ALL YEAR

TIMBER VALUES

It takes many years to bring a timber crop to maturity. And, usually at least once in the lifetime of a timber owner, the timber from their forested land is sold. The question most often asked by individuals that make sporadic timber sales is, "What is my timber worth?"

Hardwood timber in Kentucky is unlike other agricultural commodities. And for that reason, the question of timber value often arises. Timber does not have a base price, a recommended price or a guaranteed average high or low value. And for these reasons, timber prices should be agreed upon by both the buyer and seller before the sale and any timber harvesting.

Buyers of timber use criteria to determine the price of timber. Many times these factors are not considered or even understood by the seller. The first and most important consideration in price of a timber stand is the quality of the entire stand of timber, simply, the amount of defect that may be present. An example of defect may be the affects resulting from a fire that has been created in the stand either recently or even decades before. Damage created by strong winds may also have created defect in trees.

After the quality of a stand has been evaluated, tree species are normally considered. A timber stand that is composed primarily of oak will command a higher value than a stand made up of a mixture of red maple and yellow-poplar.

Transporting trees to market needs to be also considered. Stands that are of high quality, and have desired species that are found growing relatively close to the sawmill will usually command a higher sale price. Areas that are remote, with undesirable trees, and terrain that requires a dozer to establish roads, will obviously be factors considered in the final price.

How does a forest landowner make a decision on what the real value of their timber is? Many times timber owners are not familiar with the timber market and do not know how to evaluate all the factors involved. The best and only answer is to seek professional advice prior to the sale.

The advice from both public agencies and private consulting foresters can be a valuable asset in planning and concluding the timber sale. The advice, before the sale, of a professional forester will help to increase the understanding of the management of a forest stand, and, in most cases, will increase the profits to the landowner on the timber sale.