The Jefferson County Cedar Association consists of six farmers and landowners in the Steele Canyon area near Fairbury in Southeast Nebraska. Anyone who has visited this area has seen the problem these farmers face. Cedar trees, millions of them, are crowding out grass and simply taking over the landscape. Once grazing land, this area now supports few cattle.
The group’s efforts are directed at finding a way to offset the high cost of clearing cedars while learning to re-establish and manage grassland to increase profits and prevent re-infestation of cedar trees. A major challenge is to find markets for value-added cedar products. Although the group knows there is potential for cedar lumber production in the area, there is no system to cut, transport, and process the trees, or to market cedar products.
The group has a diverse membership of farmers and non-farm landowners. Three of the non-farmer members belong to the Five Rivers RC&D or the Jefferson Economic Development Board. They recognize the farmers’ problems and see how clearing the trees will benefit the economic future of the whole area. The farmers are beef producers who have seen the productivity of their pastures decrease as the cedar density increased. This group demonstrates how agriculture and economic development together can convert the "cedar problem" into a potential economic benefit for the entire community.
In the first year of the project about 2,000 cedars (200 acres) were cut and stockpiled. Some scraps and smaller trees were shredded to make mulch for landscaping, livestock bedding, and hay bale storage. Trees with a potential for lumber use were left uncut for future harvest. The group plans to move a sawmill near the site and to work out an agreement with a buyer for the lumber cut from these trees.
The group is still struggling with a method for debranching the trees and processing them into a marketable product. A workshop addressing these issues was held in April, 1998. The 45 people attending heard experts talk about the value-added cedar products and cedar tree management.
Market development remains the major barrier to raising funds that will allow continued clearing of cedar trees. If a product could be developed and marketed, the resulting profits could encourage the practice of clearing throughout the region. Without this incentive, clearing of cedars will be too costly for most landowners.
The group has received help in identifying valuable trees and managing for grass production from an Extension grass specialist, the state forester, and economic development boards.
Since the Jefferson County group began its work, interest in resolving the cedar problem has increased. Another group has come together in the same area to address similar challenges. Both groups are now working together and hope that with more people involved, they will find a market for their prolific cedar trees.
Contact: Ron Starr, Steele City, 402-729-5280