Improve Grazing Profits by Marketing Cedar

Improve Grazing Profits by Marketing Cedar

Summary

Cedar growthiness and hardiness negatively impacts grazing land profitability.

Objectives: 1) To determine profitability from grazing lands where the cedar population is reduced through harvesting and processing into mulch and 2) to evaluate cedar mulch for erosion control on road construction sites and for weed control on tree planting sites.

The producer harvested cedar from two plots, ground the trees into mulch and marketed the mulch to area road construction and tree planting crews, horse arenas and playgrounds. He also sold lumber to businesses selling rustic furniture.

Results: The plots where cedar was harvested seen increased grass cover, but cedar seedlings continue to emerge and may soon dominate the area again. The producer found locating markets for cedar mulch to be a difficult task.