Guys. About 3-4 years ago I commented with an attitude of cedars can be good. And I know they still have some benefit but I’ve come to completely agree with your view. I bought a 640 acre farm in Kansas one year ago and my battle is on. But I’m increasing the beneficial habitat while reducing the cedar thickets. Thanks guys!
We would say a combination of any of the three things you mentioned and fire. It really depends on the composition and objectives for the site. You could reduce the cedars to whatever degree you wanted, and then manage the area with prescribed fire.
I have 70 acres in northeastern Missouri, 53 acres is wooded, and I "had" some cedar thickets. Notice I said HAD! I DO KNOW that my deer DO USE these thickets for shade in the summertime, AND, have seen them bedded in it during the winter, BUT, only on those really HOT or COLD, WINDY, days. They also make good windbreaks, and screening cover for getting to your blinds, or along a road fence to prevent "nosey" people from looking onto your property, or road hunting! With that said, I have REDUCED the cedar thickets and have just left a few pockets of cedars. These pockets are mostly for "diversity" sake, and do provide some cover and nesting for songbirds, and I have seen turkeys roosting in the taller cedars. But the cedars have become more beneficial for wildlife WHEN I HAVE CUT THEM DOWN! The cut trees provide bedding and nesting cover for deer, turkey, quail, rabbits, etc. I also leave those cedars that have been rubbed on in the past, and some of the smaller, new growth cedars, as the deer do like to leave their scent on them. I guess I am saying that having a FEW cedars aren't bad, but a large amount as shown on this video is very detrimental.
Nailed it. We need to remember that cedars are a native species, so having A FEW on the landscape, as you mentioned, certainly isn't a bad thing. But again like you said, 20 acres of solid cedar as shown in this video is provide very little of anything for most wildlife. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
They have their place, just not a monoculture. Funny how this suddenly a hot topic, meanwhile we have literally millions of acres of monocultures in production Ag. We need more biodiversity as a whole. One of best things you can do with these cedar thickets is return them to native grasslands and savanna’s.
This has been pretty much my thoughts as well on cedars. In some areas of the country, even most I would say, you never want to go full scale removal. Leaving small pockets here and there for the thermal value should not be overlooked. Deer will seek these areas out during hot and cold periods and if you don’t have them and the neighbors do you could have a limiting factor on your property depending on the size and location.
Agreed! Cedars are a native species, so like you said having a few of them, or pockets of them on the landscape certainly isn't a bad thing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Ya big money worth more than num 1 oak mill are giving around 1.15 bf. The mill that I sell to take 6 inch small end 17 Feet long. I nock out 1k every 2 days by myself cut and skid
A lot of dollors standing in that stand. Sawmill size 1.15 bf. Way higher that any hardwood witch is around .60 bf. All of it has good wood value from the little piles hosre people love cut in 5 foot lingths. Those fence post size has a great market. A person can't cut them fast enough to fill orders. Most would say doze and burn that's stupid would make more sense go doze big oaks out.
That's nothing I cut cedar for a living that's thin. I cut places a acre will make 1k 5 staves 3 inches and smaller 500 fence post 3 to 5 inches and a truck load of logs. Be so thick you can barely walk threw
All of that cedar has value. Yes sawmills generally only want 10 inch small end on a 8 foot 6 log but a lot of mills will take 6 inches and up if cut 17 feet. A 1 to 3 inch stave will bring 2 dollors easy anyone can cut couple hundred a day. Good market for fence post if not over priced and listed in the right places for sale. That stand a cedar is higher value than big oak. No need for a dozer a notill drive will go right over those stumps. I only cut the stuff for a living
@@Andrew-sanders Why is everyone so interested in just leveling fairly mature red cedar???? Thin it out ! It will grow twice as fast and be worth triple in 5 years.
@@michaeltewes7833 no actually the fence stays have the most value. In 5 years those big cedar will be bigger but but might be worth 10.00 more at sawmill. The stays on the other hand have repopulate and you can cut again. I have cut 20k off a acre many times you will never do that with big cedar
Guys. About 3-4 years ago I commented with an attitude of cedars can be good. And I know they still have some benefit but I’ve come to completely agree with your view. I bought a 640 acre farm in Kansas one year ago and my battle is on. But I’m increasing the beneficial habitat while reducing the cedar thickets. Thanks guys!
That is great to hear!! Glad you came around! lol. But like you said, they aren't all bad and they are a native species after all.
That's good advice Adam. Keep up the good work.
What is the most efficient way to clear out cedar thickets? Chainsaw? Skid steer? Tractor?
We would say a combination of any of the three things you mentioned and fire. It really depends on the composition and objectives for the site. You could reduce the cedars to whatever degree you wanted, and then manage the area with prescribed fire.
Great video! I’d love to see a before and after of this exact area once it’s been cleared.
We certainly plan on following up on this project!
I have 70 acres in northeastern Missouri, 53 acres is wooded, and I "had" some cedar thickets. Notice I said HAD!
I DO KNOW that my deer DO USE these thickets for shade in the summertime, AND, have seen them bedded in it during the winter, BUT, only on those really HOT or COLD, WINDY, days.
They also make good windbreaks, and screening cover for getting to your blinds, or along a road fence to prevent "nosey" people from looking onto your property, or road hunting!
With that said, I have REDUCED the cedar thickets and have just left a few pockets of cedars. These pockets are mostly for "diversity" sake, and do provide some cover and nesting for songbirds, and I have seen turkeys roosting in the taller cedars.
But the cedars have become more beneficial for wildlife WHEN I HAVE CUT THEM DOWN!
The cut trees provide bedding and nesting cover for deer, turkey, quail, rabbits, etc.
I also leave those cedars that have been rubbed on in the past, and some of the smaller, new growth cedars, as the deer do like to leave their scent on them.
I guess I am saying that having a FEW cedars aren't bad, but a large amount as shown on this video is very detrimental.
Nailed it. We need to remember that cedars are a native species, so having A FEW on the landscape, as you mentioned, certainly isn't a bad thing. But again like you said, 20 acres of solid cedar as shown in this video is provide very little of anything for most wildlife. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Sounds good except I can’t get a logging crew to thin just 40 acres!
Maybe maybe not. You can still thin trees out on your own! We've had loggers come in and cut 15-20 logs before, so it's doable..
They have their place, just not a monoculture.
Funny how this suddenly a hot topic, meanwhile we have literally millions of acres of monocultures in production Ag.
We need more biodiversity as a whole. One of best things you can do with these cedar thickets is return them to native grasslands and savanna’s.
This has been pretty much my thoughts as well on cedars. In some areas of the country, even most I would say, you never want to go full scale removal. Leaving small pockets here and there for the thermal value should not be overlooked. Deer will seek these areas out during hot and cold periods and if you don’t have them and the neighbors do you could have a limiting factor on your property depending on the size and location.
Agreed! Cedars are a native species, so like you said having a few of them, or pockets of them on the landscape certainly isn't a bad thing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Can u get $$$ in a logging cut? White cedar is big monet in Michigan???
White cedar is an arborvitae (thuja). Red Cedar is in the juniper family. Completely different.
@@mitchgleason7242 Correct. Thanks for clarifying.
Ya big money worth more than num 1 oak mill are giving around 1.15 bf. The mill that I sell to take 6 inch small end 17 Feet long. I nock out 1k every 2 days by myself cut and skid
@Mitch Gleason yes I know the difference between the 2 species. I was wondering if it goes for good price like white cedar does.
@@travissmith-wz5ncno.
A lot of dollors standing in that stand. Sawmill size 1.15 bf. Way higher that any hardwood witch is around .60 bf. All of it has good wood value from the little piles hosre people love cut in 5 foot lingths. Those fence post size has a great market. A person can't cut them fast enough to fill orders. Most would say doze and burn that's stupid would make more sense go doze big oaks out.
That’s probably one of the worst cedar thickets I have seen
No doubt. Almost 20 acres of nothing but a desert of cedars.
That's nothing I cut cedar for a living that's thin. I cut places a acre will make 1k 5 staves 3 inches and smaller 500 fence post 3 to 5 inches and a truck load of logs. Be so thick you can barely walk threw
All of that cedar has value. Yes sawmills generally only want 10 inch small end on a 8 foot 6 log but a lot of mills will take 6 inches and up if cut 17 feet. A 1 to 3 inch stave will bring 2 dollors easy anyone can cut couple hundred a day. Good market for fence post if not over priced and listed in the right places for sale. That stand a cedar is higher value than big oak. No need for a dozer a notill drive will go right over those stumps. I only cut the stuff for a living
@@Andrew-sanders
Why is everyone so interested in just leveling fairly mature red cedar????
Thin it out ! It will grow twice as fast and be worth triple in 5 years.
@@michaeltewes7833 no actually the fence stays have the most value. In 5 years those big cedar will be bigger but but might be worth 10.00 more at sawmill. The stays on the other hand have repopulate and you can cut again. I have cut 20k off a acre many times you will never do that with big cedar