Getting the Most Return From Your Timber Sale Finding a Forester

trees. This type of timber sale is Three groups of professional foresters contact for many woodland owners. greater range and depth of services referred to as selling stumpage. How are available to provide one-on-one Contact the Division of Forestry at than foresters employed by public the trees to be sold are marked, how assistance to private forest landown- 1855 Fountain Square Drive, Co- agencies. Information about consult- potential buyers are notified of your ers with their forest management lumbus, Ohio 43224 at 1-614-265- ing foresters providing timber har- sale, how the buyer and sales price are activities, including timber harvest- 6694, or on the web at: vesting or other forest management determined (single offer, oral bid or ing. http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/ services in a particular area of Ohio negotiation, written sealed bids), and ODNR/Forestry.htm can be obtained from the local ODNR how payment is made (lump-sum vs. The Ohio Department of Natural Service Forester or from the Ohio sale-by-scale or pay-as-you-cut) Resources, Division of Forestry, Quite a number of consulting Chapter of the Association of Con- depends on the character of the employs 25 service foresters located foresters practice in Ohio. Consult- sulting Foresters at 1-888-540-TREE. individual sale. A professional throughout the state to provide on- ing foresters are professional forest- forester’s knowledge of your property, site technical assistance to woodland ers who are self-employed or who Also, several of the larger forest-based potential timber buyers, timber owners within a multi-county area. work for a private consulting com- industries located in Ohio provide markets, and potential buyers’ past Though limited in the length of time pany providing forest resource woodland owner management assis- performance is critical to selecting the they can spend with an individual management recommendations and tance through their industry forest- Unless you choose to harvest your appropriate timber sale method and landowner and the types of assistance assistance for a fee. While some ers. Often this assistance is provided own timber, you will sell your trees buyer to maximize your income while they can provide (they cannot, for consultants provide assistance in a as part of their company responsibil- to a buyer who will be responsible protecting and enhancing the non- example, monitor a timber sale), the wide variety of forestry activities and ity of timber procurement and so is for harvesting and transporting the timber resources of your woodland. service forester is usually the first and others are quite specialized, consult- tied directly to a timber sale. often the only professional forester ing foresters generally can provide a Protect Yourself and Your Property Professional Foresters Protect With a Timber Sales Contract the Landowner and the Forest ◆ by Negotiating a Timber Sales Soil and Water Every timber sale, no matter how provide both you, as the seller, and Additional Sources small, should have a written the buyer with legal protection as Contract That: Conservation Districts timber sales contract which details provide assistance to landowners agreed to by the terms and agree- ◆ ◆ Ohio Forestry Association what the seller and the buyer have ments of the contract. Identifies the responsibilities of Information interested in conservation practices. agreed upon. The process of of all parties. The Ohio Forestry Association (OFA) Additionally, the districts have ◆ ◆ Ohio State University Extension. negotiating the contract provides There are many sample timber sale Specifies financial and other membership is made up of timber primary responsibility for addressing Extension provides forestry educa- an opportunity for the seller and contracts available, and many timber agreements. industry and woodland owners concerns related to nonpoint source ◆ tional programs and publications the buyer to discuss how the buyers have a “standard” contract. Addresses issues of special throughout Ohio. The association water pollution. In forestry, this through a staff of county Extension harvesting operation will occur You should, however, work with your concern. provides a current listing of certified relates primarily to the implementa- ◆ agents, district specialists, and state and to identify and obtain clarifi- forester to ensure that the contract Protects the interests of all loggers and sawmills located in tion of Best Management Practices to specialists. Call or write the OSU cation and agreement on areas of addresses your concerns, meets your parties to the contract. Ohio, sponsors educational pro- prevent sediment generated by Extension office located in your county concern. This will substantially needs, and protects your rights. grams, and distributes educational logging operations from entering for forestry information or visit the reduce the possibility of misunder- Because a contract is a legal docu- mended that the contract be reviewed materials. Contact OFA at P. O. Box streams, rivers, and lakes. On-site College of Food, Agricultural, and standings and disagreements and ment, it is also strongly recom- by your attorney before it is signed. 970, Grove City, Ohio 43123 at 1- technical and planning assistance is Environmental Science’s web page at: 614-497-9580, or on the web at: available to loggers and woodland http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu www.ohioforest.org owners in each county. Monitor the Harvest The final step in ensuring a success- often best done with the assistance of ful timber sale is to monitor the a professional forester. Aspects of a Prepared by Randall B. Heiligmann, Thomas Berger, Lee Crocker, Mark Ervin, harvest. Frequent visits should be timber harvest routinely monitored and John Dorka for the Ohio Society of American Foresters. made to ensure that the harvest is include property access; any cutting proceeding properly, according to of unmarked trees; damage to re- Ohio SAF is the 240-member state chapter of the national Society of American the terms of the contract, and to sidual (unmarked) trees; road and Foresters (www.safnet.org). SAF is the professional and scientific organization discuss questions that might arise. landing locations, construction, and of foresters. Its mission is to advance the science, education, and practice of ◆ Again, because many of the activities rehabilitation; and the use of best forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; and to ensure the contin- When a professional The landowner makes more money while often cutting fewer trees. associated with timber harvesting management practices (BMPs) to ued health and use of forest resources to meet present and future demands ◆ More trees are usually left for future harvests. are unfamiliar to most woodland protect soil and water resources. from society. The national organization oversees a credentialing program, forester assists a private ◆ The harvest will contribute to achieving the landowner’s objectives. owners, monitoring the harvest is Certified Foresters, which recognizes those members who have engaged in ◆ The forest, soil, water, wildlife, and other resources are protected and regular, ongoing professional development in order for them to be current and forest landowner with a enhanced. up-to-date in the practice of forestry. timber sale: ◆ And the visual impact of the harvest is minimized. Why Sell Timber? When a Forester Assists a Private Landowner Determining What Trees to Cut With a Timber Harvest and How to Cut Your forest land represents one of Third, timber may be harvested to salvage the value of trees that have your most valuable assets. How it is The selection of trees to be harvested been damaged to such an extent that managed and, in particular, how and You Make More Money and Fewer Trees Are Usually Cut should always be done with the advice of they will not recover or to salvage the when trees are harvested and mar- a professional forester. Timber cutting is value of trees growing where the Unlike most other commodities, trees standing in the woods have no exact or keted can dramatically affect your the principal tool for managing the potential for damage is extremely going price. Their value is whatever a buyer and seller agree to and is influ- income, the future value of the forest, character of a forest and for creating the high. Ice, wind, snow storms, fire, enced by many factors. In fact, it is not uncommon for offers to buy a tract of and how well it provides other desired proper environment to ensure its insects, and disease are factors that timber to range two- to 10-fold in value. amenities. regeneration. Forests can be harvested could cause enough damage to justify using a variety of methods ranging from There are several reasons why you a salvage cutting. A Professional Forester Will: cutting all of the trees in a particular might decide to sell timber. First, Some Factors Affecting area (clearcutting) to selecting and And finally, timber may be harvested obviously, the forest represents a Timber Value cutting individual trees throughout the in order to use the land for other ◆ source of income. While the value of Maximize present and future stand (selection harvest). The appropri- purposes ranging from golf courses the timber in a woodland will vary economic value by identifying ◆ ate method for your particular forest and parking lots to crop production Timber Species depending on many factors, timber trees to harvest and those to depends on the character of that forest and pasture land. Timber on such can have considerable value and can retain in the stand. ◆ Number of Trees and your specific ownership objectives. land often has considerable value and be managed to yield periodic or Selection of the proper method and should be marketed. ◆ ◆ Size of Trees Clearcut — three years after harvest. emergency income. Provide an accurate inventory of trees to harvest will ensure that the what is to be offered for sale ◆ Total Volume harvest will satisfy your objectives and Ideally, the harvest prescription is Second, timber cutting is one of a including species, number of maintain the woodland in a healthy, part of an overall forest management ◆ forester’s major management tools trees, and quality and volume. Quality of Trees vigorous, and productive condition. plan, prepared by a forester, which and is useful not only for generating ◆ income, but also for accomplishing prescribes a long-term schedule of ◆ Market timber effectively to Owner’s Restrictions other ownership objectives such as management activities to achieve obtain maximum price by using ◆ Distance From Market improving the health and vigor of the your timber and non-timber objec- knowledge of timbers’ potential forest, developing wildlife habitat, tives consistent with your tax and value, markets, and buyers. ◆ Accessibility of Site estate-planning objectives. altering species composition, estab- ◆ Difficulty of Logging lishing planting areas, creating vistas ◆ Monitor harvest activities to and trails, and developing certain Whatever the reason for harvesting, a ensure the landowner’s satisfac- ◆ Market Conditions professional forester is uniquely tion. types of recreational activities. If you ◆ have worked with a professional qualified by education and experience Buyer’s Finances ◆ forester to develop a management to assist you in planning and execut- Provide guidance on income tax ◆ Buyer’s Need for Timber plan for achieving ownership objec- ing a timber harvest that accom- provisions relevant to timber tives, it is quite likely the plan will call plishes your objectives and maxi- sales. Selection cut. for periodic timber harvesting. mizes your income. The harvest contributes to achieving your land-ownership objectives, protects and enhances non-timber resources, and minimizes the visual impact of the harvest. BEWARE BEWARE of timber buyers who offer to value from a stand, but much or all BEWARE of timber buyers offering Working With You, a Forester Will “selectively cut” your woodland, remov- of its future value for decades to to buy all of the trees above a Prescribe a Harvest That: ing only the trees they want, assuring come. This deprives you of much certain diameter, usually specified you they will leave plenty of trees for future income that would have been or understood (at least by them) to ◆ Enhances future timber value. the future stand. Such cutting, referred generated by the growth of trees that be at stump height. While there are ◆ Improves the health and vigor of the forest. to as “high-grading,” most commonly should have been left uncut. And, very limited situations where such a ◆ Protects soil and water resources. results in the removal of all or almost the remaining forest has usually diameter-limit cut would be appro- ◆ Minimizes visual impact. all of the marketable trees, leaving an been so heavily and indiscriminately priate, in most instances, diameter- ◆ Develops wildlife habitat. understocked stand of less valuable cut that its potential for satisfying limit cutting is just another form of ◆ Creates vistas and trails. trees in poor condition. High-grading noneconomic ownership objectives high-grading and will have the ◆ Develops recreational activities. removes not only all of the current has been greatly reduced. same disastrous results.