How to sell your timber wisely
Around
Our State
Davis College
welcomes new
director of Animal
and Nutritional
Sciences
Robert L. Taylor, Jr. has
joined the West Virginia
University
Davis
College of
Agriculture,
Natural
Resources
and Design
as director Robert Taylor, Jr.
of its
Division of Animal and
Nutritional Sciences.
Taylor was previously a
professor of animal science
at the University of New
Hampshire, where his
efforts focused on poultry
immunology and genetics.
He provided oversight
to research farms, led an
array of local, regional,
and national level initiatives
for the university and
United States Department
of Agriculture, and was
very active in professional
societies. Taylor currently
serves as the president
ofthe USA Branch
of the World
Poultry Science
Association.
ii / Fall 2014
fter a number of depressed years,
the timber market has rebounded
with strong demand for logs by sawmills
and other users. Many landowners are
being approached by loggers, log buyers,
sawmills, foresters, and others about
purchasing their timber.
A
skills to develop a plan to help the
landowner meet his/her goals. Typically,
the forester will inventory the forest and
help you determine what trees should
be cut, the estimated value of the trees,
and some initial planning steps for the
removal of the trees.
Do your homework
Marketing your trees
Harvesting timber is often a once in a
lifetime activity, and it is important to
do it correctly the first time.
The forester will then prepare and
market a prospectus to potential buyers.
The prospectus will include the location
of the property, general payment terms,
While selling
and other
timber will
necessary details.
almost always
In most cases,
generate some
a buyer will then
financial
submit a sealed bid
benefit,
with an offer. This
many
is the preferred
landowners
process, because
end up with
competition
less than the
encourages
true value and
buyers to offer
undesirable
the highest value
or unexpected
At a logging landing site, log decks surround to the landowner.
post-logging
Even though
the loader and log truck. (Photo – Ben Spong)
conditions.
direct price and
The timber sale transaction should be a
percent basis (shared proceeds between
fair and open process that provides shared
buyer and landowner) negotiations are
benefits for all parties. To protect their
less desirable, they may be appropriate
interests now and in the future, landowners for smaller volumes and specialized
are strongly encouraged to work with an
situations.
industry expert, such as a professional
The contract
forester, to guide them through
Once a buyer is selected, both parties
the process.
should enter into a contract that includes
Determine goals
the description of the timber, agreed
First, the landowner should determine a
upon price, payment terms, time period,
goal for the timber harvest. Often times,
who will pay the severance tax, and
the goal is to maximize income from
other responsibilities of each party. An
the timber, develop wildlife habitat for
experienced industry professional will
hunting, remove dying trees to have a
typically have a good template for this
healthier forest, or even a combination
contract; however, an attorney review
of all these.
will ensure legal rights are protected.
If needed, seek help to develop a plan
During harvest
Next, it’s time to engage the help of a
professional forester, who will apply forest
science and practical business and industry
Once harvesting starts, the forester
can oversee the operation to ensure
– continued on page iii –
Insert Provided by WVU Extension Service and Davis College of Ag., Natural Resources, and Design
12 West Virginia Farm Bureau News