ALL YEAR

KENTUCKY'S TIMBER VALUES

Kentucky timber is in high demand on the current world market and opportunities abound for woodlot owners to sell their timber for what might seem a tidy profit. Many forest landowners are not aware that in these unplanned, undesigned timber operations there may be long term costs involved.

Sure, you can make a quick bundle harvesting timber. Almost any logger in your locale will be happy to quote their estimated value for your timber and start logging right away. But, have you considered the range of available forest operations for your timberlands and which ones are most environmentally responsible for both your interests and the woodlot needs? Has your timber been marked for the maximum value. And do you understand what will be left in your woodlot?

Ninety percent of the woodlands in Kentucky are privately owned but only sixteen percent utilize the expertise of a professional forester to mange the forest operations that will influence the future integrity of the their timber.

If you don't know your options for the care of the residual timber or understand all of the environmental effects resulting from a road system design, the quick bundle that you make on an unplanned forest operation can leave you with a potentially long term mess.

So, how do you make money today and still take care of tomorrow? Get a professional forester involved in the early forest operational plans. A professional forester can help you select and use a simple set of guide lines called best management practices, BMP's for short, to protect the land and water. The professional forester can help in the marketing of your timber for the highest possible value, as well as planning a harvest to ensure that healthy timber stands develop as a result of todays operations.

Yes you can market your timber, make a substantial profit, leave the remaining younger commercially important trees in a healthy condition, and provide protection for the site. Just remember that the first step to this formula is to get help from a professional forester as you would select any other professional for your other personal management needs and activities. A forester can design a management plan for a sustainable forest. Then you can be sure you won't have long term regrets about a quick buck that may be tempting you today.