginseng …
What is agroforestry? What is forest farming?
“Agroforestry” is a broader term for a variety of different land-use practices of which “forest farming” is one. Agroforestry includes a broad group of practices that integrate trees with annual crops and/or livestock on the same unit of land for environmental and economic benefits. Agroforestry practices are designed to meet individual landowner needs. Forest farming is one of five formally recognized agroforestry “practices” in the United States.
Agroforestry has been defined in slightly different ways by different organizations and individuals. …
What are some benefits of forest farming?
Forest farming can increase the economic value and utility of your forest and provide numerous environmental benefits, as well. If you are managing your forest for eventual timber harvest, forest farming can provide supplemental and more frequent income while you are waiting for the timber to mature. It is up to you as to how active you become in forest farming. You can simply manage wild populations of plants, fungi, and other natural resources that already exist in your forest …