Suggestions for "ditch riders"

[hawgchaser]

I thought I might share some conversations I've been part of with farmer friends this winter. We all agree that, with the heavy snow cover, there's been an almost epidemic amount of ditch riders going over private fields. The issue, according to my farmer friends, is with crops (mainly alfalfa & winter wheat)that lie beneath that snow - especially now with warm weather. The consensus is that a packed snowmobile "road" over these crops will set the crop's maturation under the "road" behind 2 to 3 weeks from that under virgin snow. In the case of alfalfa, the result is a reduced 1st cutting yield. In the case of winter wheat, it will means delaying harvest or compromising grain yields/quality.

All of us own snowmobiles, so we're not "antis" at all, but I want to suggest you "sledheads" work to police your own as far as trespassing on private fields. The trespass laws are already clear, but could become either more strictly enforced or more restrictive if riders cost landowners money. One of these farmers farms over 40,000 acres, so his complaints to law enforcement and legislators carry considerable weight. Just offering a "heads up" to those who care. Good riding!

[Meat-Run]

This is good to know as I've cut a few corners here and there on some fields (unmarked) of course.

mr

[leech~~]

Thanks for bring this up. Maybe this spring you can take some pictures of areas of the packed snow in the fields from sleds and some right next to the area and see how it grows. That would be good to post for next year before people start riding on fields. At least the riders on this site will have proof.