This project was located along the leading edge of the Loess Hills in Fremont county. One can see the hills rise out of the earth while driving from a distance, but to experience them up close is amazing. Topography in certain areas is as rugged and daunting as you’ll find anywhere. These hills are unique and are certainly worth the effort to maintain and restore.
A large portion of this property had become heavily invaded with honey locust, cedar, and mulberry. Hickory Ridge Forestry’s task involved the shearing and spraying of all these described species within pre-determined boundaries. Although the terrain was difficult in some areas, the compact track loader performed flawlessly. JCB makes a very well balanced, powerful, and capable machine that has served HRF well. This machine was coupled with HRF’s tree shear with newly modified spray system. The shear cut great and instant spraying of the stumps on a project of this size proved invaluable.
Temperatures and weather put HRF to the test, but all machine work was completed just prior to snow in excess of a foot falling within 3 days of completion. Everything went well, but the biggest reward is having the opportunity to spend time in these hills providing beneficial restoration efforts to improve them. It will be great to visit in the future to see new oak trees growing among prairie grasses and savannah areas.
