In the process of conducting a tree farm inspection, I asked this particular landowner if he had a management plan for his property. He replied that he didn't and so I prepared one for him so that he could become certified in the Tree Farm program. The land had been planted to sand pine ~ 20 years ago and had been heavily thinned, to the point that the residual stand density was much lower than desirable. I advised him that since this tract was better suited to Longleaf pine, it should be clearcut and subsequently site prepared and planted. The first timber sale he did (thinning the sand pine plantation) was not done through a competitive bidding process, so he received a lower value for his timber than what he could have received. When I set up the second timber sale, it was done through the competitive bidding process, and he received a much higher stumpage value than what he thought he would receive. In addition, the buyer who bought the sale (a local highly reputable one in Putnam County) advised me that my estimated volume from my cruise came within 10% of the actual cut volume.

In addition, through the process of conducting the cruise, I discovered a patch of cogongrass and numerous Chinese tallow trees that most likely would not have been found if not for the intensity of the timber sale cruise. Control efforts for these two species have since been initiated, and are working effectively.