Time to thin pines. Any guess on value.

[newbury]

The state forester prepared a pretty comprehensive management plan but I have no idea what qualifies for the timber industry. I'm sure it will be a moving target just like the "organic" certification for food. All fluff, all marketing to take advantage of gullible consumers.....but that is neither here nor there, if it gets you more money per ton you have to play the game I guess.

My pines are not in rows. They were hand planted very successfully but there is also a significant mix of volunteer pines too. I'm not an expert but it seems like they have grown very fast and very well. In some of the areas that got more volunteer pines the trees appear thinner.

As far as researching a forester I obviously want someone who is reputable and knows what he is doing, but price is still very important to me. That's the piece of the puzzle that seems so nebulous. How can I know if I'm getting paid a fair amount for the wood that actually comes off my place? What keeps them from looking at an acre of trees and seeing $10 worth of wood (after expenses) but only paying me $5? What keeps them from hauling off 10 truck loads and only paying me for 5? I'm not saying this is a common practice, but the opportunity for dishonesty is surely a temptation.

From what I can tell around here (northeast Mississippi) it is a common practice. There are several loggers that buy low and sell high. I've even seen CL postings warning about certain loggers who would only high grade a clear cut and leave and unplantable mess, who wouldn't pay properly.

here's a link for tips on selecting a forester
SS-FOR-16/FR125: Selecting a Consulting Forester

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Here we have the forester mark the trees and he puts it out to bid to multiple loggers. They all bid on the same trees and you can choose from their bids. But our woodlots are smaller so it may be something that works better in this area than in others.

 

[N80]

I would always arrange it such that you are paying an independent forester's fees, and the forester has nothing but their reputation to worry about in terms of value.

I just assumed the forester got a percentage of the total. This could be a good thing though since it would be in his best interest to keep the logger honest.

 

[oosik]

Good golly, Molly. I had my 80 acres logged and it certainly wasn't any way that complicated. The fact that it was only pine probably helped too. No Gov. management plan, no state forester, no organically certified trees - just cut down the ones I want, haul them to the mill and get your money. I know exactly how I want to handle my trees and certainly do not need the Gov. involved in any part of this process. Just getting ROW access to my property some thirty two years ago was more than sufficient involvement with local Gov..

 

[N80]

Here we have the forester mark the trees and he puts it out to bid to multiple loggers. They all bid on the same trees and you can choose from their bids. But our woodlots are smaller so it may be something that works better in this area than in others.

I think that would work for a late (last) thinning on a small plot. In my case, the trees are very dense and it is at least 110 acres. In this type of situation the effectiveness of the thinning is almost entirely up to the guy sitting in the feller/buncher.

 

[N80]

Good golly, Molly. I had my 80 acres logged and it certainly wasn't any way that complicated. The fact that it was only pine probably helped too. No Gov. management plan, no state forester, no organically certified trees - just cut down the ones I want, haul them to the mill and get your money. I know exactly how I want to handle my trees and certainly do not need the Gov. involved in any part of this process. Just getting ROW access to my property some thirty two years ago was more than sufficient involvement with local Gov..

Timber certification will probably have government, or at least court, involvement at some point but you'd only be dealing with it if you wanted to be "certified".

But let's not delude ourselves, the government is involved in our property no matter where we live. As my brother-in-law the rancher always says, "it ain't your land, you are just renting it from the government". And when you think about it, it is very true. Sad, but true.

 

[dave1949]

I just assumed the forester got a percentage of the total. This could be a good thing though since it would be in his best interest to keep the logger honest.

Sometimes that method is used. It encourages the forester to get the best value out of the harvest for you. It may be a good thing for sawlogs where correct selection and grading come into play. On the other hand, it may temp the forester to high grade in order to earn more.

 

[N80]

it may temp the forester to high grade in order to earn more.

True. I think in my case, with relatively high density and, to my eye, pretty high uniformity, it might not matter.

 

[oosik]

Actually George you are totally correct. The government taxes my land as though I have a successfully operating gold mine. My only salvation is that my land is classified as agricultural.

 

[dave1949]

Actually George you are totally correct. The government taxes my land as though I have a successfully operating gold mine. My only salvation is that my land is classified as agricultural.

Maybe you can add the cost of getting the ROW into your IRS timber basis? :laughing: