How Long Does it Take to Go from Forest to Pasture? - FHC Q & A

In this installment of the Farm Hand's Companion Q & A show, Pa Mac talks about how long it typically takes to go from a cleared forest land to pasture, what stages to expect in between, and also when to start grazing livestock on the newly formed pasture grass. If you’re needing pasture for the livestock on your small farm or homestead, a plentiful supply of grass does not have to be long away in the making.
For more about related topics, give a watch to these FHC videos:
Episode 2 - Clearing Land for Farming or Homesteading ( • Clearing Land for Farm... )
Episode 3 - Using the Trees on Your Small Farm ( • Using the Trees on You... )
Episode 22 - Making Pasture out of Forest ( • Making Pasture out of ... )
Bulletin #003 - Clearing Land for Pasture ( • Building an Old-fashio... )
Bulletin #004 - Developing Cleared Land into Pasture ( • Developing Cleared Lan... )

[@robertquinlan1060]

I really prefer when you talk. Been reading you for years

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

You read my comment! Thank you Pa Mack🤗 I have to admit I didn’t know what onomatopoeia was! One Google search later, I think schnick must indeed be an onomatopoeia. Although, I’m not sure it’s an official word because the spelling police on my keyboard tried to change it… several times.🤗❤️🐝

[@stevenolan7972]

Feeding hay on unproductive ground also helps build up the top soil.

[@thiscreativehouse]

Thanks for the information! So we've got about 4 solid years to go 😅

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great information about rotational grazing Pa, it does work well. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@ciphercode2298]

Excellent information as always. Thank you,God bless.

[@druid8295]

Love your videos! So well explained, and you're such a pleasant guy!

[@jakobrebeki]

Thanks Pa Mac....

[@enigmagermany2303]

Love your videos. Thank you 👍🏻

[@flowerchild777]

So thoroughly explained, thank you.

[@moonafarms1621]

Love this channel, have so much gratitude for your knowledge. Thank you!!!!!

[@timothypollard4332]

Id like to see that electric fence insulator. Its not cheap but electric netting makes moving goats and keeping them where you want them possible.

[@douglasvantassel8098]

Thank you for making these.

[@kleo5187]

Thanks!

[@gustavoroth62]

This is really valuable info

[@tonythetourist2025]

Love this channel!😊

[@ST-xx9rt]

A hundred years or so back they called the farmers around my neck of the woods, stump farmers. Most burned off the land at least a few years in a row. My land is 80% back to forest.

[@bpdp379]

There’s a small ranch down my road called “Rock and Stump Ranch…”

[@Sgt-Gravy]

Savanna is another word for it if their are trees & Prarie for without trees. Grasslands & Plains are usually used for flat geography. Most people use them interchangeably, though.

[@ST-xx9rt]

I'm told that each year they pulled more stumps and picked more rocks. I have rock piles everywhere. They never become self sufficient. The kids all moved to the city and in the end the land and woods won the fight. Most are hobby farmers or hunting/recreational. This far north there isn't much that grows in such infertile thin soil, with only 100 days of growing season. We seldom even get a second cutting of hay. Great fishing and hunting though

[@davidernst499]

We use the rule: eat 1/3, trample 1/3, leave 1/3 standing-time to move!

[@TheRedneckprepper]

TY

[@gabrielbaez8034]

Viewers, leave a like and help the channel grow. Thanks Mac!

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Pa Mac, how do you deal with holes in the ground from animals and rotten stumps?

[@EastxWestFarms]

I am always amused and disturbed that folks in the cities want to plant trees and folks in the countryside want to clear forests.

[@GypsyBrokenwings]

I've been here 3 years... broad leaf weeds doesn't cover it. Poke weed, black berries, rag weed, golden rod and vines of thorns that look like what they put on Jesus head, are everywhere! The tulip poplars are really difficult to keep from coming back also.

[@johnreno9418]

I don't know what kind of livestock you may have, but ruminant animals love them. and Tulip Poplar is wonderful for harvesting Tree Hay. An ancient practice that goes back to Roman times. If life gives you lemons...

[@AZHighlandHomestead]

Depends where you live. Here in the dry southwest, grass grows fast in different seasons. Getting the carbon content high is imperative in the first year or two, otherwise the grass will sprout, but not stay around. The Biblical analogy about seed on good soil comes to mind.

[@Odysseusnobody]

Still weird hearing your voice

[@SaintCoemgen]

Personally, we are moving a non-significant amount of our land back to forests. Reversing the deforestation process. That will take decades.