10 tips for woodlot profits and...

10TIPS FOR WOODLOTPROFITS AND ENJOYMENT

WISCONSIN EDITION PUB-FR-322 2005

WRITTENBY

DICKHALL

DNR Photo by Jeff Martin

1RECOGNIZE THE VALUEOF YOUR WOODLOT

The most profitable acreage on the farm maynot be the best corn ground. It’s often the farmwoodlot. That’s especially true if the woodlotis growing saw timber or veneer-quality redoak, black cherry, black walnut or sugar maple.Other tree species and forest products are alsoprofitable to grow. It will usually pay to workwith the mix of trees already growing on anexisting woodlot. The trees that are best suitedto the site are generally the most profitableones to grow in that woodlot. And a varietyof trees helps protect the woods from beingdestroyed by a specific disease or insect.

With care and planning some hardwoodstands can be managed to grow $200 or morein timber value per acre each year. Properlytended, some pine plantations on good soilscan grow one cord of wood per acre for everyyear after planting. The first harvests canbe taken at 20 to 25 years and products ofincreasing value harvested at seven- toten-year intervals thereafter.

Most farm woodlots are neglected becausethey don’t provide cash flow as frequently ascorn or soybeans or milk. Paychecks fromwood come only periodically, sometimes onlyonce in a lifetime. Farm woodlots are oftenviewed as a source of cash in an emergencyand a place to hunt deer. They are seldomconsidered in the total farm economic plan.

That need not be the case. Most woodlots havethe potential to produce more harvestable woodthan they do. Most can be harvested more oftenthan they are, even as often as every five years,depending on the amount of acreage and thekinds of trees growing there.

Farmers may be better positioned to cash in onthe benefits of woodlot management than anyother woodland owner group. They live andwork on the land. They are outdoors oriented.They recognize trees and other living organismsas being part of the growing cycle, and theyoften have the equipment, knowledge, and timeto do the ongoing chores that return increasedprofits and personal satisfaction.

Remember that trees aren’t the only marketableproduct growing in your woodlot. You mayhave maple syrup, mushrooms, wild ginseng,herbs, boughs, nuts and other specialty forestproducts. Also keep in mind that unusual piecesof wood – burls, crotches, wood with attractivegrains, and other characteristics might be ofinterest to woodworkers and woodcrafters.(For more information on specialty forestproducts, contact E.G. Nadeau at CooperativeDevelopment Services at 608-258-4393).

The advantages of considering the woodlotas part of the total farm plan pays off inadded income, increased land value over time,increased wildlife and recreational value, andincreased pride of ownership that strengthensthe bond between generations.

Practical farm forestry is based on commonsense knowledge that comes naturally tofarmers. The fine points are easy to learn.Help is readily available. A good place to beginis by obtaining a copy of Wisconsin ForestManagement Guidelines (PUB-FR-226 2003)which is available at any county forester’soffice. The CD version contains many otherpractical forestry publications useful tofarmers. This is a large publication writtenin simplified technical language. Don’t let itintimidate you. The more you read about whatpertains to your woodlot the easier it becomesto understand.

Keeping records about woodland activitiesis an important but often neglected task. Thebest approach is to keep a woodlot logbook.Any spiral or loose-leaf binder will do. Recordevery activity by time and date regardless ofhow trivial it may seem. Just describe whattook place in as much detail as you can. Includenumbers whenever they are appropriate.Require all family members to make entries ofany activity. The logbook is a simple approachto recordkeeping and becomes more valuableover time as it accumulates useful informationfor future management.

A Farmer’s Guide to Woodland Management: 10 Tips for Woodlot Profits and Enjoyment

1Wisconsin ForestManagementGuidelines(PUB-FR-226 2003)


2It’s crucial to know what kinds of trees aregrowing on your woodlot, how much woodthey contain, and what they are worth beforeany management decisions can be made.This information is obtained through a fieldinventory called a timber cruise. There areseveral ways to obtain timber inventory data.

A forester may be hired to perform theinventory. The woodlot is divided into standscontaining different timber types, much likethe other fields on the farm. Individual standsmay contain various sizes of trees, includingnew plantations. They may also vary by speciescomposition, or management techniques. Moststands are easily distinguished from others.Some woodlots are uniform throughout andmay be managed as one stand.

The forester locates sample plots in eachstand and then identifies and measures alltrees on each plot. Volume by species isestimated for the trees in the plot. Your foresterwill make management recommendationsbased on many factors in your woodlotincluding size, health, species composition,soils, geology, tree species, etc. An inventorycompleted by a forester may cost from $500to several thousand dollars, depending on thenumber of acres inventoried. The inventoryshould include written recommendations.If you get an inventory and appraisal soonafter buying your property, it can also beuseful to establish your basis for future incometax calculations.

Some farmers may want to do their own forestinventory. Learning to cruise timber requiresattention to detail, but it can be learned and canbe a pleasant experience for the entire family.A good source of information is Lake StatesWoodlands: Measuring Trees and EstimatingVolume (UW-Extension publication G3332).It’s a mini-course in timber cruising. It alsocontains sources of tools and supplies neededto do a timber inventory. The bulletin is freefrom any UW-Extension office. Measurementtools required are readily available andinexpensive. An internet search for forestinventory software will also reveal a numberof free or low cost products to calculate timbervolumes. Some programs can even projectfuture growth.

TAKE AN INVENTORYOF WOODLAND RESOURCES


2Lake StatesWoodlands:

Measuring Treesand Estimating

Volume(UW-Extension

Publication G3332)



3LEARN TO TENDTHE FOREST

Most woodlots require adjustments in stockinglevels if they are to produce maximum harvestsand profits. Stocking refers to the number oftrees growing per acre. Each tree species andcombination of species has an optimum stockinglevel. Woodlots with less than optimum stockingare not making full use of the growing capacityof the soil. Trees are too widely spaced andcontain too many large limbs to produce highvalue logs.

Stands with above optimum stocking levelstend to be crowded and nutrient resourcesof the soil are spread over more trees thanneeded. Mortality is high, growth is slow,and timber yields are reduced due to highcompetition among individual trees. Mostwoodlots that have not been grazed in the past,or have developed from natural regeneration,and that have not been recently harvestedtend to be overstocked.

The best way to determine the stocking levelin your woodlot is to measure the basal area.This is the number of square feet of stemcross section per acre when measured at4.5 feet above ground. It’s an easy conceptto understand and easy to measure. You canmake a simple gauge to measure basal area inthe field or one may be purchased from forestrysupply catalogs. A penny held at 25 inches fromthe eye will give a rough estimate once youknow how. Wisconsin Woodlands: EstimatingStocking Conditions in Your Timber Stand(UW-Extension publication G3362) shows howto determine basal area and apply it to stockingin your woodlot.

Once basal area is known, it becomes easyto adjust the stocking in your woodlot withthinnings or improvement cuttings. It’s muchlike weeding the garden. Trees of low vigor,poor health, poor form, undesirable species,or crowded spacing are marked for removal.Enough are cut so as to reduce the basal areato normal stocking levels as determined fromthe charts provided in the previously mentionedpublication. The trees of best form and mostvaluable species remain to grow and thrive.Trees removed may be marketed for pulpwood,firewood, saw logs, or veneer logs.

Maintaining proper stocking increases growthrate and steadily improves the quality andvalue of products harvested. It’s also a wayto constantly improve conditions for wildlifeand enhance the natural scene. Improvementsin stocking may be do-it-yourself projects thatcan be done during off-seasons on the farm.They often pay big dividends in future harvestsand enjoyment.

Other helpful information on tending yourwoodlot with improvement cuttings is foundin Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines,Chapter 16, Intermediate SilviculturalTreatments (PUB-FR-226 2003) availableat any county forester’s office.



Wisconsin Woodlands:Estimating StockingConditions in YourTimber Stand(UW-ExtensionPublication G3362)



4The men and women who are qualifiedforesters have spent years training to learntheir profession. There are times when everywoodland owner will profit from their depthof knowledge.

There are three categories of forestersavailable to offer management advice tofarmers. They are Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources (WDNR) foresters, privateconsulting foresters, and industrial foresters.

There is at least one WDNR forester responsiblefor private land forestry management in mostWisconsin counties, some work in morethan one county. They are available to advisefarmers on their woodlands. They administerprivate lands entered in the Wisconsin ManagedForest Law and manage state-owned forestedlands. They also offer other services such asprivate, nontax law management plans andtree planting oversight. They usually do notmark or administer timber harvests on privatelands or appraise timber. There are no chargesfor most of their services.

Private consulting foresters are self-employed.They contract with farmers and other woodlandowners to write management plans, do timberinventories, perform management practices,and conduct timber harvests. They work fora prearranged fee or a percentage of timbersales. They represent the woodland owner inall contractual arrangements with loggers.

Industrial foresters work for a paper mill or sawmill. They offer management planning and otherforestry services to farmers, often at no cost,but usually reserve the right of first refusalwhen woodland owners have timber stumpagefor sale. They are mostly well-qualified foresterswhose salaries are paid by the companiesthey represent.

A list of foresters in all three categories whoare active in Wisconsin is available free ofcharge at all DNR county forestry offices.

It’s best to use the services of a forester whenthe management practice needed requires ahigh level of technical knowledge. Thinning orharvesting overstocked stands of mixed speciesis a good example. Trees interact with eachother in complex ways depending on species,age, soil conditions, and light requirements.A forester will help avoid mistakes in selectingtrees for cutting. This will pay big dividendsover the long-term.

Hiring a forester to administer a harvest isusually a good investment. Make sure to havea contract between you and the forester. The forester will mark trees to be harvested,determine volume by species, offer the saleto qualified loggers, advise you on which bidto accept for your timber, and make sure thelogger abides by the conditions of the timbersale contract. This will assure highest returnon your timber and best management forthe future.

The backgrounds and experience of forestersvary greatly. Select the one best suited to theneeds of your timber stand and your personalgoals. Ask for references and proof of liabilityinsurance. Contact those persons he/she hasprovided services for and become aware ofthe level of satisfaction in the work completed.

Expect to pay a consulting forester $30 to $70per hour for conducting inventories, markingstand improvements or thinnings or writingmanagement plans. The charge for conductinga timber harvest is usually 10% to 15% of thetotal receipts for the timber or it can be anhourly charge or by the acre. A good foresterwill make money for you far above the costof services.

KNOW WHENTO HIRE A FORESTER


4


5PROFIT FROMDO-IT-YOURSELF LOGGING

Most farmers own equipment suitable forsmall-scale logging. A 40 to 80 horsepowerutility tractor with a three-point hitch makesa good low impact woods machine. A simpledraw bar and logging chain can be rigged tolift the small end of logs and skid them easilyfrom most woodlots. Front-end tractor loaderswork well for decking logs and pulpwood.Tractors should be equipped with roll barsand protection from falling objects.

Where woods work is an ongoing farm activity,it pays to invest in a skidding winch for thetractor. They are equipped with cable andchokers which allow you to pull logs easilyfrom tight places and work safely on slopes.The cost is about $3,000.

It also pays to invest in a high-performancechain saw. Expect to pay $500 or more. Keepa cheaper one on hand in case of “pinching”or other problems. Don’t operate a chain sawwithout wearing safety chaps and a hard hatwith hearing and eye protection. Becausechain saw work is the most dangerous workin the woods, consider enrolling in a one-daychain saw operation and safety class. Evenexperienced chain saw users find they learnthings that make their jobs easier and safer.Call Forest Industry Safety and TrainingAlliance, Inc., a nonprofit safety training andeducation organization, at 800-551-2656 forinformation on chain saw operation classes.

Do-it-yourself logging can increase yourreturn from a timber harvest by $75 to $100per thousand board feet. The return is leastfrom low-grade timber and is greatest fromhigh-grade logs of valuable species, providedyou are knowledgeable about proper fellingtechniques and bucking to grade. Log buyerswill bid for your logs on the landing if they areaccurately cut to their specifications.

Do-it-yourself logging keeps you active inmanaging your woodlot, lets you efficientlyuse equipment during winter, and lets youtake control of logging to minimize damageand to time harvests to benefit wildlife andscenic values.

There are downsides to do-it-yourself loggingas well, including the risk of injury previouslymentioned. Other risks include damagingstanding trees, the forest floor or stream bedswhen building trails, operating equipmentand removing logs. It’s also important to beaware of property boundaries. It’s a goodidea to talk with neighbors when consideringthinning or commercial harvests.

Request log grade specifications from potentialbuyers before beginning a do-it-yourselfharvest. A misplaced saw cut can lower thevalue of a veneer log by hundreds of dollars.Learn to sort round wood products into veneerand saw logs, saw bolts, and pulp wood.Establish a working relationship with a trustedtrucker or logger who will pick up and deliveryour products to the mill when you have about4,500 board feet of sawlogs or a 12 cord loadof another product available. Make sure youhave a written contract.

If you’re considering the do-it-yourselfapproach, Conducting a Successful TimberSale: A primer for landowners wouldbe a useful resource. It’s available fromUW-Extension (608-262-1916) or on-line athttp://cecommerce.uwex.edu/pdfs/GWQ036.pdf.


5Conducting aSuccessful TimberSale: A primerfor landowners(UW-ExtensionPublication GWQ036)


DNR Photo by Paul Pingrey

6Most woodland owners are at a disadvantagewhen selling standing timber, so the best wayto conduct a sale is through the services of aforester. Be sure to have a written contract withthe forester. He or she will mark the trees ordesignate trees or areas to be harvested, totalthe volume by species, write an offer for salegiving complete details, and request bids froma number of loggers actively seeking stumpage.The forester will help you determine which bid,if any, to accept and which logger to select.

It’s best to solicit several bids. They will varywidely depending on the needs of the logger,the kind of timber you have for sale, the easeor difficulty of logging, and the distance frommills buying the products. It’s not unusual forthe high bid to be more than twice the amountof the low bid.

Once you have selected a logger, your foresterwill negotiate a written contract with the loggerand will spell out the terms of the sale and theconditions to be met in the woods. The foresterwill visit the harvest to make sure the loggermeets all provisions of the contract, collectpayments for the timber, subtract their fees andthen disperse the rest to you. Foresters canalso testify on your behalf in case of a dispute.

Or you can conduct a timber sale on yourown and save the fees charged by a forester.On a large sale this is a considerable amountof money. If you are confident you can performeach step in the sale as a forester would, youshould do so.

Consider how cut logs will be measured forpayment. In lump sum sales, a total value is paidup front for all the timber in the harvest. Lumpsum sales depend upon accurate estimatesof the volume to be harvested, but the buyercarries the risks or benefits of underruns oroverruns. Another option is scaled sales whereindividual sawlogs or piles of pulpwood aremeasured either in the field or at a mill. In scaledsales, the logger pays for the timber removed.Be sure your contract is clear about thevalue per unit, who will do the scaling andany conversion factors such as pounds percord if pulpwood is scaled by weight.

A list of loggers active in your county isavailable at the county DNR forestry office.While there, pick up a blank copy of a timbersale contract. Ask at least five loggers to bidon your marked timber. Walk your woods witheach when they come to inspect the treesmarked for cutting. Ask each for at least onename of a nearby farmer from whom they havepurchased stumpage. Set a deadline, includinga time, for submitting a bid.

Consider all bids the day after the deadline.It’s unethical to consider late bids. You mayeither reject all bids or select any one of thoseoffered. You need not select the highest bid,especially if a logger with a lower bid is bettersuited to fulfill operational considerationsimportant to you. Ask the logger to agree to a written contract for conditions of the sale.Require payment before the harvest begins.Require the logger to supply proof of insuranceand set a deadline for completion of the harvest.Don’t overlook any details on the contract form.A sample timber sales contract is availableon-line at http://forest.wisc.edu/extension/publications/94.pdf or from the WisconsinWoodland Owners Association (715-346-4798).

Select a Certified Master Logger wheneverpossible. He/she has attained the highestlevel of proficiency and ethics in the loggingprofession. Woodlands that are harvested bycertified loggers are recognized as practicingsustainable forestry. Although the present listof certified loggers is short, more are workingto meet the rigid requirements and the list isgrowing. Contact the Wisconsin ProfessionalLoggers Association (877-818-9908) for a list ofCertified Master Loggers, or visit the websitewww.hvsproductions.com/wpla/master.asp.

KNOW HOWTO SELL STUMPAGE


6Wisconsin Woodland

Owners Association715-346-4798

WisconsinProfessional

Loggers Association877-818-9908


7KEEP AN EYE ONYOUR LOGGER

The most critical time in the harvest cycle ofyour woodlot is when the logger is activelyremoving products. If you’ve hired a forester,he/she should visit often to make surethe logger is doing a proper job. It’s yourresponsibility to check on the logger ifyou haven’t hired a forester.

Either way, it calls for constant vigilanceduring the short period when thousands ofdollars worth of wood are being removedeach day from your woodlot. Carelessness,mistakes, or fraudulent acts could rob you ofhundreds of dollars immediately or in futuretimber growth and value.

Modern loggers are mostly skilled, competent,and honest. They would not stay in businesslong if that were not true. They have largeinvestments in equipment, trained operatorsand insurance (request proof of insurance fromyour logger). Logging is a competitive businessand high levels of productivity are necessaryto pay expenses and make a profit. It’ssometimes tempting to take short cuts oreasy to become careless.

Visit an active logging site in your woodlotevery day, even if you have hired a consultingforester. Be aware of all elements of thelogging contract and make sure none arebeing violated.

Look for excessive rutting caused by fellingmachines and skidders if working on unfrozenground. If you have soft ground, ask loggersahead of time what will be done to protectit. Soil compaction and damage to roots isunsightly and harmful to trees remaining afterthe harvest. Do not tolerate high levels ofphysical damage to standing trees and brokensaplings and poles. Make sure slash is pulledfree of valuable standing trees.

Do not sign off on a timber sale contract untilall logs and pulpwood have been paid for andremoved from the property and all terms of thecontract are met. That should include landingsand skid trails free of debris and leveled andseeded to erosion controlling grasses. It shouldnot be apparent that a logging job ever tookplace by the second summer.


7

DNR Photo by Paul Pingrey



8Farmers are in an enviable position. They canhunt, bird watch, hike, ski, snowmobile, or enjoyother recreational activities in their woodlotswithout leaving home. Other small woodlandowners must travel to enjoy these benefits.Likewise, wildlife habitat and favored outdoorrecreational activities can be enhanced throughnormal woodlot management practices, oftenwithout added cost. Timber stand improvementcuttings, harvests, and plantings can be alteredslightly to increase favorite wildlife speciesand to enhance nature’s scenery as well asto increase recreational opportunities.

The same trail system providing easy accessfor logging also attracts wildlife. It should beplanted to native grasses and mowed eachyear in August to discourage shrubs and renewthe grasses for fall grazing by deer and otherplant eaters. Fertilizing makes grasses moreattractive to deer. Mowed trails are ideal forwalking on a grouse hunt or traveling with anATV or snowmobile.

Landings, where logs are piled prior to hauling,can be constructed for use as a wildlife foodplot or opening after the logging is completed.You could also plant it to conifers to providecover for a variety of wildlife. In heavyagricultural areas, lack of cover is oneof the most critical wildlife issues.

Retaining conifers, rather than harvesting them,can provide many wildlife benefits includingthermal cover, cover from winged predators,nesting habitat, etc. Planting conifers alongborders or in small openings can often providethe same type of benefits where residualconifers are lacking.

Think of harvesting and timber standimprovement as ways to improve huntingand wildlife values. Reducing the tree stockinglevel allows more room for improved growthof remaining trees. Oaks respond by producingmore acorns. Deer, turkeys, and squirrelsbenefit. Other trees increase seed production,too. Songbirds and other wildlife benefit.

Reducing stocking levels lets more sunlightinto the forest. Native shrubs and forest floorplants grow more profusely. The entire foodchain from insects, birds, small mammals,foxes and predatory birds all increase inrichness and diversity.

Build a few brush piles after logging near trailsand woodland edges and you may be rewardedwith a rabbit for dinner. Other small mammalsand birds use brush piles to escape predators.Allow cull logs and slash to remain on the forestfloor and recycle by natural decay. They willbecome homes for unique insects and reptiles.The biologically-rich woodlot does not look likea park. It’s a diverse place full of niches thatprovide food and shelter in great abundance.

Locate individual white oaks, black walnuts,black cherries, and hickories known to producefrequent crops of nuts and fruits and spreada balanced fertilizer beneath their crownsperiodically to enhance nut production. Scattera little in your favorite blackberry thicket andyou will reap the rewards along with the birds.

Leaving trees with existing dens or cavitieswhen harvesting timber will help to maintainthe habitat of certain species. Also, largetrees that are unmerchantable because of rotor other defects have the potential to causesignificant damage to other high quality treeswhen felled, so leaving them can help yourealize multiple benefits.

Constructing artificial nesting boxes for birdsand mammals is a matter of individual choice.They will increase nesting bird populations insome instances. However, they are not partof the natural scene, and if you find themunattractive, you can provide increasednesting opportunities for birds throughcuttings, plantings, or other natural meansbased on knowledge of the requirements ofindividual species.

Woodland borders are natural attractants towildlife. They contain a great variety of foodand shelter. Leaving den trees and dead snagsuncut enhances their value. Planting foodpatches in nearby cropland is a bonus formany wildlife species.

The farm woodlot can provide enjoyment forthe entire family in all seasons whether usedfor quiet hikes, hunting, or motorized sports.Recreational use is a bonus in the well-managedand productive woodlot. Wisconsin ForestManagement Guidelines, Chapter 3, WildlifeHabitat (PUB-FR-226 2003) is an excellentsource of information and available at anycounty forester’s office.

MAKE A PLACE FOR WILDLIFE,RECREATION, AND NATURAL BEAUTY


8Wisconsin Forest

ManagementGuidelines

(PUB-FR-226 2003)


9KNOW WHEN AND WHERETO PLANT TREES

Planting a tree is the act of an optimist. Itrepresents faith in the future and a hope forgenerations yet unborn. It also representsa commitment to the land. It bodes well forrural America that millions of trees are plantedeach year.

Yet, planting trees to regenerate a forestrepresents a last ditch effort. It’s better topractice forestry that naturally grows newtrees. It’s also less expensive. Existingwoodlots will provide all the new treesneeded if properly managed.

There are circumstances where planting newtrees is necessary to establish or regeneratea forest. Past grazing practices usually destroyan existing forest. Forest herbs, shrubs, andyoung trees are quickly destroyed by grazing.Soil compaction and damage to roots by cattlehoofs eventually kill large trees. Grasses andthorny shrubs are often the only eventualsurvivors. Planting new trees is an effectivemeans of restoring a grazed out woodlot.Disking and exposing the mineral soil willloosen the soil and provide a seed bed forneighboring trees to reseed the area. Anotheroption would be to obtain seed and directseed this area after disking.

Other candidates for tree planting on the farmare odd areas, old lanes, abandoned fields andstream corridors. Planting along streams hasmultiple benefits – it creates cover for wildlifeforming a natural movement corridor along thestream bank; it provides shade to keep streamtemperatures low; it stabilizes the stream bankto reduce erosion; and it provides a source ofwoody debris to fall into streams, which willprovide both a food source and cover for manyaquatic dwellers. Sometimes it’s necessary toreplant trees on areas destroyed by fire or toconvert an area to a different tree species. Eachsite has distinct soil and water characteristicsthat dictate what trees to plant.

Consult a soil survey for your county todetermine which species of trees to plant.In most counties, a free copy is available fromyour county land conservation office or fromthe Natural Resources Conservation ServiceOffice. It will list the tree species that growbest on the soils on your farm. Planting treeson the wrong soil type is a mistake that couldlast for a hundred years.

Consult a Wisconsin DNR forester for helpwith species selection, ordering state nurserygrown planting stock, and possible cost-sharingprograms to offset planting and site preparationcosts. There is no charge for these services. Dothis beginning in the fall before spring plantingseason. The best selection of trees is in earlyOctober when order forms are made available.

Orders of less than 500 seedlings are notavailable from Wisconsin state nurseries,and must be purchased from private nurseries.Some county land conservation offices sellsmaller amounts of state trees. Your countyforester has a list of private nurseries doingbusiness in Wisconsin. Private nurseries oftenprovide seedlings from superior seed sourcesor will custom grow seedlings from seed yougather from outstanding trees in your woodlot.

Tree planting often fails due to poor planning.Be ready to plant when your trees arrive. Besure the site is properly prepared and plantingstock is kept cool and moist. Do not put theseedlings in a bucket of water. The water willcause the tiny root hairs to swell and die.It’s better to sprinkle some water on them andkeep them covered and out of the sun. Driedroots spell poor survival. The cost of plantingtrees often exceeds $200 an acre. The quickerthe job is completed the better will be yourresults. Contract tree planters are also availableto do all of this for you if you do not have thetime or equipment to do it yourself.

Also, be prepared to follow up with weedcontrol, fire protection, and insect and diseasedamage control in the first years of your newplanting. High deer numbers can cause highlosses in new tree plantings. Nursery stockthat has been fertilized is highly nutritious andsought out by deer. The best way to protectyour trees against deer damage is control deerthrough hunting. Take your share of venisoneach fall and allow others to hunt to protectyour woodlot investment.

Tree planting is a long-term investmentthat pays off in personal satisfaction, familyenjoyment and monetary profits. An outstandingguide to planting and maintaining trees toestablish a forest is found in the WisconsinForest Management Guidelines, Chapter 15,Reforestation (PUB-FR-226 2003) available atany county forester’s office.




10Like the individual farm, the woodlot doesnot exist in isolation. It’s part of the naturalcommunity and part of the farming community.There are advantages in all members workingtogether for mutual benefit.

A special advantage of working togetherinvolves the fight against invasive plants.Invasive buckthorn can choke out a woodsand prevent new trees from getting established.Invasive plants are not stopped by fence lines.Your efforts to control them are rewarded ifyour neighbor is controlling his.

Because most farm woodlots are small, thereare advantages to combining efforts withothers in the neighborhood when contractingfor forestry services or offering stumpagefor sale. This economy of scale can resultin lower costs for professional services andhigher returns for products sold. Forestersand logging contractors may find thisarrangement attractive.

Discuss woodlot management with neighboringfarmers. Find out who has hired a consultingforester and interest him or her in talkingwith other neighbors about managing theirwoodlands and combining their acreages fora group harvest. Where this has been done,everyone involved has benefited with bettermanagement and higher prices for stumpage.In some cases woodlots too small to otherwiseinterest loggers have provided timber income.

GAIN FROM INVOLVEMENT WITHOTHER WOODLAND OWNERS


10Wisconsin Woodland

Owners Association715-346-4798

WisconsinFamily Forests

715-213-1618

CooperativeDevelopment Services

608-258-4393


There are several woodland ownerorganizations in the state that you mightconsider contacting or joining:

• Wisconsin Woodland OwnersAssociation (WWOA) is a statewideorganization with more than 2,000members. WWOA produces WoodlandManagement, a quarterly magazine,has a number of chapters around thestate, and holds a well-attended annualmeeting. Contact Nancy Bozek at715-346-4798 or [email protected] more information.

• Wisconsin Family Forests (WFF) hasa number of local alliances aroundthe state. Its focus is on local forestryeducation and cooperative work andsocial projects among members. Formore information, contact Gerry Michat 715-213-1618 or [email protected].

There are also several local farm supplycooperatives and forestry cooperativesinterested in working with farmers andother local woodland owners. ContactE.G. Nadeau at Cooperative DevelopmentServices (CDS) for information on co-opsserving your area at 608-258-4393 [email protected].

PUBLISHED BYCooperative Development Services131 West Wilson Street, Suite 400Madison, WI 53703608-258-4396 • www.cdsus.coop

Cooperative Development Services (CDS)is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988.CDS has been promoting and assistingsustainable forestry management by privatelandowners since 1998.

To order copies of this publication,please contact your DNR county office orCooperative Development Services. It’s alsoavailable online at www.cdsus.coop/sf.html.

ABOUT THE AUTHORDick Hall is an award winning outdoor writerand retired teacher who practices forestry on160 acres near Poynette, Wisconsin calledThe Buckridge. He developed a new forestinventory software called Wisconsin TIGER(Timber, Inventory, Growth and EconomicReview). He has also written a book titled,The Buckridge Chronicles: Sketches fromOak Ridges and Glacial Valleys. For moreinformation, visit www.wistiger.com.

PUB-FR-322 2005

131 West Wilson Street, Suite 400Madison, WI 53703608-258-4396www.cdsus.coop

Distributed in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources. Additional copiesare available by calling 608-267-7494 or emailing [email protected]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWhile several people made valuable contributions to thispublication, Cooperative Development Services (CDS) andDick Hall take full responsibility for any errors or omissions.

We would like to thank the following people for reviewingthis publication:

• Paul Bader, Kickapoo Woods Cooperative• Gerry Mich, Wisconsin Family Forests• Donald Peterson, Renewable Resource Solutions, LLC• Paul Pingrey, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources• Nicole Potvin, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

This publication is part of the Forestry for Farmers Project.The project is supported by:

• Cooperative Development Foundation• Cooperative Foundation• Farm Credit System Foundation• National Farmers Union• University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources• Wisconsin Farmers Union• WoodWorks (a national network of cooperative development

centers interested in promoting sustainable family forestry)

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KNOW WHEN AND WHERETO PLANT TREES

GAIN FROM INVOLVEMENTWITH OTHER

WOODLAND OWNERS

RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OFYOUR WOODLOT

TAKE AN INVENTORY OFWOODLAND RESOURCES

LEARN TO TENDTHE FOREST

KNOW WHEN TO HIREA FORESTER

PROFIT FROMDO-IT-YOURSELF LOGGING

KNOW HOWTO SELL STUMPAGE

KEEP AN EYEON YOUR LOGGER

MAKE A PLACE FORWILDLIFE, RECREATION,AND NATURAL BEAUTY

Cover Photo © by Jeff Martin,JMAR Foto-Werks, www.jmarfoto.com

10 tips for woodlot profits and...

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