FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS !!
Quite often, people ask
the same questions concerning the logging process. Here are some samples…
We recently heard that the timber market was bad and
prices were down. Is that true? Timber
prices fluctuate seasonally, and species-specific prices rise and fall. Timber is generally more valuable during the
dormant months, when the water is out of the trees (the wood changes
color). However, we offer our timber
buyers up to a full 18 months to remove your trees. Why? Well, it helps
offset the fluctuations, and also we want to be able to control when they are
working on your property, to be sure conditions are good for logging.
Who exactly does Anundson & O’Barto work for? We work STRICTLY for you—the private forest landowner. We are your foresters working to protect your interests. We are here to help you avoid the pitfalls associated with harvesting timber and managing forest resources.
How long is our contract with you as our forester? Our consulting agreement lasts only as long as the timber sale contract between you and your timber buyer. Some foresters require long-term contracts, but we feel they are unnecessary because we want to establish a long-term relationship based on trust. When it is time to harvest your timber again we want to be the ones you hire again, so we strive to do a good job the first time.
How long will it take to sell our timber? It depends on many variables, but generally we are able to move a sale within weeks of getting the timber marked.
We only own a few acres. Would you be interested? Generally, at least five acres are necessary to
perform a timber harvest, although we have administered sales on as little as
one acres. The timber must be large, good quality, and densely
distributed on small acreage tracts to make it feasible.
A logger told us Timber Prices were down, is this true? Timber prices
fluctuate seasonally, when the leaves come out in the spring the value
decreases, when they fall off the trees in the fall the value increases. This is because when the trees are full of
water and sap the wood changes color and makes the lumber less valuable, and
also because it is harder to handle logs in the heat of summer without them
splitting and warping. However, if you
allow a full year for the loggers to remove the trees like our contract states
the month-to-month changes have no affect on your tree values. Often a logger will buy trees in the “off
season” with the intention of cutting when the prices are strong, and knowing
they have a full year will allow them to pay “fall/winter prices” all year
long.
I have a huge black walnut (or cherry, oak, etc.) tree in my yard, can I sell it? Probably not. Very few timber buyers are interested in just a tree or two. The main reason for this is it is expensive to move a machine in to remove the tree, and then pay for the trucking costs. In this case, it usually costs the homeowner to have the tree removed.
How big do trees have to be before they are timber-size? A good rule of thumb is this: Take a 42" string and wrap it around the trees on your property at chest height--if the trees are smaller than the string the trees are probably too small for a commercial harvest. BUT, remember, your forest may still benefit from other thinning treatments, like timber stand improvement (TSI).
We are very worried that harvesting trees will destroy our
property. Will it? A properly
managed harvest can actually improve the health of the forest. Although logging is often unsightly while in
progress, a careful plan combined with proper supervision and a thorough site
retirement minimizes the overall impact.
On our management projects the site often looks better than it
originally did within a year or two of the harvest.
We have been considering a timber harvest, but
are confused by the many stories we have heard. We don’t want our property to look like a bomb destroyed it! Granted, some timber harvests look
terrible. Often they are the result of
a poorly managed project or the result of short-sighted planning or greed. But sometimes the “bad-looking” projects are
actually different types of harvests used to re-establish trees, or for
attracting some species of wildlife which require thick brushy areas. Your goals may be entirely different than
your neighbor’s—we specialize in helping you achieve those goals.
Do you charge to visit our property? No, the first
meeting is always free to anyone considering having their timber harvested, and
also to those considering any other projects we administer.
How long does the timber sale bid process take? From the time we start marking the timber you can expect to have bids to evaluate within three weeks.
Who establishes our property lines? We use a computer program and your deeds to lay out the property lines on topographic maps in advance of our marking the timber. If we have any problems finding the lines we will inform you of the specific problem areas and avoid them until you hire a licensed surveyor. More often than not we are able to establish the property lines without error, thus saving our clients the cost of a survey.
I can't afford a surveyor, and I know my lines are going to be hard to establish. What can I do? We will pay for your survey, and will hire a registered surveyor on your behalf. The cost of the survey will then be deducted from the proceeds of your timber harvest. There is no up-front out of pocket money from you, and you can still realize an income from your forest.
Who prepares the timber sale contracts? We do, on your
behalf, and we are named in that contract as your foresters and supervisors of
the project.
Do we need an erosion control plan? Absolutely—it is
required by the state. We prepare the
plan and make it a part of your timber sale contract.
What do the marks you paint on trees mean? Trees are marked on at least two sides with
paint using long slashes (trees with value to be sold), X’s (cull trees—junk
trees which will be felled to help better trees grow), G’s (trees which will be
saw-girdled and killed and left standing as wildlife den trees), and three
stripes (boundary lines). Also, we
number, by species, those trees of the highest quality on your property to help
interested buyers prepare their bids.
Who establishes the trail system and log loading
locations? We do. In advance of any
operations to remove the timber we lay out the trails and loading areas.
Will the tree tops and stumps be chipped up and
hauled away? No. Doing so is very
costly and would eat up any of the proceeds from your timber sale. More important, though, is that the tops and
stumps should be left to stabilize the soil, replenish the soil nutrients as
they rot, provide shelter for nesting wildlife, and protect young tree
seedlings from browsing deer.
How long will the logging take? Depending on the
weather, crews can cut and remove an average of about 25 mbf (thousand board
feet per week). Dividing that number by
your total sale volume will give you the number of days.
When do we pay you? We are paid when you receive your money and
sign the timber sale contract with the timber buyer. There are no retainers or hidden costs with us. Some
foresters charge extra for paint, mileage, office expenses, etc.—our fees are a
flat rate percentage of the total sale price of your timber sale, and that rate
covers ALL costs.
What type of equipment can we expect to see on our
property? Generally, most loggers use
rubber-tired log skidders to drag logs.
Some use bulldozers. And, either
tri-axle log trucks or flat bed tractor-trailers will haul the logs away.
You said you use paint to mark the tree stumps. What keeps the loggers from painting more stumps? There is a big difference between old and new paint. It is
often months between when we mark the trees to when they are harvested. Also, on our management projects it is easy
to determine which trees we intended to leave to grow. Timber theft rarely occurs on our jobs
because of our site inspections during operations, but also because our timber
sale contract is so strict and prohibitive against theft.
What happens if our logger refuses to cleanup the trails
or pay for damages when he is finished? We hold a performance bond until they do
so. Most loggers are careful and
conscientious—in today’s world it isn’t wise to do anything to ruin your
reputation and most of the loggers who buy our client’s timber do a good job.
What is the easiest way to contact Anundson & O’Barto? By telephone at the numbers listed on this website, or by e-mail. We will get back to you within a day or two, and can visit your site within a few days from our first contact.
Do you offer other services besides timber sales? Yes, visit "Our Services" on this website for a complete list of things we do.