One of my families farms has about 100 Acres of really pretty timber land (Naturally occurring hardwoods) that we want to know more about selectively thinning.

We aren't interested really in clear cut harvesting but were wondering what we could expect in return for our timber.

I've done a few online searches but was essentially wondering if it would be worth our time to look into this further. (my general sense is that it's not enough to make it worth the time, but my mom wants to know)





[Edited on November 30, 2008 at 9:55 AM. Reason : GEEEEEEEZE I'm sorry I misspelled the title... IDIOT]

11/30/2008 9:46:35 AM

What are forrestry people?

11/30/2008 9:52:51 AM

Yeah, I realized as soon as I posted it that I had misspelled that,

The question is directed towards people involved in the FORESTRY service.

Very sorry from an engeneer

11/30/2008 9:54:41 AM

my hunch is that it could very well be worth it, depending on the average age of the timber, but i am an engineer, not a forrestry dude

just keep in mind that,even with selective logging, it will take a while until it looks like any sort of natural landscape again

[Edited on November 30, 2008 at 10:33 AM. Reason : lkj]

11/30/2008 10:33:04 AM

http://www.ncbrf.org/list.htm

11/30/2008 6:44:02 PM

I work for the NC Forest Service in the Rocky Mount district.

What county is the land in?

Go to:
http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/contacts/contacts_main.htm

Find the county and call the county office.
Tell them you want to know what to do with the land, a description of where it is and how to get to it, and what exactly your goals are.

We'll look at it for free and tell you waht you should do as well as give you lists of consulting foresters, timber buyers, etc. We can't give you any values because we're a state agency, but we can tell you if it could be harvested, if it should be harvested, and a general idea if its worth anything.

I'll go ahead and tell you that the timber market is crap right now due to the economy.
Pine prices are as low as they've been in 30 years.
Right now hardwood pulpwood is high, but hardwood sawtimber is low (not as low as pine).

Whatever you do, DO NOT sell it to a timber buyer who is goinig to "selectively thin" the hardwoods, at least without getting the NCFS' opinion and not without the help of a consulting forester.

"Selective harvesting" is a nicer term for "high grading" where the logger goes in and takes the good stuff leaving you with shit that only grows into bigger shit.

It's really hard to tell you your best management options until someone's (someone credible) looked at it.
It may very well need to be thinned, but often the best management with income as a goal is a clearcut harvest and reforestation.

[Edited on November 30, 2008 at 7:16 PM. Reason : steer clear of timber thiefs coming to you with offers]

11/30/2008 7:09:56 PM

Cool, Thanks man, I'll pass on the information.

The land is in Union County

11/30/2008 10:35:32 PM

PM me if you have any other forestry questions now or in the future.

The big message is have us look at it and follow what we tell you. Our info is free (well...paid for by your taxes) and unbiased.

I've seen way too many people get ripped off either in selling their timber for much less than what it's worth (even stolen), having really bad thinnings done that leave poor future timber value, or by loggers screwing up streams and stuff (that you're ultimately responsible for fixing...$texas).

Good luck.

11/30/2008 10:50:38 PM

Fumbler is right on target. Get a professional consultation from the forest serv, and then YOU go hire a registered forester to handle the sale( if its time to sell, trees growing= interest). The forester works for a percentage of the sale, so the higher it goes the more he makes. The forester will also make sure the buyer and his harvest contractor hold to their obligations, such as not leaving trash on your site, damaging creeks at crossings, and generally holding to Best Management Practices. It should be in the contract that they fix what they mess up. Your forester will also be versed in the tax implications of generating a big pile of money, and may advise you to handle it in two transactions, one this year and one the next. Union county has some of the most asinine soils I have ever seen in NC, and Union co is(was) growing rapidly. DO NOT let any bum logger go and rut your site all to hell, it will negate any development potential you may have assuming that you have some decent soils to work with. I have seen this happen time after time in Chatham Co, an area that could have supported a septic system had a huge set of ruts across it from logging years ago. Keep an eye this even if you don't plan on developing now, the effects can be long lasting. The most important thing is to HIRE A PROFESSIONAL WITH A GOOD REPUTATION, he knows the business and can make you many times what he costs. Make sure you deal with a registered forester with a stamp and not just some buyer with a hard on to cut your timber, its a dirty business. There are two buyers in Bladen county that I will whiz a bullet past if they roll up at my grandmothers house again. I post that because they already know. They prey on the uninformed and elderly.

11/30/2008 10:54:58 PM

I hate when we get calls from people who are wondering if they should sell their timber after the inherit it from a dead relative.
Many timber theives make it a regular habit to read the obituaries and check out the tax offices looking for timber the dead may have owned...

Like ewsteph said, there is a lot of info you need to know about timber sale before you even think about selling anything.
One big thing is timber is taxed as long term capitol gains, not regular income.
You're also only taxed on the timber basis, which is the timber sale value minus any cost of selling and managing the timber as well as the cost of reforestation and the original purchase price of the timber. In this case if you sell any timber since its family land the basis will probably just be the timber sale price - the consultant's fee.

Get in touch with the NCFS first and we will give you lots of info. If you do get to the point of a timber sale then a consultant may have more detailed info on the logistics of all the stuff you've gotta deal with.

11/30/2008 11:14:38 PM