Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I Am Planning to Thin My Timber…..What Do I Need To Know?


To start with, I would engage the services of a Registered Forester. I prefer to remove every fifth row and thin in between leaving a residual basal area of 70-75 square feet of dominant and co-dominant trees. Generally you would be leaving about 200 – 225 trees per acre. You only get one chance at this and you cannot put the trees back after they are cut, so do it right !!  All intermediate cuttings are designed to improve the value and quality of the trees in the final harvest. Generally, there are 2 thinnings then a final cut. The first thinning is done about age 15. You will remove 25-35 tons leaving about 40-50 tons per acre. This will generate $225-$275 per acre. The second thinning will be done about age 21-22. You will remove 30-35 tons per acre leaving 45-55 tons per acre, this will generate $425-$475 per acre. The final harvest will remove 75-85 tons per acre generating $2000-$2600 per acre.


The numbers mentioned above are average numbers from a 275,000 acre land base in the Southeast. Actual numbers can vary depending on site index and local market prices.

For Information on Buying or Selling Land contact G. Kent Morris, ALC, RF at      (706) 457-0090

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