Beginning Forestry

How do I know what my timber is worth?

The value of your timber is determined by many factors, such as the species of trees you have to sell, the timber's size and quality, the distance from the purchaser's mill, and many other factors. To get an estimate of what your timber may be worth, you must know the size, quantity, and quality of the timber. Once you know these things (when you have a forest inventory), you can apply reference standing timber prices (such as are found in the Mississippi Timber Price Report) to arrive at a reasonable estimate of your timber's worth. From this point, the use of the competitive bidding method will extract the highest price from the competitive market in your area. It's recommended that landowners consult a professional forester before making a timber sale.