Reasons for Selling Products from Farm Woodlots 



When asked what prompted the sale of forest products in connection with 

 99 sales, 56 respondents stated that the timber was mature. Thirty-three had 

 equipment and labor which they could keep employed during an otherwise 

 slack season. Five needed money and sold timber to meet expenses. Two 

 cut their timber in connection with land clearing and one each made a 

 salvage cutting a forest improvement project, or took advantage of a high 

 price offered. 



Pattern of Sales 



Out of 99 timber sales. 33 woodland owners had a rough idea of how much 

 they had to sell. This indicates that the majority of owners sold with in- 

 complete knowledge of their products. Only one sold on the basis of a 

 reliable cruise. 



Two thirds were aware of available market information which could 

 be obtained from farm foresters. State forestry department members, and 

 consulting foresters. This resulted in more than half of the trees being 

 cut on a marked basis. The farm forester was instrumental in assisting 

 in 53 sales and it is probable that some owners who did their own selecting 

 and marking received instruction from the same source. 



In the matter of product integration only 7 percent sold more than one 

 product. These were principally a sawlog-pulpwood combination. 



How the Sale Was Initiated 



We have already had an indication of landowner information regarding 

 markets in about two thirds of the sales. It follows rather naturally that 

 three fourths of them made their own contacts in initiating the sale. Mill 

 buyers were next in importance and accounted for 17 percent of all sales. 

 Others included logging jobbers but these constituted only 7 percent. 



In the matter of price. 87 percent of the negotiations were based on 

 contacts with one buyer only. Five received their asking price, five others 

 agreed on a compromise figure, and two sold to the high bidder. 



Most sales are made with verbal agreements only. Twenty-three percent 

 had written contracts. 



Table 4. Method Used to Arrive at an Agreeable Price in Selling Woodlot Products 



