The last post was the picture from above, flying at 30,000 feet and looking at the farm across both space and time. That’s fun to do, and necessary as a starting point, but ideas need to lead to actions. Most of the actions I want to take in 2021 are already baked into the cake, so to speak, that I began with previous seedings, so that is where we can begin.

First, there is still work to be done on the restoration that was seeded in June, 2018. While I am not planning to spread any more seed on that restoration, I am certain that I will be tempted to supplement thin areas. There is enough native species growing and producing seed now, however, that seeding may be as simple as gathering on one side of a hill and scattering what I gather on the other side of the hill. I have documented about 90 species so far on the 100 acre restoration, and some of them were already producing significant amounts of seed last year. I expect to see more this year. Mostly, though, I will spend my time spot-treating biennial and Canada thistles with herbicide. It will not be possible to eliminate thistles on the restoration – I would spend a lot of money and also eliminate most of my native forbs. However,I would like to thin patches enough to keep allelopathic effects in check and to allow native species to establish completely. While herbicide application is not a very palatable management choice I am afraid that I need to risk some damage to some forbs in order to allow many others to establish and colonize. Two or three acres of actual herbicide treatment can go a very long way if I am resolute and judicious with spot treating.

Another reason why I will be unlikely to spread new seed on the older restoration is that I am likely to obsessively gather and purchase seed to topdress additional seed on the 20 acres that were seeded last fall. I do need to be a bit careful, as I have gathered a lot of seed the past three years. For most species that is not a problem because it is impossible to gather a high percentage of their seed production; the problem is that it is difficult to gather much at all before the seed drops, blows away or the plant senesces and rolls away. For a few species, however, notably black samson (Echinacea angustifolia) and groundplum milkvetch (Astragalus crassicarpus) it is possible to harvest almost every seed. This summer I need to gather the seed in a more conservative manner on such species, leaving more on the landscape.

Something that would help that goal would be access to other native seed sources. As it turns out there is a 70 acre mesic prairie that adjoins farmland that I have consulted on for many years located about forty miles southeast of where I live. I was walking in that prairie last fall when a vehicle with Minnesota license plates drove up. The young gentleman was an employee of Prairie Restorations Inc., a business that has a long history of planning and implementing restorations in Minnesota. They had been contacted by the landowner, who lives in the Twin Cities, to give a bid on performing a prescribed burn on the prairie. While it is a long way to drive to gather seed, fire can stimulate spectacular seed production that might provide a bonanza worth the drive, and I may need to contact the landowner to receive permission to gather.

Another task I hope to accomplish is to expand my soil carbon sampling project. So far I have seven sampling points providing baseline measurements in the 100 acre restoration and adjacent cropped ground. I hope to expand that to take samples in the new 20 acre restoration and adjacent fields. The task is made more difficult by the soil type, a very thin glacial outwash soil. I may have to settle for 12-18″ samples because the gravel and stones that underlay the topsoil make deeper sampling useless. In any case I will figure out a protocol that fits the site and get more information.

On a different front, I entered into a contract with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to help fence the restorations so that I can use cattle to help achieve my goals. This summer two new pastures will be created, both combining some native prairie with some restored prairie, a total of a little over 100 acres. This will create a potential grazing system of four paddocks, totalling about 170 acres. If you then add the grazing of cover crops and crop residues on adjacent farm fields it should be possible to have a unit providing well over 200 Animal Unit Months (AUM’s), or almost enough for a 40 cow herd for a six month grazing season. The 20 acres that were seeded last fall won’t be ready for any grazing until 2022 or 2023, but the assistance from DU runs out on June 30, so we begin on 12000′ of fencing soon.

Finally, my dream for many years was to have a retirement business purchasing land to restore and implement conservation practices on, much as I have done with my home farm. My health issues have put that dream out of my mind the past couple years as I realized there is a valid reason that 65 is considered a reasonable retirement age. Physical infirmities limit one’s abilities to take on new projects. That has changed because of my recent surgeries. While I am still a used up 65 year old guy, I am now a used up 65 year old guy with more energy. The results of the surgery have not only greatly reduced my susceptibility to pneumonia, they have also provided more consistent ability to get oxygen, and thus more energy and stamina. This means more and higher quality sleep and also better aerobic capacity. I am exploring different possible partnerships and collaboration, both with used up old farts like myself who can provide experience and perhaps capital, and with young conservation professionals who provide the youth and energy that I lack. We will see; perhaps I can flesh out some ideas in a future blog post.

That’s what is on my plate in 2021. I have begun preparations on all of the tasks I listed, and spring is here, or at least the geese and ducks think so. Over the last few days we have received over three inches of rain on what was very dry land. When it warms up we will see if I have the time, energy and good health to accomplish these goals and to kick off the 10 year plan with a flourish. I need to – it won’t get any easier. And I will close with the first wildflower of the spring, a picture of a pasque flower that I took before Easter, the earliest I have ever seen them bloom.