Forest Management Planning for Marketing Forest Products Generating Value From Your Woodlands Lyle Almond Forest Stewardship Educator Wye Research and Education Center lalmond@umd.edu 410-827-8056 x125
Forest Management Planning for Marketing Forest Products Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Harvesting options, especially for low-value products The attributes of a good logging job The basic do s and don t s of forest product marketing The importance of sensibly written contracts
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions What are your objectives for the woodland you own or manage? Commodity production (economic): timber, pulp, wood chips, firewood, etc. Public values (social): recreation, aesthetics, water quality, carbon sequestration, etc. Environmental management (ecological): wildlife habitat, soil protection, etc. Whatever your goals, an active, timely, and well-planned program of forest stand management is critical to ensure that you have a healthy and productive forest
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions What is a PRESCRIPTION? a site-specific plan describing the nature and extent of the silvicultural activities that will occur on a free-growing stand to facilitate the achievement of, among others, social, economic, and environmental objectives.
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions Stand thinning is essential Replicates the processes of natural selection and disturbance ecology Favors the development of superior trees by eliminating suppressed, diseased, or co-dominant trees that compete for limited resources
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions Stand thinning is essential The reduction in stem numbers allows crown expansion to accelerate biomass production by increasing photosynthesis
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions Diameter growth increases with crown release
Implementing wildlife habitat and timber management prescriptions Harvesting should be part of a written forest stewardship plan STEP ONE: Develop a forest stewardship plan Private consulting forester MD DNR county forester: develops forest stewardship plans, but will not administer a commercial timber sale Coached planning through UM Extension: develop and write the basic framework for a forest management plan in the online General Forestry Course
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Whether or not you go through the General Forestry course, you should hire a professional agent who represents your interests to guide you through the process of selling timber. STEP TWO: Interview, select, and enter into a contract with a consulting forester
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Timber sale triangle
Results Logger Forester Volume to be harvested 200 MBF 200 MBF Average log price achieved from marketing logs $680/MBF $700/MBF Gross Revenue $136,000 $140,000 Total Logging & Management % 40% $140/MBF + 10% Total Logging & Management Cost $54,400 $42,000 Owners Net Revenue $81,600 $98,000 Preparation of Timber Harvest Plan NO YES Reforestation service provided NO YES Spraying service provided NO YES Tax preparation NO YES Independent log accounting NO YES Owners additionally insured on Loggers liability policy Logging performance bond held by independent party for owners Professional forester available for future management questions NO NO NO YES YES YES
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management DNR County Forester: writes your forest stewardship plan Stewardship plan development (subsidized): Acres Cost <5 $100 5-25 $200 26-50 $225 51-100 $250 101-500 $275 >501 $300
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Entering into the contract Stewardship plan Services Measuring timber Marking timber for sale Soliciting bids Collecting money Planning roads and landings Inspecting job site Assessing damages Fees Marking of timber Sales Compliance inspections Hourly rate
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Private forestry consultant fees 10-15% of sale Per diem Hourly Enter into contract Stewardship plan Services Measuring and marking trees Marketing timber Soliciting bids Collecting money Planning roads and landings Inspecting job site compliance Assessing damage
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Selecting a private forestry consultant: word of mouth: talk to friends and neighbors interview potential consultants on the phone about: your forest stewardship objectives their cost of services ask about their prior experience look for accreditation through SAF or ACF make sure they re licensed in Maryland as a registered forester ask for references: talk to other customers arrange to go to one of their prior job sites to inspect the work that was done
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Selecting a private forestry consultant: arrange for one or more of these foresters to visit you on your property and make your selection based on: How well the consulting forester understands your goals How well the consulting forester can fulfill your goals Charges a reasonable price for services Has good references Has a personality compatible with yours sign a written contract with the forester regarding the services and fees and communicate with him/her regularly The forester will become a partner in the stewardship of your land
The role of timber harvesters and foresters in timber management Private forestry consultant: Qualifications Maryland Professional Forester Licensing Forestry degree 2 years experience 8 CFE credits every 2 years 5 references Certified Forester (SAF) Accredited forestry degree or equivalent 5 years experience Comprehensive exam 20 CFE credits every year
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: choose a management system
Harvesting options: Stumpage value: the price paid to the landowner for the standing trees Species: black cherry (BC), northern red oak (NRO), etc. Type of Product: fuelwood? pulpwood? sawtimber? veneer? Size: average diameter, uniformity Grade: % clear of defects Volume: MBF or tons Access to roads: how close is your forest to main haul routes? Proximity to markets: how close is your forest to mills? Market demand at the time: $/MBF or $/ton at time of harvest
West Virginia Timber Market Report
Harvesting options: Species Black cherry Black walnut Red oak White Ash White Oak Yellow-poplar Loblolly pine White pine Virginia pine Relative value Extremely high Very high Very high Very high High Medium-High Medium Medium Low
Harvesting options: Product Diameter (inches) Sapling 1-4.9 Poletimber 5-10.9 Small Sawtimber 11-14.9 MediumSawtimber 15-17.9 Large Sawtimber > 18 Veneer > 18
The attributes of a good logging job Your forestry consultant has met with the logger on-site before any timber was cut to make sure the logging contractor understands Where roads are to be located What trees are to be harvested What harvesting techniques are to be used Your forestry consultant visits the site on a regular basis during the harvest to make sure there are no major problems
The attributes of a good logging job Best management practices (BMPs) are employed in all aspects of harvesting to reduce sediment and nutrient run-off into streams and wetlands 1. Haul roads & skid trails construction and maintenance 2. Stream crossing structures and placement 3. Streamside management zones (SMZs) buffer management 4. Landings and log decks placement and management 5. Soil stabilization control mechanisms A waterbar was installed to route water off of the road bed and into the ditch to prevent delivery of sediment to nearby streams.
The attributes of a good logging job Above all, regardless of how well your consulting forester handles your timber sale, it is ultimately the landowner who is held responsible for ensuring that harvesting complies with forest practice regulations the logger s performance bond is held as insurance against any violations Best management practices (BMPs) can be found at: www.dnr.state.md.us/forests After the harvest, roads should be graded and seeded to prevent post-harvest erosion and sedimentation of stream.
The attributes of a good logging job: aesthetics
The attributes of a good logging job: advance regeneration Whatever type of harvest you choose, the regeneration potential of the future forest is the most important consideration.
The importance of sensibly written contracts
The importance of sensibly written contracts
Summary Sell timber when it will best accomplish your goals, never because someone made you an offer Harvesting should be part of a written forest stewardship plan. Carefully select a professional forester. Get payment in full before any trees are cut, if possible. Get all agreements in writing Lyle Almond Forest Stewardship Educator Wye Research and Education Center lalmond@umd.edu 410-827-8056 x125