What growth can be expected after 20 years ?

joebre

Have been offered 10 acres of sitka spruce. Planted in 1994. Thinned about 5 years ago. Seller has produced a value of timber with a volume per hectare of 480m3. Stocking of 1900. Average tree 0.256m3. Yield class of 22 but I don't know what that means.
Is there a chart or another way of estimating what the volume of these trees would be in 2020. Clearfall is stated as 2025. Should they be allowed grow until then. Land remains with owner.

fergus1001

Roughly 500+ cubic metres over the whole forest

Yield class 22 means it will produce 22 m3/ha/year

Where is this forestry ?

joebre

So the yield of 22 would grow at 22m3 per hectare over the next 6 years.
The adviser had since been in contact as I had the same questions for him.
Because of some windfall, he is recommending that there be no further thinning until clearfall in 2020. The proportion of good timber is 10% at the moment, 40% pallet and 50% pulp. How are these likely to change over the next 6 years ?

joebre

Forgot to say that it is on Cork / Waterford border.

fergus1001

It will gradually change to where 80+% is sawlog 15% pallet and 5% pulp the closer you get to your clear fell

fergus1001

What is the average dbh of the forest ?

At 37- 40 dbh (roughly a clear fell dbh ) you would have 96% sawlog at a top minimum diameter of 16cm (which is what the saw mills take sawlog at)

joebre

dbh = don't know

Advice is no further thinning and clear fell in 2020.
Planted in 1994 and clear fell was 2025 or 2029.
As no further thinning and clear fell before maturity, surely the crop will fall short of expectation ?

hereford

you won't make much on it .The cost of processing timber and harvesting it .hard to know if it was ash or beech yes I would