A question for Ohio friends

ADB-Ia · Jan 2, 2020

We traveled through Ohio this past week visiting our son in Rhode Island. There is some very nice flat farm land in Ohio but I've always wondered why there are patches of trees scattered throughout the landscape. They look to be about 10 acres and square out in the middle of perfectly flat farm ground. In Iowa those trees would be a job for the bulldozer guys with land prices being north of $10,000 an acre. Just curious.

jCarroll · Jan 2, 2020

I'm in central Ohiah.....

Might be the remanent of a homestead 100 years ago.

Only $10,000/acre land here is for shopping centers, housing developments, government projects,

Butch(OH) · Jan 2, 2020

Different parts of the state they exist for different reasons. Unlike out west the vast majority of Ohio was forested and when it was cleared a woodlot was left as an important part if the farm providing lumber and heat and a wind break. Other areas were wet or steep. Been told that nowadays a person cannot clear them and profit from it. Often times they are placed in sone sort of easement and taxes are near nothing.

Gary H. · Jan 2, 2020

Come to west central Ohio and price some ground in Mercer County. A lot has been sold for $10,000 plus!

Larry EC-OH · Jan 2, 2020

This is the same state that often has a big tree right in the middle of every field (so it seems).

Since I was raised in Iowa this used to drive me nuts!

Larry

sourgum · Jan 2, 2020

Think on many flatter farms in pioneer times a woods was left intact for wood heat supply, while the rest was cleared for crops. If a woods was thought to be wet that area was not cleared also, it was thought it would not produce crops. Some wet wooded areas could be wetlands and would not be easy to be cleared today due to red tape and some old farm bill rules. One would think flat Ohio farmland would easily be worth 10K per acre for agriculture use. Much more than that for development or commercial uses.

Mike(NEOhio) · Jan 2, 2020

I'm no historian but I think Ohio was nearly all forest before it was settled. Most of the farmland was cleared.

caterpillar guy · Jan 2, 2020

Yup for lumber,syrup making if a lot of maples and then heat from wood. Also at that time everything was not thought to be cleared off like in other areas with later times. That has only been an idea of the last 25-35years or so.
Not all of us see the point to clear cut everything with no wind breaking except around the hose. Also once west of IN alot of the land was barren of trees and more so the farther west you go.

MCOHIO · Jan 2, 2020

A friend of mine has 168 acres of farm ground at his house. He has a large stand of trees in this acreage as well. I asked him once why. He gave me several reasons. One was for a wood supply to burn or sell. Two, so he didn't have to look out his back door and see neighbors. Third was deer and mushroom hunting. His most important reason was that he and his first wife had an area to just go sit and be alone. When she passed, he scattered her ashes there and made a small memorial area for her.

ADB-Ia · Jan 2, 2020

Thanks for the info. Sounds reasonable. I just hate to farm around places that could be farmed through. My neighbor tells me Dutchmen with bulldozers are a problem. I am one - He may be right. LOL

Leroy · Jan 2, 2020

A lot of times that woodlot was also the pasture field.

Butch(OH) · Jan 2, 2020

They tell me the story on the lone big trees standing in fields was they needed an anchor for the winches to pull stumps. Also heard it was a shady place to rest horses. Who knows?

Ron Muhlenkamp · Jan 2, 2020

According to the "History of Mercer County", when Ohio was settled, it was all timberland.
To plant an acre of corn, you had to clear the acre of trees.
My dad (1910-1987) talked about plowing around stumps.
And we burned wood for heat until the mid 1960's.

Leroy · Jan 2, 2020

Same for Auglaize, Shelby and Allen counties. I have lived in Auglaize county for all of my 76 years and am now living about 5 mile from Mercer county.

A question for Ohio friends

ADB-Ia

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jCarroll

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Butch(OH)

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Gary H.

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Larry EC-OH

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sourgum

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Mike(NEOhio)

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caterpillar guy

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MCOHIO

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ADB-Ia

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Leroy

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Butch(OH)

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Ron Muhlenkamp

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Leroy

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