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Timber for What you should know before contacting a timber buyer By Brian Hall,
Resource Forester Department of
Conservation Have you ever sold a
house or car? Did you know
an approximate value of that item prior to selling?
Did you do some type of research on this item or hire a
professional for a value appraisal?
If you are considering selling timber, do you know the value of
your timber or the long-term impact to your forest when harvested?
Selling timber can
be an enjoyable and profitable experience or a complete disaster.
The difference between the experiences is you.
Most of the time you will only get one opportunity at a timber
harvest on your property. Unlike
your house or car that can be replaced in a short period, trees in the
Ozarks take several decades to grow into merchantable size. There is a tried and
true process of selling timber. First,
educate yourself about forest management. Do as much research as
possible, allow sufficient amount of time to gain knowledge about
sustainable forest management. There
are several valuable educational tools at your disposal; Missouri
Department of Conservation, U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Forest Product
Association, and the Consulting Forester’s Association are just a few.
Make visits to your local public lands for examples of timber harvesting
techniques. Remember,
if forest management is implemented incorrectly, the effects can last
for centuries. After educating
yourself, and developing a forest management plan, now it is time to
sell your timber. This
sounds like a drawn out process, but the process is critical in
achieving the desired outcome. Following
this process will most likely shorten the time between harvests and
increase the profits on future harvest. Now
who does not want more money while providing a healthier environment?
There are many more benefits to managing your forest for
sustainable yield, improved wildlife habitat, and lowered probability of
wide-scale effects from natural events, such as drought, fire, and
insect and disease outbreaks. You probably have heard about the red oak
borer infestation and the effects it has on the forest.
Managing your forest properly can reduce the impact of this and
other natural events. Third, have a timber
harvest agreement. Make sure
the timber buyer is following the agreement during the harvest.
This is your only defense of any wrong doings.
You may have sold the timber, but your ownership of the property
is still intact, and you will be left with the aftermath, not the buyer.
Also, check for information
relating to timber taxes. This
will allow you to make a more prudent decision on when it is best to
harvest for your financial situation. Not knowing what
your trees are worth will only benefit one person, and most likely that
is not you. The Department
of Conservation can assist landowners with sustainable forest
management. We will provide
technical information about long-term forest management, but cannot
determine the value of your timber. Consulting
foresters are there to provide several types of forest management
services, timber appraisals, and timber sales are just to name a few.
Interview several consulting foresters and choose one best for
your situation. For a complete
listing of Missouri Consulting Foresters, log onto http://www.missouriforesters.com/. For more information
about Forest Management go to the Missouri Department of Conservation
webpage at www.mdc.mo.gov/missouri
or call me at (573) 368-2590 ext. 22. For additional
information about forest management, check out these helpful web sites: |
