Many additions and updates were made here at ArborTerra in 2011. These include new employees, new services, updated website, and designation as a Technical Service Provider (TSP). So what’s new in 2012??? We are excited to announce that ArborTerra is now a proud distributor of Bio-Till Cover Crops. This will include a full line of cover crops and application services—including aerial application.

We recently returned from the 2012 National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis, MO. There was a great deal of information being shared and one of the biggest topics discussed was the effectiveness of cover crops. The consensus was that cover crops are necessary for the overall success of a no-till farming system. We had quality conversations with many of the speakers at the conference, and also with many of the farmers who have been no-tilling and using cover crops for anywhere from 1 to 20 years. The conference was definitely time well spent.

So, just to catch everyone up… ArborTerra provides forestry consulting services including timber sale management, tree planting, and forest management planning. We are also a distributor of erosion control products including straw blanket, staples and circle-top pins, geotextile fabrics, and now, a full line of cover crops and application services. We are excited to see what 2012 has to offer.

COMING SOON…ArborTerra Impact Movie…stay tuned.

Did you know?

Since 1990, the adoption of conservation tillage in Indiana has resulted in 75% of the state losing soil at or below the Tolerable level “T” of soil loss. For most soils in Indiana, “T” is 3 to 5 tons per year and is the rate that new soil can be formed. While we’ve come a long way in Indiana, there are still more than 3 million acres losing soil at a rate faster than “T”. There is still much work to be done.

In May we were proud to gain employee Jarad McLeland who is a fresh graduate of Purdue University. Jarad graduated from Purdue with a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in wildlife biology and habitat management. He is more than willing to answer any questions that may arise involving habitat improvement or wildlife in general.

With 30 acres left to plant out of 300, ArborTerra is finally seeing the end of the 2011 tree planting. With a large number of acres located in flood plains planting became slow due to the amount of rainfall that we have received this spring. In transition from tree planting to Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) we would like to provide a few facts about how this tool can help you.

There are many advantages of TSI which include improved growth and quality of the valued timber in a forest. TSI can be used to increase diversity of native species by removing unwanted invasives or exotics. Also this tool can greatly improve the quality of habitat on a property by benefiting those species who depend on opening in the forest and increased understory. If there are any questions involving TSI or other aspects of natural resource management feel free to contact us.

Did you know?

There are more waterways being constructed in west central Indiana than any other area in the United States. ArborTerra supplies much of the erosion control products that are used in constructing many of these waterways. The photo below shows the use of an erosion control blanket to reduce erosion in a row crop field.