|
Natural Resources Series
TIMELY INFORMATION
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Costs for Common Forestry Practices in Alabama
Mark Dubois and Ken McNabb
Extension Foresters
The table below summarizes average costs for seven common forestry practices in the U.S. South. Costs were derived from a survey of 68 forestry professionals in private forestry firms and public agencies located in 12 southern states. We believe the results provide a reasonable representation of existing costs for the various forestry practices in Alabama. Costs for individual nonindustrial private forest landowners will depend on a number of factors, especially local availability of vendors. The size of area to be treated by a certain practice may also influence costs with larger areas generally costing less when costs are expressed on a per acre basis. All costs are weighted by acreage and are reported on a per acre basis. More detailed cost information on specific forestry practices can be obtained by requesting a reprint of Costs and Costs Trends for Forestry Practices in the South published in the 32nd Forest Landowner Manual from Mark Dubois or Ken McNabb.
1998 Southwide Average Costs for Common Forestry Practices.
| Forestry Practice |
Cost
$ per acre |
| Mechanical site preparation |
|
| Single chop |
80.15 |
| Shear-rake-pile |
149.12 |
| Shear-rake-pile-bed |
156.23 |
| All types |
122.14 |
| Chemical treatments - aerial application* |
|
| Site preparation |
96.54 |
| Herbaceous weed control |
52.51 |
| Release |
69.76 |
| All types |
72.32 |
| Planting** |
|
| All types (avg. 666 seedlings/acre) |
43.31 |
| Prescribed burning |
|
| After chemical site preparation |
18.15 |
| Mid-rotation, hazard reduction |
10.00 |
| All types |
16.58 |
| Fertilization*** |
|
| All types |
54.80 |
| Timber cruising |
|
| All types |
4.10 |
| Timber marking |
|
| All types |
15.06 |
| Adapted from: Dubois, M.R., K.M. McNabb, and T.J. Straka. 1999. Cost and Costs Trends for Forestry. Forest Landowner 32 nd Manual Edition, p.3-8. |
| * Includes the cost of chemical, but not burning. |
| ** Does not include the cost of seedlings. |
| *** Includes the cost of fertilizer. |
| ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES, AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES AND USDA COOPERATING |
| The Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. |
School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences Extension
602 Duncan Drive · Auburn University, Alabama 36849
|
