Took out a couple fields that had been in for 14 years when Dad passed away in 2000. 

Once out, I mowed/ mulched everything up very well late summer and got some fresh regrowth. Then I burned down in fall and then burned down again in spring. Planted beans with 750 drill few spots was challenging getting slot covered but got good stand. Years later it's still more mellow ground. Don't destroy the benefits of all the roots loosening and giving the ground structure over these years.

Few smaller patches that are too erosion prone I pulled out and left in sod. CRP rules started early with annual mowing then became more restrictive to only patches then needing permission to mow anything. Became one giant weed infested mess. That was my reason for getting out. Did not like the rules of no mowing and limited weed control options.

My plan is to mow 4 or 5 times a year this keeps trees and other invasives cut off and allows the grass and clovers that were still their to flourish and crowd everything else out. Their is no money in it. But appearance wise and erosion control by healthy plant stands is still better than CRP rules.

Soil & Water tried to argue with me taking it out saying I was destroying all my Dads conservation work. Well here are the pictures 25 yrs later to the day he passed away proving I did not undo his conservation work but maintained and improved it and created something he would have been proud to see.

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20250911_110413(0) (Medium) (full).jpg (175KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_110416(0) (Medium) (full).jpg (231KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_110709(0) (Medium) (full).jpg (141KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_110927 (Medium) (full).jpg (130KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111034(2) (Medium) (full).jpg (151KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111120 (Medium) (full).jpg (136KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111152(0) (Medium) (full).jpg (179KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111241(2) (Medium) (full).jpg (176KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111340(1) (Medium) (full).jpg (154KB - 2 downloads)

20250911_111516 (Medium) (full).jpg (163KB - 2 downloads)