Virginia Forestry, looking for thinning of my pine trees

[LHJim]

Hello everyone,

I own some property in southern VA. I have looked around and interested in finding a website that members contribute in a forum. I know this is one of them but this is a forestery and would think there would be a forestry dedicated website where I can chose my location like Virginia. And find out what members use for their thinning etc.

I think I had found one years ago but cannot remember what it is. When I looked around all point to DOF (Dept of Virginia Forestry) but this appears to not have members contributing ideas?

Anyone know of something like this? Basically my place is in southern VA and has Loblolly pine trees and I need to think out this place. And preferably get some money for this thinning. I just figured you guys would know something?

Thanks

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

Cannot help you with anything substantive to your question.

A friend of mine sold some hardwood from his land in far western New York. He made some good money, but the loggers strayed over the property lines and logged a neighbor's woods. No idea how he found the company, but it should not be too hard to find someone near your land. I have also heard of similar screwups (aka horror stories) by other logging companies. I know no details and am not smearing the industry, but once a tree is down and hauled away by 'mistake' there is not much you can do to remedy the situation.

Based on what I have heard, I would suggest a walk through the area, mark the trees that will be removed, and make sure you are on site while they work. Get references, check them out and talk to the people who have used the companies. Unless you don't care what happens....

 

[LHJim]

Thanks for contributing to this thread.

Yeah I agree that there are unscrupulous groups but from what I have seen on the DOF website those logging guys look reputable. However DOF says they do not monitor the logging operation. I have walked my property and see the need to thin trees. And I agree I will have to go down there and watch them do the thinning. However I saw on one of the operation website where they GPS mark the spot. But I will have to see what trees they are going to thin out etc. In other words boot work lol.

I was hoping someone would contribute saying they had good experience with this group etc. Not getting my hopes too high. But I swear I saw one a few years ago but cannot find it now however I will have to go with that I seen on the VA DOF.

And no I do care what happens. After all this is why I bought the property years ago.

again thanks for throwing your input. Really appreciate it!

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

Thanks for contributing to this thread.

I'm a retired electrician. When people asked me how do I find a plumber, painter, whatever, my first response was...ask your friends. Word of mouth is the first way. If that fails, go to city hall, stop at the building dept, and ask the chief inspector (commissioner, building official, etc.) for their approved contractor list. Call the contractors and ask for references and CALL the refs. Ask the people what said contractor did for them and how they performed. Another idea I had was to ask the inspector who he would call if he needed some plumbing, painting, etc. done. He cannot recommend contractors (if he did, I'd check the company out like the FBI was vetting a political appointee) but he can tell you who he would hire. Might some of these ideas work for you?

Btw, I was not suggesting that the 'horror stories' were due to unscrupulous companies. They might have been, or they might have been due to honest errors, over zealous crews, and negligent owners who did not get any more involved in the process than counting the money they would make.

 

[LHJim]

Of course these will work. But in all honesty getting a plumber or painter probably applies to everyone. Forestery is going to be a different animal cuz not everyone has a large property that needs thinning. Hence probably the DOF will have this info. And I am waiting to hear back from two of the logging operation and go from there. But I understood what you meant. Thanks.

And oh yeah I do not mean to apply everyone is a horror story. I actually think the loggers (on DOF) are probably pretty reputable.

Right now I send email to two of the logging outfits. Waiting to hear back from them and we go from there. These were found on the VA DOF so I will see. I suspect with all of the holidays now I may not hear promptly but that is ok. I got time tho.

 

[dboyd351]

Where are you in southern VA?
I am in southeastern Virginia
I would suggest you find out who your local Forester with the DOF is. Each county or a group of counties has a Forester who is the lead person on those issues for the Department of Forestry.
I would ask your local forester if he can give you recommendations of reputable companies to do the logging. If he is hesitant to give you recommendations himself, perhaps he can refer you to people he knows who have had Timber cut and they can give you their opinions of the company they hired.
My mother's family who is from South Carolina used to own a timber company. I can tell you if you are trying to manage the loblollies for maximum economic yield you usually thin the stand once or twice before doing the final cut. Depending upon how good the growth is on your property the thinnings are often done at about 10 or 15 years apart.
The other thing that plays a big role in maximizing income from timber harvest has to do with the local markets for saw lumber and pulpwood,
If you are managing your property primarily to harvest the timber and the acerage is big enough It is definitely worthwhile to hire a logging consultant who helps you plan when to make your harvest based on growth of the timber and market conditions.

 

[ATpro]

Right now I send email to two of the logging outfits. Waiting to hear back from them and we go from there.

You thin when the limbs of one tree start to touch other trees. You can also look at the bark and if you have small scales and small cracks that's a sign the tree has slow growth. A tree with large scales and large crack means the tree is growing well. A tree that isn't growing well and isn't overcrowded but still has signs of slow growth is a sign of land deficiency.

The way foresters classify land for growing Loblolly Pine Timber is by how high a tree will grow in 35 years, +90 means a tree can grow 90 feet or more in 35 years on the land, 80 grade = 80 foot in 35 years, 70 grade = 70 foot in 35 years and so on.
There can be other reasons a tree has slow growth like low moisture.

 

[esean]

The first thing I'd do is get a decent forester who doesn't work for a logging company out there to help decide what thinning, if any, is needed. Does VA have state foresters to help private landowners?

 

[dboyd351]

The first thing I'd do is get a decent forester who doesn't work for a logging company out there to help decide what thinning, if any, is needed. Does VA have state foresters to help private landowners?

yes
see my post above