I’ve leased from RMS since 1999. The entire lease, 900ac, was big pines when we started out. They clearcut a 160 ac section in about 2001. We’ve planted and hunted fields in that section and watched it grow back and once again become “woods” with good sized pines. I got notification in Dec that it was going to be thinned and we were excited about having a “primo” thinned section with climb-able trees where you could have decent visibility. The rest of the acreage has since been clearcut so we currently have no thinned pines on the lease.

Found out yesterday that they are clear cutting instead of thinning. It’s a bit of a gut punch.

I obviously know we don’t own it and don’t have any input into the management practices.. but I’d like to learn why this decision might be made.

Any thoughts?

Market and economic factors. Large timberland owners and investment firms that own timberland manage their harvest strategy based on market prices, long range economic forecasts and manage based not just on the best timing for a single tract but as a strategy across multiple tracts in their holdings portfolio. They are looking to achieve minimum annual cash flow and ROI targets. This can speed up and alter harvest timing and strategy if the price is right and/or additional cash flow has to be generated.

Hate it for you. Maybe they will be done before hunting season. You will at least get a good few years of clear cut hunting before the replanted pines take off.

wood flow shortages caused by rain can cause mills to offer large stumpage prices, and with pine pulpwood and small chip-n-saw being so cheap a price boost may make it more profitable to go on and cut.

They’ll do it around here if they get a really good chip contract. Rare as it is

And since the price is horrible here now I doubt they do it again

I think the timber companies just do it out of meanness.

I expect to see more of this with Rayonier after their recent John Hancock acquisition. They have to pay for these purchases somehow

This is the most likely answer. And very common when it’s rained as much as it has rained the past 6 years.

An expiring timber lease could be another factor. There’s reasons. It happens.

."Why skip thinning"

Well.... because your investment in Timber is about worthless. That's the real answer. At this point they are making what money they can where they can.

This is the basic and simple supply/demand economics. Supply will outpace demand for the foreseeable future unless market conditions change for Alabama. This isn't going away anytime soon.

What's concerning is in N.W. Fl. the Timber co. owned lands are being clear cut and not replanted....

Seeing more and more of this. We had 100 acres cut after the tornado and Forester recommended a replanting a mix of hardwood and pines that mimics a more natural stand. No spraying. As a hunter I was happy. Ask me again in 30 years.

300 acre Rayonier tract across from my property in Evergreen was cut and never replanted or sprayed. This was almost two years ago so I assume they are just going to let it naturally regenerate. Is anyone else seeing the same with Rayonier land?

$$$$$. Timber markets are changing daily . Thank biden economics. What a phuck tard!!!!!gonna get worse until next election. We loggers get bad news daily

Never heard of Rayonier doing that

We have about 200 acres in our lease with Westervelt that was clear cut over past couple of years that has not been sprayed or replanted. I’m a big fan currently.

Pine decline has been a big problem recently in certain areas, even in thinned/managed stands. I’ve seen several areas clear cut sooner than normal rather than risk a bunch of dead trees.

I'm a fan as well, it is a deer factory! Some of my best hunting has been in or around natural regen areas. I figured Rayonier just forgot to replant this one but with what everyone else is seeing maybe it was intentional.

It’s all about the money
In 2011 (I believe) pine pulpwood went up to 22.00 a ton and people were clearing chip n saw for pulp. I don’t care if they make toothpicks with my trees, just pay me.

Company I lease from told me today they aren’t cutting any pines at all, anywhere right now. Market is that bad up here.

I can’t get a logger to even look at pine pulp right now.

We got mills begging and it’s too wet to get the any on a consistent basis. Nothing new though.