select cutting question

[Greg M]

okay, so clear cutting is kind of obvious, but my question is, who decides what or how much is cut in select cutting. I'm working on talking the fam into it, but I don't want to sound totally stupid for once in my life when I talk to a logger. I'd like to know what to expect. It's a small piece of land (26 acres). Would they pretty much ignore me, or would that interest them. From what I scouted this spring, it's mostly cedars and hardwoods. Also, as a general rule, can it be negotiated where they clear out scrub/ small stuff at the same time?

 

[Football Hunter]

you decide,pick a size and go with it

 

[BSK]

What gets cut is up to you. What to cut depends on what you are trying to accomplish--maximize profit or create good wildlife habitat?

 

[swami]

Also prices are coming down now with white oak,only species holding.I would wait,expecting prices to drop steady,poplar dropping fast.November will see an increase beginning except for poplar.

 

[BSK]

Also prices are coming down now with white oak,only species holding.

Thank goodness my place is 80% white oak! Still a few trees being cut right now that are bringing $1.50 to $2.00 per board foot.

 

[Jarred525]

How is pulp doing?

 

[BSK]

How is pulp doing?

Going down.

Right now, the only thing bringing good money is quality trees.

 

[Greg M]

Looking more for good habitat and clear areas to hunt without a stick in my way every 3 feet. Don't care too much about profit, although it would be nice to make enough for tractor, disc, seed, etc. So that being said, ????

 

[Jarred525]

How is pulp doing?

Going down.

Right now, the only thing bringing good money is quality trees.

Just my luck :) I have been regretting pulling the trigger a few months ago. Oh well, maybe they will go back up by January. How much do they lack on your place? Going well?

 

[Jarred525]

Regretting not pulling the trigger I mean.

 

[BSK]

How is pulp doing?

Going down.

Right now, the only thing bringing good money is quality trees.

Just my luck :) I have been regretting pulling the trigger a few months ago. Oh well, maybe they will go back up by January. How much do they lack on your place? Going well?

Amazingly well. Mill has paid $30,000 for 6 acres of trees.

 

[Jarred525]

How is pulp doing?

Going down.

Right now, the only thing bringing good money is quality trees.

Just my luck :) I have been regretting pulling the trigger a few months ago. Oh well, maybe they will go back up by January. How much do they lack on your place? Going well?

Amazingly well. Mill has paid $30,000 for 6 acres of trees.

Awesome. Glad things are going well. Are you going to get finished before season?

 

[BSK]

How is pulp doing?

Going down.

Right now, the only thing bringing good money is quality trees.

Just my luck :) I have been regretting pulling the trigger a few months ago. Oh well, maybe they will go back up by January. How much do they lack on your place? Going well?

Amazingly well. Mill has paid $30,000 for 6 acres of trees.

Awesome. Glad things are going well. Are you going to get finished before season?

No, this whole project will probably take the father-and-son team about a year to finish. They're going to shut down during November for our hunting.

 

[MickThompson]

gmckinney, you may be more interested in a pulp wood cut, especially if wildlife is the objective from this cut. Select cuts are the new "high grading." The loggers cut the biggest trees and leave the rest. Basically, they cut your best mast producers (big oaks) and leave junk.

Think about this-most forests in TN are single-aged, meaning that most of the trees are within 10 years of each other. Select cuts are often diameter limit cuts. What will you be left with after they cut down to the specified diameter? Inferior trees that were overtopped and had limited resources. Forestry research has shown time and time again that these trees do not recover once released.

Talk to a forester-not one that works for the logger, but one that works for the Tennessee Division of Forestry. It's their job to help landowners manage their forests. They can tell you about the market conditions in your area, estimate your timber value, recommend a timber harvest, and put you in contact with a reputable logging operation.

BTW, a small clearcut might not be a bad option.

 

[Greg M]

Mick, thank you so much for that info. I guess the lack of knowledge is killing me on how to go. I know what I want to do ( I think), I just don't know if I can get it accomplished in a timely fashion. I will definitely consult Forestry.

 

[BSK]

All great points Mick. The problem is, theory is one thing, practice is another. Try finding a logger that will cut exactly the way you want, especially only taking pulp when a profit can't be made on pulp. Try finding someone who will cut the worthless junk and leave the valuable trees. Try finding someone who is willing just just cut a couple of small clear-cuts. Those aren't profitable endeavors for the logger.

Loggers simply don't want to work that way. Unless they're starving for business, finding loggers that will make custom cuts is very, very difficult.

 

[Jarred525]

All great points Mick. The problem is, theory is one thing, practice is another. Try finding a logger that will cut exactly the way you want, especially only taking pulp when a profit can't be made on pulp. Try finding someone who will cut the worthless junk and leave the valuable trees. Try finding someone who is willing just just cut a couple of small clear-cuts. Those aren't progitably enfeavors for the logger.

Loggers simply don't want to work that way. Unless they're starving for business, finding loggers that will make custom cuts is very, very difficult.

Amen BSK, as you are aware from past posts I have struggled to find someone who will do "custom" work. I finally found the guy but it took me getting a couple of neighbors on board where we could get a large enough cut to make it worthwhile. Our cut will be at least half pulp, and that was the tough part about finding someone to come in and do it. Pulp is not where the big money is at.

 

[BSK]

16 years of messing with loggers and I've FINALLY found someone I can work with and trust.

 

[Truedouble]

We are cutting timber on the family farm and have tried to find out as much about timber management as possible, both from a habitat and financial point of view, cause both are important in our situation. I am completely satisfied with our forestor/ logger's recommendations but at one point, early on, called the Auburn Forestry School to get their input. They pretty much told me the same thing Mick said. When I asked the professor how I could find a logger that would actually do what he recommended he didn't really have an answer. Assuming you have some quality timber I would go through and mark any trees that you would like to leave and then after that agree on a DBH for each species. If you can work it out I would also cut several sections in lieu of the entire tract to creat as much diversity as possible. Bottom line find a good forestor to help you out.

 

[Greg M]

So, while I obviously understand the idea behind making a profit, wouldn't some work be better than no work? I know that this is something I could work out with a logger, but when you say pulp cut, what exactly are you saying? Is pulp 2-8" trees or is it specific species like SYP, cedar?

 

[BSK]

A pulp cut is cutting everything that cannot get a higher-quality grade. Bassically, cut all the "junk" trees that will be ground up for pulp, leaving the high-value trees (both from a monetary value as well as habitat value standpoint).

The problem is, pulp pays so poorly that the logger can't make a profit cutting just pulp.

 

[BSK]

The one problem I've had with foresters is they are more focused on profit than wildlife value. In addition, few foresters I've met actually know what a good wildlife cut is.