Three management options for a 40 yr. oak stand

[chain]

From a Missouri Forest study of a 40 yr. old upland oak stand:

Case 1. Clearcut for chips at age 40 and allowed to regenerate to trees:

Yield at 40 yrs.: 50 tons of chips @2.50/ton = $125.00/acre.

Average annual return over 40 yrs. $3.12 ac./year.

Case 2. First thinning at age 40 and thinned every 10 yrs. thereafter, regenerated at age 90:

59.4 tons chips @2.50 /ton =$148.50/acre

13,390 bf @$0.30/bf = $4,017.00. Average annual return over 90years: $46.28/ac./yr.

Case 3. Clearcut for chips at age 40 and convert to pasture.

Yield at forty yrs.: 50 tons of chips @$2.50/ton= $125.00/acre

Costs of pasture establishment [per acre]:

Land clearing $400.00 ac., seed bed prep $45.00 ac., lime & fertilizer$76.00 ac. ,seed $76.00a., annual topdressing[$16.00/a.x20 yrs: $320.00, cash rent of improved pasture $23.00/ ac./yr.,periodic liming [4yrs] @20 yrs; $100.00. Average annual expenses over 20 years: $48.05/ac/year. Net loss $18.00 /ac./year.

Costs highly variable, think I could net out.

[WDH]

I would sign up for case #2.

[chain]

The last quarterly log report I saw 0ct.-Dec. '11 showed oaks about .15 to.20 bf.in SE Ozarks. We'll see more forestland converted to "agro-forestry" if saw-timber market doesn't come back soon, I'm thinkin'. Walnut remains King, soft maple leads most other species @.25bf. And, my pretty pine? Let's don't go there..chip-chip.