Setting the ground rules on harvesting is essential
A first thinning can make or break a crop and attention to detail on contracts at this stage will pay long-term dividends
Guide: The Irish Timber Growers Association has produced a new sales guide for growers.
With each passing year the number of private forest owners whose timber is ready for harvest increases steadily. While some of these are placing second and third thinnings on the market and therefore have gained some experience of the timber market, the majority are new to the game and are potentially exposed to unscrupulous contractors and timber buyers.
Everyone has heard scare stories of second rate harvesting contractors ruining young plantations at a first thinning, and farmers are justifiably concerned to ensure the job is done right before any damage is done. A first thinning can make or break a crop and attention to detail invariably pays off.
