Determining timber value is more complicated and nuanced than most landowners imagine. Timber valuation should always be done by someone representing your best interests, not a buyer trying to separate you from your timber.

Little did I know, back in 1996, when I started my forestry consulting business, how good I had it. Pine timber prices were high, markets were numerous, competition among buyers was stiff, and there was an abundance of logging contractors to handle almost any job, no matter the scale. I was living on Easy Street.

Thinning is the practice of harvesting trees from a stand to promote the growth and health of the remaining trees. When carried out correctly, this regulation of stand density helps maintain a healthy forest, improves wildlife habitat, and enhances aesthetics

Many Southern pine plantation owners have a big problem. That problem is pulpwood. Over the past several years, the South has had numerous mill closings, with pulpwood markets taking the hardest hit. These closings have exacerbated what was already a glut of pine pulpwood.

To make a successful land purchase (by the criteria listed above), you need to be able to efficiently and expertly assess a property (or wor