We understand that forest management and timber harvesting can be overwhelming subjects for landowners. Below is a list of frequently asked questions to help you make informed decisions.
How can we help?
Our staff of foresters are here to help you make informed decisions about your property. Forest management is entirely dependent upon the landowner's goals and objectives for their property. Our foresters meet with you to determine your goals and develop a plan that is catered to meet your specific goals. Landowners often have a vision for their property, they just need some assistance in making it a reality. Every landowner is different and we work with you in your specific scenario.
What is the process?
The process always starts with a discussion between the forester and landowner. This can be either in person or over the phone. The forester wants to understand your landowner goals and objectives before making any recommendations for you and your property. Once the forester has identified your goals and objectives, we need to take a look at the property. We can't accurately manage a resource without knowing what is on your property. It's often beneficial for the landowner to walk the property with the forester so we can learn more about the property as we walk. Once we have seen the property and understand your goals, we can make recommendations to conduct a timber harvest or wait if it is simply not warranted. If a harvest is warranted, we develop a harvest plan to meet your goals and draft a timber harvesting contract for you to review.
What does it cost?
Initial consultations to meet with one of our foresters are FREE. This allows us to meet with you and understand your goals, see the property, and make accurate recommendations on your behalf. If you choose to have a timber harvest done, we take a small percentage of the mill delivered wood price to cover our time and expense. Our forestry services vary in cost dependent upon the project.
Do I need a management plan for my property?
That depends on what your goals are for the property. If you wish to enroll the property into one of the Maine current use tax programs (i.e. Tree Growth, Open Space, etc), you will need a management plan for the property. A management plan is also required for enrollment into the major third party forest certification programs; American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). A long term management plan is not needed to conduct a timber harvest on your property, but at a minimum we highly suggest at a harvest plan be drafted for your timber harvest. A management plan is a good idea if you plan to keep and manage your property as a long term timber resource.
Do I need to conduct a timber harvest on my property?
A timber harvest may be warranted if it meets the criteria of the landowners goals as well as the ecological condition of your property. A woodlot is a lot like a garden, they need periodic thinnings and harvests to achieve the ideal growing conditions. Timber harvests can also be used to promote specific wildlife habitat if that is a goal for the property. The best way to determine if your property needs a timber harvest is to have one of our foresters come look at the property with you. Our foresters can work with you to understand your goals and get a survey of current woodlot condition and stocking. This allows us to make accurate decisions for you and your property. Initial consultations with one of our foresters is free and only takes a little bit of your time.
What are the benefits of harvesting timber from my property?
Harvesting timber from your property offers many benefits. Timber harvests often can remove trees of poor quality and health while retaining higher quality trees to remain on your property for future growth and development. Timber harvests can promote and enhance specific types of wildlife habitat depending on the type of harvest preformed. A timber harvest is also a great way to generate some periodic revenue off your land.
What is the process of conducting a timber harvest?
The process begins with meeting with one of our foresters. This is so we can better understand your goals and objectives, as well as see the property in person to get an understanding of what is currently growing there. We then work with you to develop a site specific harvest plan that is catered to the property and your goals. Once a harvest plan has been agreed upon, we decide which type of harvesting system best suits your needs. A timber harvesting contract is drawn up between DTMC and the landowner that clearly states the terms of the harvest and lists the stumpage prices paid for the wood. We then schedule the harvest to a time of year that works for the landowner and offers the lowest amount of environment impact possible. Our foresters monitor the harvest and work with the landowner throughout the harvest to make sure everything is being done to meet their goals. Stumpage checks are paid out weekly to our landowners with clear and concise paperwork.
What do I need to harvest timber?
A stumpage timber harvesting contract between the landowner and DTMC is the first step. This provides liability protection, compliance with harvesting laws, stumpage prices, any excavation costs, harvesting plan, payment terms, etc. A harvest plan for your property describes the details of the harvest such as landowners goals, silvicultural prescription, access, harvest timing, cultural considerations, market considerations, etc. DTMC files a Forest Operations Notification (FON) on the landowners' behalf to ensure compliance with state of Maine harvesting laws. We are required to collect a federal W9 tax form for the timber revenue.
Who determines which trees get cut?
DTMC foresters determine which trees are removed in accordance to a harvesting plan either through timber marking with paint, or written silvicultural prescriptions provided to logging contractors. We regularly work with the same logging contractors who are competent and responsible. The decision on marked wood harvest or written prescription is based on the timber resource and the landowners' wishes. DTMC foresters inspect the harvesting jobs on a weekly basis to ensure contract compliance and quality of work.
How do I get paid?
The landowner is paid what is called "stumpage" for the wood removed from their property. Stumpage is the price paid for the wood standing on your property and the right to harvest it. Stumpage is a "pay as you cut" arrangement. Stumpage is paid by weight (tonnage) for pulpwood and some sawlogs, or stick scaled and sold on the basis of thousand board feet (MBF) for sawlogs and veneer. Pulpwood is scaled on certified scales at the receiving mill to determine the weight of the load. Sawlogs are stick scaled by a licensed scaler to determine the quantity of board feet and grade of each individual log. All wood harvested by DTMC is scaled by a third party mill. The mill then sends payment to DTMC for the wood delivered and we pay the landowner, trucker, and logging contractor. Landowners are then paid by agreed upon stumpage rates for each product in accordance with a timber harvesting contract. Checks are made out to the landowner and paid for on a weekly basis. We provide copies of the trucking trip tickets, mill scale slips, and summary reports for each week. This provides a clear and concise summary of how much wood has been harvested and the amount of dollars generated from the timber sale. We use Loggers Edge software that tracks each and every load of wood harvested and delivered from your property.
Where does my harvested wood go?
Wood from your property can end up at a variety of different receiving mills. We are constantly monitoring and marketing the wood that we produce from our operations in order to get the highest price. We work with a few dozen area mills in order to get the highest price available. Our foresters monitor logging contractors to ensure that each individual tree harvested from your woodlot is merchandized for its highest and best use so you receive the highest financial return on your wood harvested. Each individual tree can have multiple different products in it and it's important that each different market is used. A hardwood tree for example could have a veneer sawlog, a graded hardwood sawlog, a pallet log, and pulpwood in it. It's highly important that each tree is maximized for its highest value.
Have more questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us and start the conversation. Initial consultations are free and no obligation.
Our staff of foresters are here to help you make informed decisions about your property. Forest management is entirely dependent upon the landowner's goals and objectives for their property. Our foresters meet with you to determine your goals and develop a plan that is catered to meet your specific goals. Landowners often have a vision for their property, they just need some assistance in making it a reality. Every landowner is different and we work with you in your specific scenario.
What is the process?
The process always starts with a discussion between the forester and landowner. This can be either in person or over the phone. The forester wants to understand your landowner goals and objectives before making any recommendations for you and your property. Once the forester has identified your goals and objectives, we need to take a look at the property. We can't accurately manage a resource without knowing what is on your property. It's often beneficial for the landowner to walk the property with the forester so we can learn more about the property as we walk. Once we have seen the property and understand your goals, we can make recommendations to conduct a timber harvest or wait if it is simply not warranted. If a harvest is warranted, we develop a harvest plan to meet your goals and draft a timber harvesting contract for you to review.
What does it cost?
Initial consultations to meet with one of our foresters are FREE. This allows us to meet with you and understand your goals, see the property, and make accurate recommendations on your behalf. If you choose to have a timber harvest done, we take a small percentage of the mill delivered wood price to cover our time and expense. Our forestry services vary in cost dependent upon the project.
Do I need a management plan for my property?
That depends on what your goals are for the property. If you wish to enroll the property into one of the Maine current use tax programs (i.e. Tree Growth, Open Space, etc), you will need a management plan for the property. A management plan is also required for enrollment into the major third party forest certification programs; American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). A long term management plan is not needed to conduct a timber harvest on your property, but at a minimum we highly suggest at a harvest plan be drafted for your timber harvest. A management plan is a good idea if you plan to keep and manage your property as a long term timber resource.
Do I need to conduct a timber harvest on my property?
A timber harvest may be warranted if it meets the criteria of the landowners goals as well as the ecological condition of your property. A woodlot is a lot like a garden, they need periodic thinnings and harvests to achieve the ideal growing conditions. Timber harvests can also be used to promote specific wildlife habitat if that is a goal for the property. The best way to determine if your property needs a timber harvest is to have one of our foresters come look at the property with you. Our foresters can work with you to understand your goals and get a survey of current woodlot condition and stocking. This allows us to make accurate decisions for you and your property. Initial consultations with one of our foresters is free and only takes a little bit of your time.
What are the benefits of harvesting timber from my property?
Harvesting timber from your property offers many benefits. Timber harvests often can remove trees of poor quality and health while retaining higher quality trees to remain on your property for future growth and development. Timber harvests can promote and enhance specific types of wildlife habitat depending on the type of harvest preformed. A timber harvest is also a great way to generate some periodic revenue off your land.
What is the process of conducting a timber harvest?
The process begins with meeting with one of our foresters. This is so we can better understand your goals and objectives, as well as see the property in person to get an understanding of what is currently growing there. We then work with you to develop a site specific harvest plan that is catered to the property and your goals. Once a harvest plan has been agreed upon, we decide which type of harvesting system best suits your needs. A timber harvesting contract is drawn up between DTMC and the landowner that clearly states the terms of the harvest and lists the stumpage prices paid for the wood. We then schedule the harvest to a time of year that works for the landowner and offers the lowest amount of environment impact possible. Our foresters monitor the harvest and work with the landowner throughout the harvest to make sure everything is being done to meet their goals. Stumpage checks are paid out weekly to our landowners with clear and concise paperwork.
What do I need to harvest timber?
A stumpage timber harvesting contract between the landowner and DTMC is the first step. This provides liability protection, compliance with harvesting laws, stumpage prices, any excavation costs, harvesting plan, payment terms, etc. A harvest plan for your property describes the details of the harvest such as landowners goals, silvicultural prescription, access, harvest timing, cultural considerations, market considerations, etc. DTMC files a Forest Operations Notification (FON) on the landowners' behalf to ensure compliance with state of Maine harvesting laws. We are required to collect a federal W9 tax form for the timber revenue.
Who determines which trees get cut?
DTMC foresters determine which trees are removed in accordance to a harvesting plan either through timber marking with paint, or written silvicultural prescriptions provided to logging contractors. We regularly work with the same logging contractors who are competent and responsible. The decision on marked wood harvest or written prescription is based on the timber resource and the landowners' wishes. DTMC foresters inspect the harvesting jobs on a weekly basis to ensure contract compliance and quality of work.
How do I get paid?
The landowner is paid what is called "stumpage" for the wood removed from their property. Stumpage is the price paid for the wood standing on your property and the right to harvest it. Stumpage is a "pay as you cut" arrangement. Stumpage is paid by weight (tonnage) for pulpwood and some sawlogs, or stick scaled and sold on the basis of thousand board feet (MBF) for sawlogs and veneer. Pulpwood is scaled on certified scales at the receiving mill to determine the weight of the load. Sawlogs are stick scaled by a licensed scaler to determine the quantity of board feet and grade of each individual log. All wood harvested by DTMC is scaled by a third party mill. The mill then sends payment to DTMC for the wood delivered and we pay the landowner, trucker, and logging contractor. Landowners are then paid by agreed upon stumpage rates for each product in accordance with a timber harvesting contract. Checks are made out to the landowner and paid for on a weekly basis. We provide copies of the trucking trip tickets, mill scale slips, and summary reports for each week. This provides a clear and concise summary of how much wood has been harvested and the amount of dollars generated from the timber sale. We use Loggers Edge software that tracks each and every load of wood harvested and delivered from your property.
Where does my harvested wood go?
Wood from your property can end up at a variety of different receiving mills. We are constantly monitoring and marketing the wood that we produce from our operations in order to get the highest price. We work with a few dozen area mills in order to get the highest price available. Our foresters monitor logging contractors to ensure that each individual tree harvested from your woodlot is merchandized for its highest and best use so you receive the highest financial return on your wood harvested. Each individual tree can have multiple different products in it and it's important that each different market is used. A hardwood tree for example could have a veneer sawlog, a graded hardwood sawlog, a pallet log, and pulpwood in it. It's highly important that each tree is maximized for its highest value.
Have more questions? Please don't hesitate to contact us and start the conversation. Initial consultations are free and no obligation.
