Fact sheets on controlling a conifer harvest
For many forestry owners, selling timber is a new experience. Unlike the familiarity of selling other farm products, forest owners can be unsure of the potential products from their forests, the likely buyers and how to carry out a timber sale with confidence. These Factsheets are designed as tools to navigate the timber harvesting and marketing process.
They can be used in conjunction with the Harvesting and Selling Timber from Conifer Forests booklet.
1. Timber Security
Harvested timber is a valuable commodity and, as such, should be protected. This factsheet covers the importance of Timber security and the factors to be considered to keep timber secure at the forest roadside.
Timber Security Factsheet 1 (pdf)
2. Organising a Timber Sales Contract
It is strongly recommended to have a written contract with anyone involved in timber harvesting and sales. Verbal agreements are not satisfactory as they can be open to misinterpretation. This factsheet outlines many of the items that should be included in a Timber sales contract.
Organising a Timber Sales Contract Factsheet 2 (pdf)
3. Timber Products from Conifer Forests
Ireland’s conifer forests are primarily grown and managed to produce timber that can be cut to size for use in a range of timber markets. These include construction materials, pallets, fencing, panel board and for energy production. This fact sheet explains the different categories of logs based on the diameter and length of the logs.
Timber Products from Conifer Forests Factsheet 3 (pdf)
4. Payment Schedules for Timber Sales
The efficient management of timber harvesting operations, especially how timber is sold and paid for, is critical for ensuring fair transactions and smooth operations and requires careful consideration. This factsheet explains the different ways that timber is sold and how best to manage a payment schedule, from standing sales, roadside sales or selling across the mill gate.
Payment Schedules for Timber Sales Factsheet 4 (pdf)
5. Timber Stack Measurement
When preparing for sale, having accurate estimates of harvested timber quantities is essential information for forest owners. This factsheet outlines a simple method of measuring a timber stack; something a forest owner can do themselves to keep track of timber leaving the forest and the different timber products at roadside.
Timber Stack Measurement Factsheet 5 (pdf)
6. The Role of Timber Harvester Heads in Recording a Harvest
Accurate, real-time information on the volume and classification of timber being harvested is an essential tool for managing and supervising a harvest. Modern mechanised harvesters are equipped with onboard computers and measuring systems that record data automatically as trees are processed. This factsheet shows the type of information available from the harvester which in turn should be made available to the forest owner.
The Role of Timber Harvest Heads in Recording a Harvest Factsheet 6 (pdf)
7. Timber Sales Dispatch Systems
A Timber Sales Dispatch System is a crucial tool for managing and coordinating the transport of harvested timber from private forests to sawmills or other processing facilities. This factsheet outlines how a dispatch system works and the importance of having the forest owner part of this timber tracking system.
Timber Sales Dispatch Systems Factsheet 7 (pdf)
8. Selling Timber; Weight versus Volume
Timber is generally sold by weight or volume. When comparing weight and volume measurements, it is essential to understand that timbers weight can change, but its volume generally remains the same. This factsheet explains how the ratio of volume to weight varies depending on several factors and it outlines a system at sawmill weighbridges that accounts for this possible variation.