By Bill Kleiman
The Middle Rock Conservation Partners have had a long winter and early spring of brush mowing. MRCP purchased this large brush mower in early winter and have been working to keep the machine going.
Above is the Fecon FTX200 being moved to the site.
The MRCP Hill tract is very dense with box elder and honeysuckle. The brush is being mowed, than planted with prairie seed harvested with a combine. Then they plan to backpack treat resprouts and keep up the prescribed fire over the years. Remember prescribed fire?
This is what the view is at times from the cab. The reverse screen shows the thinned area.
Before shot with a bur oak just a bit left of center. Photo below is a after photo with panorama view.
grassland restoration network 
How long do you wait to seed after mowing? Do you wait for the chips to breakdown a bit first?
There are plenty of open soil areas. I decided to seed now as it is spring and early enough to get the seed on the soil. This seed mix was harvested with a combine so we have a grain wagon of it. If it were a small hand collected mix I could hand plant it in the bare soil areas.
Thanks!