Two important words to private forest landowners:
(1) make sure you have a clear title to your land and know where your boundaries are, and
(2) unless you know what you're doing - and face it: most of us don't, really - get professional help to grow and market your timber. Differences in the financial results can be spectacular.

These prickly subjects were explored in depth with two landowner groups at conferences co-sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, at Colfax, Grant Parish, and Grambling, Lincoln Parish Louisiana last month.

A combination of individual landowners, private consultants, and university forestry experts led group discussions of problems and opportunities in forestland ownership and management.

About 125 landowners at the Grant Parish Community Center in Colfax on September 13 heard opening speaker Jack Carter relate valuable lessons he has learned from many years's practice managing his land for productivity. He cautioned his audience, "There have been more bad relations" than a few over land boundary disagreements between neighbors. "Find your lines. Get it surveyed," he said, before getting involved in timberland improvement and marketing of forest products.

Carter also told landowners it is important to prepare land properly, and secure healthy seedlings, to assure proper survival when planting.

"When you clear land, something will grow," Carter said. "Make sure it's what you want to grow, and not 'Nature's choice'."

J.W. Scarborough, Natchitoches businessman and officer of the Twin Valley RC&D, and Monroe tax attorney Paul Spillers drew lively audience response by raising and answering a variety of questions on taxes, land titles, and heirship of land.

Alexandria consulting forester Don Baker reviewed marketing and environmental issues, cautioning landowners to get professional assistance in securing competitive bids from a variety of potential buyers when marketing timber. He said the members of the Society of American Foresters are qualified to assist landowners, as are various professionals with the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Forestry, and other government agencies.

Dr. Michael Dunn, professor of forest economics at LSU, said that timber "is the only product commodity on earth that has increased three times in real price, adjusted for inflation" during the past 50 years. And while Louisiana is near the top among Southern states in timber production, "we rank in last place in value added."

Similar advice was given to a smaller audience at New Rocky Valley Baptist Church at Grambling one week later on September 20.

Willie Blow, a Lincoln Parish Realtor and a forest landowner, sounded positively evangelical in admonishing the group on the necessity for getting agreement among joint owners of heir property, to develop for financial productivity. His advice was echoed by Ruston attorney Tyler Storm, who spoke on the need for wills, proper title, and contracts when marketing timber.

Consulting forester Steve Templin of Alexandria, and retired forester and Louisiana Logging Council executive director, both discussed resources available to landowners to enhance their financial return from timberland.

At both meetings last month, guests were treated to a buffet luncheon hosted by the LSU AgCenter and the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Back