There’s a picture of me on one of the slides, though I’m not saying which one. I was among the first to use loblolly pines with fescue. Most of the South relies on warm-season grasses with pine, and north of here, hardwoods and fescue are more common. John is a true believer in silvopasture, but he recognizes that it’s not the right fit for every situation and understands the economics.

I grew up raising tobacco and other field crops, but my dad always called our pine trees his “ace in the hole” in case times got tough. We eventually used those pines to buy an adjacent farm we had always wanted, so I understand the long-term value of timber.

As I get older, I’m not sure any family members will want to raise cattle alongside their regular jobs. Silvopasture offers them the option of simply letting the pines grow while maintaining farm property tax deferrals. Over time, the farm can generate income with minimal effort. Silvopasture also ranks highly with land conservation groups when purchasing conservation easements, which is appealing to me as a way to ensure the long-term preservation of our property.

To me, the pastures and trees are my own “Field of Dreams”