Objectives
The
goal of the land aerator project is to prevent soil erosion into
Pipestem Creek, Seven Mile Coulee and Beaver Creek by encouraging
no-till practices. This will be accomplished by applying the
aerator to land removed from the Conservation Reserve Program and
other cropland and pasture which would otherwise be subject to
plowing or tillage.
Project Description
The
project will include using a tractor and land aerator in place of
tillage on cropland (focus on expired CRP entering back into ag
production), hayland and pasture. The focus will be on land in the
Lower Pipestem Creek Watershed, Beaver Creek Watershed, and Seven
Mile Coulee Watershed. Priority will be given to producers in these
areas and secondary priority to producers in Stutsman, Foster and
Wells counties outside of these areas.
Aerator
Benefits
Hayfield and pasture aeration increases productivity. As the
aerator's blades spiral into the ground, slicing through rhizomes,
it stimulates growth and breaks up soil compaction. With the
aerator's "No-Till" system, the ground behind remains smooth and not
turned over like old conventional methods. Aeration increases
productivity by keeping soils loosened and opened up to allow
fertilizer and rain to absorb, eliminating erosion and run off. By
adjusting the off-set in the drums, the tandem offer simple aeration
for hay fields to heavy land clearing.
o Clearing
brush in one pass saves money in time and fuel costs for cattle and
hay producers, and wildlife managers.
o Increases
wildlife and cattle stocking rates.
o Least
aggressive offset--aerate hayfields and leaves ground smooth. Most
aggressive offset--clear up to 6in-8in diameter trees.
o Use
in place of sub-soilers.
o Aerates
all soil types.
o Increases
water retention.
o Allows
root-bound hayfields to breathe.
o Relieves
soil compaction.
o Allows
fertilizer to seep in.
o Fractures
soil, hardpan and sod-bound ground 18"-24" deep.
o Mulches
brush 6"-8" in diameter.
o Stimulates
growth.
o "No-Till"
application, leaves ground smooth.
o Over-seed
in one pass with seeder package.
Scheduling
Producers
will schedule the land aerator through the watershed project
staff. Producers in the watersheds will be given first access to the
aerator and will be first come, first served. Producers outside of
the watershed area will be addressed after watershed area
producers.
The
tractor will come full of fuel and leave full. Fuel for the tractor
will be provided by the producers and a fee of $10 per acre will be
charged for coverage of labor and equipment costs.
Producers will supply all pertinent maps and acreages prior to the
scheduled date of aerator arrival. Producers will pay the total
amount for the acreage up front to the Soil Conservation District
Office prior to the land aerator’s arrival.
If
seeding is to be in conjunction with the aerator treatment a fee of
$5 per acre extra will be charged and the producer is responsible
for having the seed on hand and in the field “ready for loading”
when the aerator arrives at the field. Seeding rates need to be
given to the operator prior to loading of seed. (Stutsman SCD does
not guarantee the success of the seeding.)
