Ontario Grain Farmer August 2021

“Having a qualified forest consultant develop a written forest management plan can provide a blueprint for success for the woodlot owner,” he says. Without a proper plan, you risk mismanagement of your woodlot. Once your forest management plan is established, the next step is hiring a certified tree marker. “The certified tree marker will follow your forest management plan like a blueprint and mark the trees desirable for harvest,” explains Shannon. A good forest management plan entails doing what is right for the forest and harvesting trees that will improve the health of the forest while also maintaining biodiversity of the woodlot for birds, mammals, and amphibians. From that point, either one of these forestry professionals will recommend a logger that is going to treat your land, the woodlot, and you right. The logger will work to harvest the marked trees and have them taken to a sawmill for further processing. Beyond the monetary value, a well-managed woodlot has several other benefits that can provide additional forms of value to a woodlot owner. A well- managed woodlot can offer an increase in forest biodiversity, conservation of wildlife habitat, even carbon sequestration and recreational usage. Recently, pandemic pricing has opened everyone’s eyes to lumber prices, but the reality is, even before the pandemic lumber demand was already there. While a hard maple takes 80 to 100 years to mature, a hard wood forest should have all ages represented at the appropriate ratio of young to mature. “Some farmers have realized some excellent value, growing quality trees that can be harvested sustainably every 10 to 15 years,” says Shannon. Identifying the value of a woodlot may not be readily apparent, but the OWA will help to provide the relevant information and resources to understand its potential. There is a strong community of woodlot owners to help. There are many farmers who see their woodlot acres as being as much a part of their business as their crop’s acres. Managing a ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 15 AUGUST 2021 Farmers are major private landowners in rural Ontario and many woodlots abut to agriculturally productive land. woodlot is very similar to managing a crop, ensuring that the plant has a viable environment to thrive and produce a quality, profitable product. Sustainability is a key pillar of what we do as farmers, looking at the entire farm and its features as a system can help to unearth sustainable land management on all of your land. If you are interested in becoming a member of theOWA, please go to www.ontariowoodlot.com/ to find out more information. Michael Buttenham is the sustainability and environment lead for Grain Farmers of Ontario. l MANAGE ANALYZE PURCHASE $ ADVISE NATURAL GAS & ELECTRICITY CONTACT US FOR A FREE ENERGY CONSULTATION! (866) 818-8828 sales@agenergy.coop agenergy.coop