CHARLES H. KIRK. Forester. National Distillers Products Corporation. In an effort
to sustain its supply 0'£ high-quality timber for the manufacture of white oak ...
by CHARLES H. KIRK Forester. National Distillers
Products Corporation
In an effort to sustain its supply 0'£ high-quality timber for the manufacture of white oak staves and heading for barrels, the National Distillers Products Corporation owns and manages the 88,OOO-acre Pioneer Forest in Shannon County, Missouri. As administrators of this timberland, we are proud of the part played by. our forest management practices in. improving the economic well-being and stabil~ty of the surrounding community. Stands of timber now growing on the forest are characterized by many degrees of stocking, a complexity of tree sizes and ages, and a highly variable mixt:ure of species. The conditions of these stands along with other factors involved in our administrative routine give rise to a set of problems commonly recognized in forest managment. After outlining some of the details of our day-to-day work, we shall discuss a few of the economic considerations affecting our practice of forestry as a private business enterprise. A typical day on the Pioneer Forest finds the forester confronted with a highly varied set of tasks. Over a short period of time his administrative responsibilities may involve land-lease negotiations, use permits, surveying, cooperative efforts on roads and rights of way, boundary maintenance, forest inventory, timber trespass work, and construction jobs of all kinds. Of greater importance is the planning of our timber harvest-where and when to cut, the sale of species other th~n those used by ourselves, the purchase and maintenance of logging and milling equipment, the supervision of cutting and milling operations, and the actual marking of our own cut as well as sales to other operators; for we mark all of our timber. Additional responsibilities of the forester are the examination of lands available for purchase, the keeping of records, and a constant fight on costs. Moreover, all of our own employees as well as those of contractors who purchase our stumpage are made available to both the Missouri Conservation Commission and the U. S. Forest Service for fire suppression work. With only a few small holdings lying outside its general boundaries, the Pioneer Forest presents a fairly compact entity. It is bordered generally on the north and east by the Clark National Forest; on the south and east by state forest lands; and on the west by various small ownerships, mostly croplands and other agricultural units. In order to be economically operable, any privately owned forest must be large enough to afford a sustained annual production of -10-
timber products whose total value will more than offset operating costs. Indications are that the Pioneer Forest has not yet reached this size. Although a better balance between the annual growth and cut of timber can eventually be attained by building up the current growing stock, any material increase in acreage in the immediate vicinity of the Pioneer Forest will prove difficult due to the pattern of surrounding ownerships. The Pioneer Forest owes its existence to the cutting down of trees and to the manufacture and sale of the products derived from those trees. It follows, of course, that trees must be grown before they can be cut down. If the land and tiniber of a forest are to be considered as an asset, the management of such property must have certain definite aims. Briefly stated, management aims of the Pioneer Forest are (1) to utilize the past and present growth of the timber in such a way as to promote a better forest (one which is growing a maximum of the best products possible under any given set of economic conditions); (2) to decrease waste; 'and (3) to increase the yield of our finished product from the raw material. The above aims of management are with us always, and rightly with us also is the demand that our management pay dollar dividends. Good commercial forestry must of necessity be good business forestry, or it will not be around very long. To be frank, we like the word profit. If our forestry can show a reasonable profit over a period of time, we ar~ proud. If it can't, we as foresters won't be around long enough to be either proud or sorry. Now that the aims and demand of management have been briefly set forth, we shall stress again the point that the Pioneer Forest owes its existence to the cutting down of trees. Certainly someone must grow the trees to be cut, but in the course of normal timber operations the pay-off comes with the harvest. We firmly believe that judicions use of the saw and axe is the best forestry we can practice. Our practice of silviculture is somewhat at the mercy of the timber market-which, we feel, is at least no worse than letting silviculture attempt to control all the other factors. After all, trees (at least our trees) neither know nor ~are when the market is up or down. Much of the time we must adjust our forest to the whims of the market rather than go broke trying to adjust our forest to the silvicultural fancy of the moment. We have no qualms in overcutting our growth in times of good markets if we can undercut our good thrifty growing stock when the market is down. We, naturally, would like our forest to be silvicuIturally mature when it is financially mature (can somebody help us?). And then there is the question of "weed species." Ha! Does anyone know how much time and money the silviculturists have spent trying to get rid of "weed species" which came on through anyhow and later found their way into good usable products? I cut my share of aspen and balsam not too long ago. We can't afford to spend ten dollars per acre in 1950 for the return or eight or even ten dollars in 1960. (Continued on page -11--
88)
SOME BUSINESS ASPECTS OF PRIVATE FORESTRY (Cont. Influences other Pioneer
Forest
on
its
than
timber
88,000
acres.
and fish, and annually it provides head of livestock. Horses, cattle, months out no return. hundred
it
to
.dump
them
year
at least and hogs
on
the
a fair make
raises
by
much
gain to hundreds of it their home twelve
owners pay the Pioneer have hauled livestock forest
the game
when
there
Forest over a
was
a good
crop.
Deer, turkey, Forest. In turn, through
the
quail, these
sale
and other wild game animals are harvested
of hunting
them. So far neitller reimbul'Se us for these a product On
of
small
licenses
federal services,
Uncle
Sam's
or the
managed as any
forests
As friendly, quality
acres acreage
with
any
some not. or cheaper
readily. we shall are
Moreover, go broke. social
and-above serve worthy
some
contribute of public
private
operating
costs
of
which we For example,
but
we
raise
has offered to is very definitely
are
written
enterprise,
it must bring Our men and
security,
we
have
something equipment
workmen's
our
off
to
think have
perform that our
flood
control
competitors-some be either of or it doesen't
more than are insured;
compensation,
old bugaboo, taxes. even the taxes, but
if ever you who don't
feel that we we believe
fully as much toward land in our aI:ea.
Our stumpage for sale must than that of C!ur competitors
all-that causes,
nevertheless; and with competitors
system,
management, recreation management, and flood have been unable to realize any credit for our
88,000
similar
permit
forest.
share in these services, some as well as the public agencies.
fully
thrive on the Pioneer or sold by the State
nor state legislature although wild game
a well-managed
such items as wildlife control. So far we
costs
are exerted
Every
of the year, for which their To our knowledge trucks
miles
acorn
production
better move
our costs, or other similar
retirement
benefits,
All of these expenditures they are mounting costs
that as such they to worry about,
don't just
hinder you try raising
Eal and Enjoy
BAMBY BREAD TOELlNERBAKING CO. MISSOURI
POPLAR BLUFF -88-
stumpage yourself. The difference must be made up by efficiency and economy of operation and by raising a better product. As foresters in private business, we definitely feel the need and desirability of more foresters in not just forest management but in all phases of production, utilization, and marketing. We would like very much for our next woods boss, mill foreman, timekeeper,' and other personnel to have forestry backgrounds. We feel t~at all wood-using industries would eventually benefit by having in their various departments, from production to sales, men who have had forestry education and experience. Forestry only starts with the growing and protection of trees. It flowers and pays off with tree harvest, and it flourishes as an art finally in the proper use of wood in the manufacturing and marketing of finished products. To summarize, our main business is the production of white oak staves and heading for barrels. To do this we cut trees which make up the forest. We must maintain and regenerate the Pioneer Forest through our cutting practices, or we will eventually go out of business. We practice silviculture when and where we can. We do our share in stabilizing income and employment in the community in which we live. We provide our share of tht( natural habitat for wild game and fish for the general public. We know our 88,000 acres intimately and are proud of the part we play in the economic well-being of the community.
It's
Columbia, Mo.
Phone 5422
ROBERTS81
. Columbia, Missouri
HARDW ARE 9th & Walnut
GREER
PAINTS -
--89-
STOVES Dial 7233
