White Ash Lumber

[Rarefish383]

I first noticed decline in the ash trees here in NJ from the borer about nine years ago. All of them are dead now. Ash trees were about 20% of our 30 acre forest and the decrease in the canopy has really increased growth of invasive species like multiflora rose. Many pin oak and red oak are declining for a number of reasons. Beech trees are showing signs of a disease that should wipe them out too in 5 to 10 years. As a child I was able to see the very last of the Chestnut trees and witnessed the decline and fall of all the Elm trees. All due to invasive organisms imported for one reason or another.

I have 30 acres in WV as a hunting camp. WV is paying me $595 per acre, on 16 acres, to eradicate Autumn Olive and Multi Flora Rose.

 

[kenmbz]

I have dozens of dead/fallen ash and many, many more in the woods.
They keep falling on the power lines around here.
On only 6 acres, probably half Ash

Making mostly into firewood and a few I milled into benches/2" planks.

 

[IronCladChad]

I have 30 acres in WV as a hunting camp. WV is paying me $595 per acre, on 16 acres, to eradicate Autumn Olive and Multi Flora Rose.

How did you get that gig? I have 38 acres in WV covered in autumn olive.

 

[yanmars]

I have similar invasive plants on my ground but they quoted over $2500 an acre. Well more than I paid for the ground years ago.

 

[jyoutz]

old school rule of thumb: 1" per year to air dry. ironic that i have 100 acres of primo hardwood timber incl white & red oak, ash, some black walnut & cherry, etc. last logged in the '50's. but access down a few benches makes tough access. plus loggers want 50-60% with a whole lot of mess left behind. ain't doing that.
envy the OP, ash is one of my favorites. were he close by, i have an industrial 20" planer & 8" jointer (Grizzly both spiral head) he could use in trade for some lumber. & yes, the emerald borer is devastating... good luck

Some free advice: if you want to sell timber don’t work directly with loggers. Contact your state forestry department or a consulting forester. They will advise you on the work needed to leave your forest in better condition, and develop a sale contract to assure that the outcome is clean and acceptable. The consultant forester will even work directly with the loggers to administer the contract.

 

[big bubba]

Some free advice: if you want to sell timber don’t work directly with loggers. Contact your state forestry department or a consulting forester. They will advise you on the work needed to leave your forest in better condition, and develop a sale contract to assure that the outcome is clean and acceptable. The consultant forester will even work directly with the loggers to administer the contract.

advice well taken. have 100 acres of timber on lower benches on either side of mt top farm. last logged in the '50's, a lot of furniture grade white oak. would gladly have culled & thinned years ago.

problem is access. knowing that the loggers would rip out an access that would serve for a yr or 2, then completely wash out. in addition, i'm well aware of the trash & debris they'd leave behind.

economically makes no sense to me, so i'll hang onto as part of the many resources this parcel has. the going loggers rate around here is 50% share on the harvest. so if i take 10 prime white oaks harvested, 5 would go the logger. then (if i'm lawful) i'd be paying 15-20% state & fed income tax. that leaves me only 4 trees out of 10. & a huge mess & wash out roads. no thanks.

because of the proximity of the land in the national forest in the Boston Ozark mountains, & the many natural resources (incl 25 ac cleared, 4 spring fed ponds, etc), no doubt, i will seek the appropriate market, rather than a rich cluster dirt farmer who will no doubt proceed to pillage everything in sight to justify the purchase.

i don't have to look too far either way of me to see the effects of that mentality over the years. the ol' timers may have stripped the virgin hardwood timber & corned out the mountain soil, but it doesn't hold a candle to what some "recreational" landowners will do to their "getaway places" to help feed their RV & play toy appetites (that is debt). & yes, i'm opinionated

anyway, you are right. proper management & advice is key, best regards,

 

[jyoutz]

advice well taken. have 100 acres of timber on lower benches on either side of mt top farm. last logged in the '50's, a lot of furniture grade white oak. would gladly have culled & thinned years ago.

problem is access. knowing that the loggers would rip out an access that would serve for a yr or 2, then completely wash out. in addition, i'm well aware of the trash & debris they'd leave behind.

economically makes no sense to me, so i'll hang onto as part of the many resources this parcel has. the going loggers rate around here is 50% share on the harvest. so if i take 10 prime white oaks harvested, 5 would go the logger. then (if i'm lawful) i'd be paying 15-20% state & fed income tax. that leaves me only 4 trees out of 10. & a huge mess & wash out roads. no thanks.

because of the proximity of the land in the national forest in the Boston Ozark mountains, & the many natural resources (incl 25 ac cleared, 4 spring fed ponds, etc), no doubt, i will seek the appropriate market, rather than a rich cluster dirt farmer who will no doubt proceed to pillage everything in sight to justify the purchase.

i don't have to look too far either way of me to see the effects of that mentality over the years. the ol' timers may have stripped the virgin hardwood timber & corned out the mountain soil, but it doesn't hold a candle to what some "recreational" landowners will do to their "getaway places" to help feed their RV & play toy appetites (that is debt). & yes, i'm opinionated

anyway, you are right. proper management & advice is key, best regards,

That’s the logger’s going rate. How a forester would do this is develop a contract for the estimated timber quantity, species, and grade and appraise the stumpage value. Then they would put the contract out for bid to many companies/contractors. The contract would also have skid road development, usage, acceptable damage specifications, and close out rehabilitation requirements. Then they would administer the contract to assure that it’s followed or hold the contractor in breach if it’s not operating according to the contract requirements. Also, the forester would discuss with you about your short and long term objectives and manage the forest towards your goals.

 

[big bubba]

you've thought it out more than myself. it may also have to do with each state's forestry regs & ties to wood processing corporations. i had a St forester look at the timber years ago. never received a St plan from the St agency, but received a lot of solicitations from wood product corporations afterward

anyway, your point is well taken. heck, should have had oxen & mules haul it out, or Amish etc, but will leave it be in my later life stage. there's a higher market for the intact resource of the estate (128 ac)
best regards, & thx

 

[yanmars]

The Amish have done it at a 25% rate and use horses but still leave all the tops etc. where they fall.

 

[jyoutz]

you've thought it out more than myself. it may also have to do with each state's forestry regs & ties to wood processing corporations. i had a St forester look at the timber years ago. never received a St plan from the St agency, but received a lot of solicitations from wood product corporations afterward

anyway, your point is well taken. heck, should have had oxen & mules haul it out, or Amish etc, but will leave it be in my later life stage. there's a higher market for the intact resource of the estate (128 ac)
best regards, & thx

I am a forester. You’re welcome.