The biggest issue with converting these lands into cropland is soil erosion. Soil plays a massive role in our existence.
Without soil, trees and plants would not exist and neither would we. Not only does soil play an important role in our food chain and air supply but it also stores billions of tonnes of carbon, helping to minimize greenhouse gases as well as filtering and cleaning our water supply. When a farmer chooses to turn pastureland or CRP land into crop land, the chances of soil erosion increase exponentially.
Cropland are left bare for part of the year which leaves the soil exposed to wind and water, accelerating soil erosion. As water accumulates over land, either from rain or watering, the soil is loosened and begins to move down slopes with flowing water. Most of the soil that is moved down hill is usually the most fertile soil containing the needed nutrients for crops and vegetation. Other than soil conservation and livestock grazing, another role that pastureland and CRP land play are natural habitats for wildlife.
Remove some residue by grazing or baling the corn stalks. Tillage to smooth the field and reduce some of the residue also may be useful. Stubble from small grains like wheat or oats also makes a fine seedbed. The untilled ground creates a well-packed soil base into which to drill.
However, removing straw that might smother new seedlings or cause problems with effective drill operation will increase chances of success. Volunteer small grain seedlings or other weeds can pose a competition threat to perennial grass seedling establishment. Delay planting until at least 30 days post-harvest and control volunteer growth and weeds prior to planting to ensure seedlings can establish with limited competition. Plant cool-season, perennial pastures shortly before corn planting or in late summer at least six weeks before the first hard freeze is expected.
Plant warm-season grasses when you would normally plant corn. Use high quality seeds of varieties known to be adapted to your area. The most frequent cause of seeding failure and slow establishment of perennial forages is poor weed control.
Planting date, strategic mowing, and selective herbicide use can help reduce weed pressure. You really don't want to live here actually. Hi Saffyem and welcome to the forum. The legal definition of "agricultural land" allows for a number of activities, other than just grazing or annual "farm" crops, and includes, for example, horticulture, woodlands and allotments. The legal definition of "agriculture" is different though: for instance, horticulture is not "agriculture" - I mention in passing as I found it all a bit confusing at first.
If your use of the land falls under the accepted uses of agricultural land, there will be no need to seek planning permission for change of use. You cannot, however, extend your private garden into a field next-door to your private home: that would be change of use and you would be given a good going over by planning authority if anyone brought it to their attention. If planting tress; in some instances you need a preliminary Foresty Commission impact assessment.
I can't remember whether there is a threshold for acerage, but I had to seek their assessment when considering planting 5ac of Christmas trees. I can't imagine 1ac of trees would twitch anyone's goat, but you might want to check out Envir' Agency or Forestry Commission guidance or ring them before planting other than a few hedgerow trees.
No doubt others with a better grasp or better memory of finer details regarding change of use will come along with comment idc. Very surprised, I received notice that it amounted to change of use which would, in itself require PP.
I contested the latter being fairly confident the "advice" was incorrect , but received no reply. Congress continues to pass similar legislation today through the U. These programs, along with forever improving technology, served as major incentives to convert pastureland to cropland, even in cases when the land is not very productive cropland, often lacking fertile soil, water, or both. This land is commonly known as marginal cropland, and if not for price support systems, it likely would remain as pasture, as it really is not in its best long-term use as cropland given its soil and water condition.
Today, regenerative agriculture provides a production methodology that trades a focus on efficiency and extraction for one that matches natural systems and focuses on longer term sustainable yield. Technology has served to help guide us towards productive systems of cropland and pastureland and has moved us between these two land uses throughout history. From the plow, to the center pivot, to the combine, and more, technology often tends to be a double-edged sword.
It can offer the promise of innovation and increased yield and the possibility for over extraction or misuse of the resource. Much of the current work of regenerative agriculture is understanding how technology, together with nature-based farming methods, can support the long-term sustainability and betterment of the industry. In fact, integrated crop and livestock operations are popular among many recent pioneers of regenerative farming.
Farmland, in general, is higher value agricultural real-estate than pastureland because of its potential to produce high value row crops and permanent crops. The homesteaders had to learn the hard way that pastureland typically does not make productive farm ground. FarmTogether is focusing on high value, productive cropland to create opportunities for farmland investing in both row crop and permanent crop farms.
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