N80
Super Member
We signed a contract with a forester 2 years ago to have about 175 acres of pines thinned. Really nice guy. He came with a recommendation from locals. Our property is hilly with lots of deep ravines, especially on the back half. He told me right off the bat that the loggers would not like working the place but that they had to do the harder jobs for him if they wanted the easy ones too.
Nothing happened for a year. He said it was due to low prices at the mill. We renewed the contract for another year. We were not in a big hurry. Nothing happened for nearly another year and then they started work last week on the front half of the property which is flatter and easier access. Then I get a call and he says he will need us to build a road and put in culverts on the back half. Does not give us a price but probably in the $3000 range. I'm not happy. Nothing in the contract about this but I decided I'd suck it up and do it. He was looking into a portable bridge so it was on hold for the time being. Then he calls yesterday and says it is too wet and the logging crew is leaving now that they've done the easy part. He can't say when they'll return.
The thing is, it is not very wet. Certainly not a drought but this is about as good as it gets around here.
Now I'm very unhappy. The trees need thinning and the money would be useful at this point.
The current contract expires on 15 September. He says there is no way they will be back before then.
My theory is this: He does not have enough clout with his logging crews. He cannot get them to cover any road prep at all. They have done no gravel, etc. They want easy access for the log trucks and don't want to accept fuel costs of skidding the trees longer distances but won't help with road prep. They took the gravy trees off our place and now want to move on to an easier job and he can't do anything about it. Further, there is no reason to expect that the weather is ever going to be any better than it is now, so I'm not buying the "too wet" excuse.
Anyway, I'm going to fire him today. I'm not looking forward to it because he is a very nice man. But after two years of waiting and then his crews doing the easy stuff and leaving, I think I've been more than patient.
Just venting.
Nothing happened for a year. He said it was due to low prices at the mill. We renewed the contract for another year. We were not in a big hurry. Nothing happened for nearly another year and then they started work last week on the front half of the property which is flatter and easier access. Then I get a call and he says he will need us to build a road and put in culverts on the back half. Does not give us a price but probably in the $3000 range. I'm not happy. Nothing in the contract about this but I decided I'd suck it up and do it. He was looking into a portable bridge so it was on hold for the time being. Then he calls yesterday and says it is too wet and the logging crew is leaving now that they've done the easy part. He can't say when they'll return.
The thing is, it is not very wet. Certainly not a drought but this is about as good as it gets around here.
Now I'm very unhappy. The trees need thinning and the money would be useful at this point.
The current contract expires on 15 September. He says there is no way they will be back before then.
My theory is this: He does not have enough clout with his logging crews. He cannot get them to cover any road prep at all. They have done no gravel, etc. They want easy access for the log trucks and don't want to accept fuel costs of skidding the trees longer distances but won't help with road prep. They took the gravy trees off our place and now want to move on to an easier job and he can't do anything about it. Further, there is no reason to expect that the weather is ever going to be any better than it is now, so I'm not buying the "too wet" excuse.
Anyway, I'm going to fire him today. I'm not looking forward to it because he is a very nice man. But after two years of waiting and then his crews doing the easy stuff and leaving, I think I've been more than patient.
Just venting.
