We understand that harvesting timber is a rare event for most people, the stakes are high, and you want your land to retain its aesthetic value! That’s why we place such a high value on understanding your goals and concerns. A carefully and professionally designed timber harvest ensures a smooth, rewarding process. Furthermore, as members of the National Association of Consulting foresters, we are committed to a robust Code of Ethics.
Acting solely as agents for you, we'll meet with you on your property, listen to your goals and concerns, and apply our working knowledge of the different woodland types to help ensure a successful and satisfying timber harvest. We utilize state of the art technology and time tested forest measurement techniques. Through our competitive bidding process, we capture the best possible price for your timber products. We also monitor the harvest process through ongoing communication with the logger and periodic site visits to ensure compliance with harvest specifications.
Feeling hesitant about cutting trees? Watch this video to see how timber harvesting can positively impact ruffed grouse and other wildlife, create a healthier, more resilient forest, and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change!
What does a timber harvest include?
A typical timber harvest includes the following services:
Individual consultation with the landowner
Personalized sale design and timber volume appraisal
Competitive sealed bid process
Written contract preparation between purchaser and landowner
Harvest unit and/or property lines marked prior to harvest
Monitoring of sale while in progress
Tracking of harvested wood amounts and all necessary follow up paperwork
What is my timber worth?
Below is a list of the historic bid price ranges received by landowners working with Itasca Woodland Services, and the average harvest value per cord for each timber species. This data represents 3-year timber value statistics in North/Central Minnesota and is based on all timber product types for each species (pulp, bolts, sawtimber, and woodsrun). It is important to note that timber values are determined by a large array of factors such as tree species, quality of the wood, property location, size of the area to be harvested, among other reasons that influence the price that a logger is willing to pay for your timber. To get the most realistic and accurate valuation for the timber on your property, contact us and one of our professional foresters will help you determine your timber value and assist you with a timber harvest if you would like to pursue financial gains from the trees on your property.
Average Timber Values (2023-2025)
helpful videoS
We have created two simple videos that walk you through the timber harvest process and show you what an Aspen harvest looks like less than 1 year after the logging took place.
WHAT DO OTHER LANDOWNERS HAVE TO SAY?
“Several years ago, we were very hesitant to harvest our timber on over thirty acres of our cabin property. I knew it wouldn’t look the same in my lifetime. The trees were getting close/past their prime and after discussing it with Stan, my husband and I decided to do it. Stan was able to get us a great price for the timber, oversaw the company that came in to complete the work, and was our “middle-man” since we live several hours away. I have to admit, I cried the first time I saw the property after the harvest. However, the new trees have grown in quickly and all the smaller animals have returned (grouse, foxes, rabbits, etc) and more deer. Now I hear the owls again and see eagles more often! It was definitely the right decision. If you are like me and on the fence about harvesting, I’d recommend doing it! It was a hard decision, but was well worth it!”
“As a newer landowner, the prospect of a timber harvest was initially really intimidating. Itasca Woodland Services broke the process down for me, found the best price for my timber, and worked closely with me and the logger to ensure every aspect of the harvest was done in a manner that met my goals. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
why would someone want to harvest timber?
There are many great reasons for deciding to harvest timber from your property! A few of the most popular reasons include:
Enhancing wildlife habitat
Forest health or renewal
Income from selling timber
Wildfire mitigation/prevention
How do I know that the logger will only harvest what I want?
Each timber harvest plan is carefully developed with the landowner's wishes as priority #1. In consultation with you we will develop a harvest plan that accomplishes your goals and is attractive to potential bidders. All of the pertinent information that is needed for an informed bid is included in a Timber Sale Bid Invitation and sent to dozens of potential bidders. After a bid is accepted, a contract is drawn up that clearly outlines the parameters for your personalized harvest plan. A pre-harvest meeting is setup with the loggers, and periodic visits are made whenever necessary to ensure proper execution of the harvest.
What is the likelihood that someone bids on my timber sale?
Here are the main factors affecting level of interest and bid price in any given timber sale:
➢ Distance to market
➢ Total volume of wood and volume per acre (higher volumes = higher value)
➢ Length of contract period (longer contract periods = higher value)
➢ Season of operation (non-frozen ground sales typically attract more interest and higher bid values, all other factors equal)
➢ Accessibility and infrastructure development needs (roads, landings, wetland crossings, etc.)
How do I know I’m getting paid for all of the timber that was removed from my property?
This question is solved with a multi-faceted approach. The first step is starting with an accurate “cruise” or estimation of the volume of wood that is being offered for sale. By utilizing professional “cruising” techniques and equipment, we are able to get an accurate estimation of the timber volume present. In addition, there are two methods of scale to ensure fair payment for your timber:
Consumer Scale Method: In this, the most commonly used method, there is a load ticket system deployed. With each load that is removed from your property, a numbered ticket is placed in a lock box. An equally numbered ticket is then transported with the load to the destination mill. That mill then sends us a report of what the actual scaled volume of that load was. This system works well for timber harvests that are not remote and are easily visited by the landowner or forester.
Sold on Appraised Volume Method: This less commonly employed method requires a very intense timber cruise, as the logger pays only for the estimated volume listed in the Bid Invitation and subsequent contract. This method works well for highly uniform stands, or those where frequent site visits are impractical. No loads are tracked, but quality control measures are employed to ensure that the loggers do not go outside predetermined harvest boundaries. Both the logger and the landowner assumes some risk, because it is unlikely that the estimated volume will be 100% accurate. Our track record for accurate timber cruising in the last five years exceeds industry standards with a + or - accuracy level of 5.2%!
How much input do I have as the landowner?
As much as you want! Our goal is customer satisfaction, period. The more input you have, the more likely we will understand your goals and concerns, and the job will get done the way you want it to.
Why should I hire ITASCA WOODLAND SERVICES to manage my timber harvest?
Hiring a professional forester to oversee a timber harvest is a great investment! Our foresters have administered over 100 private timber harvests throughout Minnesota, working with woodland landowners to provide highly accurate timber estimates and obtaining the highest bids from a list of hundreds of the best loggers in the state. Our clients have collectively received timber income of over 2 million dollars from the timber harvests we’ve managed for them.
"Research shows that woodland owners who seek professional advice often receive as much as 23 percent more for their trees and have a projected income stream from future sales of 120 percent more as a result of improved regeneration and stocking." ("National Woodlands" Magazine, Spring 2012 edition)
As agents working for you, the landowner, we safe guard your interests! With careful planning, detailed documentation, and ongoing communication with all parties involved, errors and misunderstandings are minimized or eliminated, resulting in a job done right. In addition, our competitive bidding process ensures the highest possible price for your timber that the market can bear. Contact us for more information on the fees for this invaluable service.