Harvesting


Loblolly Farm has areas designated for the growing of pine plantations.  The is done in 40 year "rotations" --- meaning that from the first time a "crop" of pines are planted it will be approximately 40 years before the last one is harvested and the area then replanted.  During this 40 years there are several harvesting operations. Initially about 500 trees per acre are planted. The first "harvesting" usually occurs after about 15-20 years -- this "thinning" removes about half of the trees and produces some income from the small pulp-wood size trees removed. More importantly it allows a selection of the "best" trees for retention -- trees which now have more growing room.  A second harvesting some 5-10 years later produces "saw logs" (used in producing lumber) and "chip and saw" logs (used in making composite wood products).   On a per ton basis these logs are considerable more valuable than "pulp-wood" logs.  Each subsequent harvest leaves the "better" trees which become more and more valuable. 
Click this link to see photos of a typical first thinning operation.