[Carpenter] Carpenter Prairie Status

[Kevin Carpenter]

Hi all -

I had the pleasure yesterday of giving Frank and Judy a guided tour of our
property.  Frank was very encouraged by the quantity of native grasses and
forbs he spotted in the targeted spring burn area.  Of course, those area
are choked with fescue.

Frank recommended a late November spraying of a Roundup mix to knock the
fescue back.  Between the primary 50 acre field, the secondary 8 acre
field, and a small 1-2 acre hillside - I have about 60 acres that needs to
be treated.  The other roughly half of the property will remain in cool
seasons grasses for now - providing early spring and winter pasture for
the cattle that will provide light grazing control in the summer.

John Murphy has acquired some cost share for me to help with the discing
and actual burn expenses.

Justin - Is there anything available from MPF (or elsewhere?) to help with
the fescue eradication effort?

In preperation for the burns, I did a low brush-hogging this weekend to
create an 15-18 ft wide firebreak around each parcel.  Of course, some of
that will be disced if needed, but I would expect it all to have fresh
fescue growing in it this spring.

Kevin