Just some thoughts...
If you can get an acre of switch going good in a remote location you are going to have a PRIME bedding area on your hands for sure, so it is worth a try.
Can you reduce the shade on the perimeter of the field by girdling selected trees that would otherwise throw too much shade on the plot? Leave them standing, but girdle them to kill them and let the sun shine through...
Can you "ring" the switch plot with winter wheat, clover or oats, something that would be more shade tolerant and provide a bit of food value? This would also give you a "burn" barrier because you will want to burn that switch every so many years too.
Overall, I like the idea, I am thinking of something similar at my place. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif