Selling timber - is there a 都tandard deal

[Industrial Toys]

We have had our place logged several times. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that you are gonna get screwed!

I believe it's a tough business. Maybe they have to operate crooked to keep their heads above water.

 

[Jstpssng]

Some of the comments here really demonstrate the need to hire a forester. If you were selling and owner financing a house, wouldn't you hire a lawyer?

 

[Industrial Toys]

The last ones we hired were "thick as thieves" with the mill. Two sides of the same coin.

 

[dmccarty]

The last ones we hired were "thick as thieves" with the mill. Two sides of the same coin.

I have known very smart people who have been ripped off by loggers.

One guy I worked for HIRED a guy to timber his land. My boss provided the chainsaws, bulldozer, etc to log the timber but the hired man was selling the logs to the mill and pocketing the money. I can't remember if the mill was part of the theft or not, but the boss went after his hired help for the theft and at least got some of his money back.

Later,
Dan

 

[showcattle]

Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation office in the home county in Ohio. Our Soil and Water office has a wealth of information on approved loggers, best management practices, and a list of foresters you can hire to scout your timber.

 

[djefferis]

Ok, getting a consultant to come out and give an idea of what we have. I can get prices paid LAST quarter from the extension office, but of course grading and price changes are big variables.

Understood there are plenty of buyers who will pop up and take everything you let them - been dealing with O&G landmen for **** near a decade here - they値l give you a 鍍ake it or leave it one time offer, but funny you reject it - 2 more show up in a week with a higher offer in this 兎xtremely down period of drilling.

The timber around here has a lot of Amish or Mennonite buyers - not that they wouldn稚 cheat you - but tend to be more honest than some of the English. That痴 why the drop in interest from one party - no telephones be to called. Fortunately they will play ball at an auction if there痴 enough there to warrant having a sale - just announce it to interested parties, solicit bids by a date and go with highest/best.

 

[Jstpssng]

Good plan. Please also check out the link I posted for your state foresters; that's what they are there for. U
There really is no "standard deal, but up here an average round number is about 30$/cd for stumpage. That will vary depending on the quality of wood.
Get references, walk a couple of the potential contractor's old jobs if you have time. Know what you have to sell and what you want as an end result and have it written into your contract. Expect payment at least weekly. Up here every load of wood needs a ticket with a unique number showing the landowner, date hauled, trucker, contractor, and town of origin. We also need to notify the Maine Forest Service and are issued a unique job #, which needs to be on the ticket.

You or someone else should review those tickets regularly and also should get a copy of each with an accompanying scale slip with each payment. Have a caveat written into the contract saying that you can fire him without notice. (Although I suggest you put that more tactfully.)

 

[atsah]

You need to know how much stumpage you have and how much of each species and stumpage prices for each species for the time of year it will be processed. Independent loggers that hire out there trucking to someone they know well are the worst because even if the logger isn't a thief, the pulp truck owner operator probably is or both of them are not to mention the pulp truck O/O being thick as thieves with the mills..

Just knowing what you have for stumpage is a big deal..

I operated a grapple skidder for a few years, I have seen it all, I left the first one because I couldn't work for people that lied constantly, went to a few others and found they all lie to a certain extent.. Some worse than others..

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have noted a lot of discussion about thieves in the industry. When you hire the guy with a chainsaw, a small decrepit log hauler and track hoe then it is beware time for sure. Make sure you get proof of insurance, including L & I as well as liability and property damage. Most states require that business to be licensed contractors also. Require a payment and performance bond to assure you have no future claims from his creditors and he honors the precepts of the contract. Ask for all that and the thieves will not call you back; you are too smart for them. They want it in the reverse. I had that type discussion when I was thinking of logging and it worked like a charm. I was advised by my independent forester and selected the large company I did.

Ron