Can you make any money with pine straw

[AlbertC]

Anybody know anything about planting pine trees in order to sell the straw. Would not be selling the straw myself but would be selling to rakers who then sell the straw.

How old do the trees need to be before you can begin generating income. Any rough idea how much money you can make?

Thanks

 

[dmccarty]

Yes, one can make money on selling pine straw but I don't know the specifics. Your state extension office should be able to provide some information.

Years ago one guy shot another guy who was raking "his" pine straw in a county near us. As I remember it, the shooter was paying the landowner to be able to get the pine straw and the shooter found this guy raking "his" straw. They got into an argument and the guy got shot.

Later,
Dan

 

[CADplans]

If you enjoy growing things,, plant the trees.

If you want to make money,, you need to be the end retailer.

Farmers are getting ~$3 for a 56 pound bushel of corn,,
Tractor Supply is getting ~$9-10 for a 50 pound bag of corn.

WHO is making money??

 

[Shaneard]

If you enjoy growing things,, plant the trees.

If you want to make money,, you need to be the end retailer.

Farmers are getting ~$3 for a 56 pound bushel of corn,,
Tractor Supply is getting ~$9-10 for a 50 pound bag of corn.

WHO is making money??

The person buying from the farmer and storing the corn until it's sold to TSC is who is making the money. TSC has as much overhead as the farmer. Add up the insurance, building cost, power, employee pay, debit/credit card fees etc. and TSC isn't making as much as you think they are.

 

[GAFarmer2]

The person buying from the farmer and storing the corn until it's sold to TSC is who is making the money. TSC has as much overhead as the farmer. Add up the insurance, building cost, power, employee pay, debit/credit card fees etc. and TSC isn't making as much as you think they are.

All the middle men in this situation. The broker, the bagging company, the trucking company, the salesman....

And my experience with pine straw has been like hay, if you are doing it for the money... You won't do it for long. If you're doing it for the aesthetic value, reduced fire hazard, etc...it may be worth it.

 

[kthompson]

If you are considering this I would find one or two people who buy the straw and talk with them. Maybe even large landscaping company. Raking pine straw can be very easy with small tractor and PEANUT cultivator rake as the teeth stand up, round with no square corners and far enough spacing pine cones and a good bit of sticks will flow through but the straw is caught very well. Not sure there but the cost to have land planted with pines is low enough you will hire it over doing it yourself. Not sure of the details but check with a forester or county agent as think the Fed underwrites the cost.

Maybe not there but here, working in pine straw in warm weather is great way to get what we call red bugs and others call chiggers. Little fellows that will drive you crazy. If that happens bath in water with a few ounces of bleach works wonders. Bleach works good on most insect bites and if you have fire ants best treatment I have used if applied in first few minutes.