| What I Do |
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Health & Maturity of Your Forest
The first step is for me to walk your property and review
the overall health and maturity of your woodlot. Because
every property is unique and has its own special
characteristics, I need to become familiar with your
property in order to give you sound management advice.
This initial consultation is free.
Determine Landowner’s Objectives
Determining the landowner’s objectives is a crucial step in
planning a timber harvest. I need to have a clear
understanding of how you use your property in order to
ensure that your individual needs and concerns are met.
A few things to consider are:
• How long do you plan to own your property?
• Are you interested in wildlife habitat improvement?
• Would you like to improve the trail systems throughout
your property?
• Is your primary objective to maximize your immediate
financial return or are you most concerned with
sustainable consistent financial returns?
• Do you have a favorite location or a legacy tree that you
do not want disturbed?
• Do you have any special concerns relating to your
property? (for example, no harvesting during hunting
season)
Timber Evaluation and Appraisal
Once I have a clear understanding of your objectives, it is
time to begin laying out the timber sale. Property lines that
are relative to the timber harvest area will be clearly
marked. If skid roads and landing areas do not exist from
previous timber harvests, they will be laid out accordingly.
Then I begin the process of marking and measuring all of
the trees that will be harvested. Each tree is measured to
determine how many boardfeet of lumber it will yield.
Based on the quality and volume of timber to be sold I will
be able to give you my opinion of the fair market value of
your trees. The actual value is determined through the bid
process.
Bid Notice
Once all of the field work has been completed, it is time to
develop a Bid Notice which will outline all of the details of
your timber sale. In most cases the Bid Notice is sent to
approximately 50 potential timber buyers including
sawmills, logging contractors, and log brokerage
companies. Companies that are interested in your timber
have two to three weeks to inspect the job site before
placing a bid. Bids are opened and reviewed on a
predetermined date, and the Timber Sale is awarded to the
company whose offer is most beneficial to the landowner.
(Learn more about the bid process.)
Timber Sale Agreement & Payment
Once the Timber Sale has been awarded, the landowner
and the buyer will need to sign a Timber Sale Agreement
which I will supply. This Agreement is a legally binding
document which explains the responsibilities of all parties
in relation to this timber sale. Once the Timber Sale
Agreement is signed, the landowner will be paid in full for
the timber. The buyer typically receives one year to
remove the timber from your property.
Timber Harvest
The buyer will notify me when they are ready to begin the
harvest. At this time they will need to supply the
appropriate insurance documents and a performance
bond. Job inspections will be conducted during the timber
harvest to ensure contract compliance. (Learn more about
protecting the landowner.)
After the timber has been removed from the property the
clean up work can begin. It is the buyer’s responsibility to
level the skid roads and the landing area. Once the clean
up is complete and all other terms of the Agreement have
been met, the performance bond is returned and the job is
complete.
The first step is for me to walk your property and review
the overall health and maturity of your woodlot. Because
every property is unique and has its own special
characteristics, I need to become familiar with your
property in order to give you sound management advice.
This initial consultation is free.
Determine Landowner’s Objectives
Determining the landowner’s objectives is a crucial step in
planning a timber harvest. I need to have a clear
understanding of how you use your property in order to
ensure that your individual needs and concerns are met.
A few things to consider are:
• How long do you plan to own your property?
• Are you interested in wildlife habitat improvement?
• Would you like to improve the trail systems throughout
your property?
• Is your primary objective to maximize your immediate
financial return or are you most concerned with
sustainable consistent financial returns?
• Do you have a favorite location or a legacy tree that you
do not want disturbed?
• Do you have any special concerns relating to your
property? (for example, no harvesting during hunting
season)
Timber Evaluation and Appraisal
Once I have a clear understanding of your objectives, it is
time to begin laying out the timber sale. Property lines that
are relative to the timber harvest area will be clearly
marked. If skid roads and landing areas do not exist from
previous timber harvests, they will be laid out accordingly.
Then I begin the process of marking and measuring all of
the trees that will be harvested. Each tree is measured to
determine how many boardfeet of lumber it will yield.
Based on the quality and volume of timber to be sold I will
be able to give you my opinion of the fair market value of
your trees. The actual value is determined through the bid
process.
Bid Notice
Once all of the field work has been completed, it is time to
develop a Bid Notice which will outline all of the details of
your timber sale. In most cases the Bid Notice is sent to
approximately 50 potential timber buyers including
sawmills, logging contractors, and log brokerage
companies. Companies that are interested in your timber
have two to three weeks to inspect the job site before
placing a bid. Bids are opened and reviewed on a
predetermined date, and the Timber Sale is awarded to the
company whose offer is most beneficial to the landowner.
(Learn more about the bid process.)
Timber Sale Agreement & Payment
Once the Timber Sale has been awarded, the landowner
and the buyer will need to sign a Timber Sale Agreement
which I will supply. This Agreement is a legally binding
document which explains the responsibilities of all parties
in relation to this timber sale. Once the Timber Sale
Agreement is signed, the landowner will be paid in full for
the timber. The buyer typically receives one year to
remove the timber from your property.
Timber Harvest
The buyer will notify me when they are ready to begin the
harvest. At this time they will need to supply the
appropriate insurance documents and a performance
bond. Job inspections will be conducted during the timber
harvest to ensure contract compliance. (Learn more about
protecting the landowner.)
After the timber has been removed from the property the
clean up work can begin. It is the buyer’s responsibility to
level the skid roads and the landing area. Once the clean
up is complete and all other terms of the Agreement have
been met, the performance bond is returned and the job is
complete.
| Craig R. Brown, Consulting Forester |