Timber harvesting in Indiana is an important financial undertaking. But it often leads to dissatisfied landowners and a decrease in the potential woodland to produce future crops because of poor contract misunderstandings between buyers and loggers. However, you can make your timber sale a positive experience.
Knowing industry facts and basic forest management principles can help you get a fair price for your timber and retain a woodland that is in good condition to produce a continuous supply of natural resources like timber and clean water.
Here are some things you need to know about timber harvesting in Indiana:
One crucial factor you should know about timber harvesting is that not all timber is created equal. Some Indiana hardwood timber is very valuable, but it can also be low quality and have little monetary value. The value of your timber depends on the species and its overall quality.
Other things that can affect the value of your timber include the ease of accessibility to your woodlands and seasonal weather conditions. You should be trained to determine the fair market value of standing timber or hire someone knowledgeable within the forestry space.
Because timber is not a widely traded commodity, it’s typically sold in a “spot market.” This means that each timber sale stands alone. It differs from agricultural commodities because there is no source of quoted prices on a given date for the species and qualities of timber found in Indiana woodlands.
It can be hard to attract buyers to spot markets just for an individual sale. This is why most markets have set up a bidding system, which establishes the unique fair market value of timber. Sometimes, a one-on-one negotiation between a landowner and a buyer is appropriate.
Before you sell at a spot market, you should know what type of timber you’re selling. Have a forester inventory your woodlands to assess its overall health and the trees available for harvest now and in the future. They can also note the trees with little value that should be removed to make room for the growth of crop trees.
If you need to sell timber to meet your financial needs or improve your future timber income, have your harvester mark the trees to get rid of. They can also measure the volume and assess the quality of these trees.
If you sell your timber at a spot market or through a private sale, you will want to have a written and signed contract with details of the sale. That’s because if problems arise during the sale and logging operation, your options to seek redress are limited if you don’t have a written contract with the buyer. Consider hiring an attorney for sales involving substantial monetary sums or legal complications.
We are a licensed timber harvesting company working with landowners in Indiana and across the Midwest to provide the highest return possible for standing timber. Phoenix Mat produces high-quality wood products such as crane mats for enterprises in the energy sector, including gas, oil, and wind. Because we operate from timber harvesting to production, we’re able to offer unparalleled prices to land owners.
Reach out to the Phoenix Mat to learn more about our services and range and get a free quote for timber harvesting.
