Green Horizons

This past October, a timber sale in Franklin County advertising 815 mixed hardwood trees totaling approximately 108,000 board feet (Doyle Tree Scale), with 75% of the volume in white or red oak, yielded the following four bids:

• $27,777.77
• $26,250.00
• $26,000.00
• $18,680.00

A 50% difference between the high and low bids! Bid prices will vary based on a number of factors like how important is the sale to maintain mill inventory, distance from mill, or harvesting equipment. These and other factors come into play when the buyer is preparing their bid. But, remember you will not know if it’s a fair price if you do not know what you are selling. So, make the investment, call a professional forester and have him or her paint mark which trees need to be harvested and prepare an inventory of your sale trees. For a forester nearest you, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation (573) 751-4115, www.conservation.state.mo.us/forest/myforester-search.html, or the Missouri Consulting Foresters’ Association (573) 443-3977, www.missouriforesters.com.