Spring 2003  Volume 12, Number 1

FACTORS THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE VALUE OF YOUR TIMBER

1 .Tree species (certain species of trees are worth more for timber than others),
2. Size of Trees (small trees are worth less per tree and per board foot).
3. Condition of trees (damaged, defective, diseased hollow, poorly formed, etc.)
4. Quality of trees (veneer, sawtimber, crating, pallet, framestock, railroad ties, etc.)
5. Market demand for timber you are selling.
6. Number of trees and volume (board feet) you are selling.
7. Logging conditions (hills, flat, rolling, step ravines, wet, dry) and difficulty in logging timber.
8. Access (by public roads, across crop fields, across neighboring ground, ditches, easements, and weight limits on public access bridges and roads),
9. Time period loggers have to remove timber.
10, Payment terms (when payment is to be made).
11, If timber can be removed year-round thru crop fields or only when no crops are present.
12. If logs have to be dragged very far to log loading site(s).
13. If the woodland is presently being pastured by livestock or has been heavily pastured in past.
14. If many trees are hanging over fences, creeks, power lines and buildings that may have to be pulled.
15. If a lot of tops of felled tress have to be pushed back off crop fields,
16. Size of area where logs are to be loaded on log trucks and access to this area
17. If timber is spread over a lot of acres.
18. Type of soil trees are growing on and location in the state of Indiana where trees are growing (certain soils and parts of Indiana grow better quality and valuable timber trees than others).
19. Aspect of slope trees are growing on (the cooler north and east facing slopes on the average grow better quality timber than the dryer south and west facing slopes).
20. Hiring the services of a professionally trained Forestry Consultant (it has been shown many times that an experienced Forestry Consultant can assist you in selling standing timber so you will receive a lot more for your timber than if you try to sell the timber yourself)
21. The experience of the Forestry Consultant is selling private woodland owner's timber,
22. The marking of the trees, advertising and bid solicitation of the responsible forester handling your timber sale
23. Timber owner's attitude (if timber owner is reasonable for loggers to work with).