Thinning decisions for preserving value --- Washington County, GA, USA -Upper Coastal Plain Region

We determine a timber stands opportunity at the time of establishment , i.e. we make base decisions that determine growth trajectory, crop tree quality, and competitive relationships. At the time of thinning, we make decisions that preserve and optimize the opportunity previously established; we determine how many trees of what quality will remain to share the site resources, and we determine who they share those resources with (hardwoods, grasses, vines, naturally seeding in pines, etc.)

The attached picture from yesterday's logging inspection on Fisher Property near Riddleville, GA shows a 27 year old loblolly pine stand receiving one last thinning. Yeomans Timber from Swainsboro was the buyer / dealer and ATH Logging provided a solid harvesting service. There are 110 leave or crop trees per acre remaining, almost all chip-n-saw or small sawtimber grade and class, left to share the resources provided by a Dothan loamy sand (loamy sand over sandy clay loam). Hardwood competition is light due to prior chemical hardwood release and prescribed burning activities. Following the thinning, the microbial community will spike for a time, feeding off newly severed stumps and roots, and tie up some available nutrients, but afterward most site resources will be allocated to the crop trees.

Bigger picture, 225 acres of this stand type were clearcut and will be chemically site prepared, planted with elite GenTreeXT CMP-infused seedlings, and protected with herbaceous weed control and tip moth control treatments, which will collectively increase the base age 25 year site index from 70-75' from the clearcut stand to mid to upper 80's site index growth from the new stand. The new genetics and solid silviculture combination will empower increased sequestered carbon (30-50% increase). The thinned areas will grow for another 5-7 years and make quality lumber for the world's needs.