Clearing land for feed plots

[souliog]

Wanted to know if there is a service out there for clearing land for feed plots. Excavating companies want a fortune.

I'm thinking about buying a track loader and doing it myself.

Do you think $250 and acre is too much to charge if others want this service?

[roostersbane]

Yes, too much. You can a get a dozer with a brush rake for $80-150/hr.
I paid $80 in 2007.

[souliog]

I have 3 acres in Hillman, Montmorency County, that needs cleared. Most trees are 4" diameter Poplar with a few 10" Poplars and Red Oaks. Most Excavating companies want $1500 and up to clear. That's $500 and acre. All he needs to do is drop the trees and doze them to the sides and grade. Please help!

[cabina]

Check with a logger - I traded the logs for clearing of my flood plot; win-win for both of us :)

[souliog]

We checked with a logger and there wasn't enough desirable wood for them to come. The large Oak trees we have are staying. must of the wood is poplar and hemlock.

[souliog]

Just talked to some people on another forum and they are paying $2500 an acre to clear for feed plots.

roosterbane - how many hours did it take to clear an acre?

[roostersbane]

It took him 8hrs to clear 3 diff spots about 2 acres total.
One of the spots (1ac) was pole timber...mostly maple/pop/ash/beech up to 12" dia. The other spots were tag alder with a few 6" ash/cherry.
He's just a small time guy with a dump and a dozer....lives a mile away.
Not sure what his rate is now that fuel went up/down. How far are you from Pinconning? I'll give you his number if you want.

[souliog]

Roosterbane, i'm no too far from pinconning. I'm sure he will drive 100 miles for work plus i'll pay him for travel. I can even put him up over night if the work trickles into a second day.

send me en e-mail with his number. greeks119@yahoo.com

[souliog]

I just recieved the final quote from the last excavator. $3000 for 3 acres and 2 days work. And that is just pushing brush to the ends. I need this to better isolate the fields from neighbors.

At this point I am going to buy a track loader and do the work myself.

Roosterbane, If you paid $340 an acre than I am right there with what i was going to charge customers. $250-350 for light clearing per acre.

[souliog]

Finally found someone for $85/hour in Hubbard Lake. Pat at A & W Excavating.