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Non-Tech : Kirk's Market Thoughts -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ken Adams who wrote (11894)	9/3/2021 12:08:57 PM
From: robert b furman	3 Recommendations Recommended By Cogito Ergo Sum da_spot Ken Adams Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 26996

Hi Ken, Thank You for your kind words. It is a family long held asset. Upon my mothers death I purchased my sister's half of the asset. I had always been involved with the tree farm. I have built gates, cleared fire lanes and cleared some of the land of invasive species. I hunt deer with crossbow annually there. In my fathers later years, he had involved me with WWOA Wisconsin Woodland Owner's Association. Upon his passing, I managed the then delinquent third thinning of the trees. I had hoped my sister would retain her ownership, but her husband wanted the money, or a say in how the asset was to be managed. A position my father had not wanted to occur. He wanted the assets to stay in the blood lines and become marital property. At any rate, that third trimming introduced me to a young independent forester, who had the best ideas regarding future and better growth. I have used his services again and he provided a very strong and solid bid for me. The harvest has until December 2022 to be complete. According to the States management plan, there was to be a cutting in 2019. Growth of the trees suggested a cutting should be delayed by a year or two. So the bid was let in late 2020. This allowed a higher percent of the trees to be 52 foot utility poles vs. the 47 foot poles. Interesting about older trees, is they grow better in different types of soil. The better trees are now going to be an overstory cut. That is every tree will be cut. That then leaves the second generation of trees to not be damaged by future thinning. With the entire overstory being cut, the next generation will have to duke it out for the sunshine. Only those with sufficient crowns will prosper. We are experimenting with about 6 acres of this overstory cut. Some of the naturally regenerated second generation trees are over 30 feet tall. The state's final cut was to be a complete overstory. That was scheduled for 2029. Neat that the success of the second generation trees allows this cut to be accomplished 8 years early (in the better soils). Another experiment we're doing in about 5 acres is cutting all of the red pine and leaving the white pine. Red pines mature out after about 80 to 85 years 2030 to 2035 for my plots. White pines can live to be 150 to 200 years. So we're giving the white pines in a section that was predominantly planted with white pines a head start. Those big old white pines will have awesome space to grow awesome crowns. I'm very attached to those trees. They were my father's pride and joy ( beyond family of course) . I have a picnic table amongst the biggest of the trees. It was my Dad's favorite place. On a quiet day with the wind whistling some 60 feet above my picnic table I hear my dad laughing with joy. I talk to him about the plans to be made there. Very few people have multigeneration assets. It took me my entire working career to buy into 4 dealerships, but with partners. I do not regret not having complete control of those assets. I do cherish the trees though. Trees live longer than a generation does. Too bad they can't talk! I have always participated in marking the trees to be harvested. It is sort of a sad thing to decide that a living plant must be culled. It is only done to assure the greater success of the stronger trees. Last but not least, the trees are part of responsible growing organization. An organization of certified timber. Meaning sustainability and control of invasive species is practiced. I believe the carbon credits will first be given to certified lumber forests, another incentive to follow the best practices as determined by professional foresters. In all a wonderful experience in many ways. Bob