Logging part time

[Rob30]

How many people log their property part time? I am looking at buying more land here, and want to know how much a part time logging business would contribute to paying for the land? We can buy 100 acres for $45000-$65000. The land is about 75-80% forrest. I don't want to clear cut, just run a well managed bush lot. Logging only during the winter months, mostly soft wood. I would have 2 people for 2-3 days a week.
I have talked to local loggers, but it is hard to get a strait answer. They usualy want you to hire them to do the logging.

[jwal10]

Do you have any equipment? What is the price of wood in your area. Here in Oregon we have the wood but the mills are few and far between and very little money in it now. If you need equipment, and the price of fuel and lubricants, tires and all....I doubt there is much to be made when you have to hire labor. I managed 1500 acres of wood lot along with farming 1600 acres, there was a little money in it but only because it kept me and a full time hired man busy all winter, along with feeding and calving....James

[Spotted Owl]

Get a cruiser/forester to look at the land and the timber. They will look for disease, grade it, give you an idea what kind of merch wood there is and an approx on the Mbf. Then call the mills in the area and ask about prices. This will give you an idea of what there is before you even call in any loggers or look at equipment to run your own side. If you hire a logger get everything in writing, everything down to the smallest litlle things so it is all in black and white, should there be trouble in the future. Not to say all loggers are out to stroke people but the reputation is there for a reason. They will be looking out for them and theirs. At times it isn't hard to break things down either. Falling you or hired, logging you and your equipment or hired, Loading/trucking you or hired. If you can break it up and do some or a lot your self it will give you more money in your pocket. By all means look into the taxes involved to you as the land owner and you as one doing part or all of the work also.



Owl

[just_sawing]

A good resource for what you can do is go to http://www.timbergreenforestry.com/.
I believe in the small resource logging but you have to be careful and do what you do deliberate.

[Darren]

Originally Posted by just_sawing

A good resource for what you can do is go to http://www.timbergreenforestry.com/.
I believe in the small resource logging but you have to be careful and do what you do deliberate.

I would emphasize the deliberate part. You have to know what you are doing. A logger, someone who does that as a regular business, is in it for money in his pocket, not yours. Even foresters vary in ability and especially knowledge depending on your long term goals. Foresters who look at all the factors including the potential for medicinals are rare.

As slow as trees grow and especially due to the pressure from invasive species a mistake in logging can take a long time to recover or possibly never in areas where fast growth isn't a given.

[big rockpile]

I did years ago had Cheap Truck and Farmall Tractor cut mostly Pulpwood but had some Saw Logs.

I always found myself running Over Loaded and it can be dangerous things happen way too fast

But yes I made money but I also Logged other places.

big rockpile

[billfosburgh]

ive done it on & off for several years. we used to buy timber & log all winter with our horses. we made a little money. i have some logs right now i just cut & cant get anyone to buy right now. everyone has a ton of oak & they told me if i hauled them in they would give $150 a thousand for blocking. i think i can do better making firewood out of them

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by billfosburgh

ive done it on & off for several years. we used to buy timber & log all winter with our horses. we made a little money. i have some logs right now i just cut & cant get anyone to buy right now. everyone has a ton of oak & they told me if i hauled them in they would give $150 a thousand for blocking. i think i can do better making firewood out of them

Yea I was thinking the same with this place.Checked about Logging then thought Selling Firewood but the cost heating a person make more using it to heat with.

big rockpile

[Silvercreek Farmer]

We have a couple of acres white pines that are begining to mature. The soil they are in is very soft and everytime we get soaking rain + high winds we lose a few. When I looked into just cutting the wind falls, loading them on my little utility trailer and selling them to one of the several mills around here it was pretty disappointing to find out what they would bring (maybe $20-30 a load). Just couldn't justify my time, and it is not enough to justify any more equipment. When the kids get older I may help them do a load from time to time so they can earn some gas money (if THEY are even interested). Like rockpile says, with cheap equipment, you might be able to make a modest income, just remember figure for fuel, equipment repairs, and volitile timber prices when making your decision.

[Sawmill Jim]

Best way to make a little money logging is start with a lot .

Good place for idea's is http://www.forestryforum.com/

[fishhead]

I've always thought the way to make money logging is to produce firewood or lumber. It puts more of your labor into the finished product but the value is the highest.

With the right equipment I think you can reduce your labor (wear and tear on your body) and still produce a high value product.

[Sawmill Jim]

Fish some areas you are correct . But here you would starve .

[DaleK]

Logging in Ontario right now is dead. If you're not depending on steady income right away and you can pick and choose when you log based on how the market is doing, it's not a bad business. The guys here who were depending on it for a steady living have their trucks and skidders for sale and they're pretty well done for.

[highlands]

Originally Posted by Rob30

How many people log their property part time?

What does part time mean? We log most every year. Varies how much. Sustainable cutting. Sometimes it is thinning and taking out junk wood so the better trees can grow. Sometimes it is harvesting the mature timber when the markets are right. Logging can do a lot to pay for the land, as can other forms of agriculture such as haying, crops, livestock, etc.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

After my previous post, I decided to call the local chip plant and see what they would pay me for a ton of thinnings from my little white pine "wind break". The lady said that the big boys were only getting $20 a ton and she didn't think they would even buy a ton at a time from me.