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The Rural Voice, 1998-08, Page 17Guest Column An important step that Don did not take is to mark any trees that arc large enough to harvest and invite several loggers in to quote a price. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the conservation authorities have sample contracts that can be used to ensure the loggers take only the trees that are marked and that they do minimum damage to the remaining trees. A farmer who has not been through the process of marking the trees, inviting bids, signing an agreement and supervising the cutting operation is well advised to retain an experienced forestry consultant to help. It will pay — many times over. The Ministry and the conservation authorities can provide lists of names of reliable consultants. "The goal of the management process is to produce trees that have long, straight stems without branches for the lower five to 10 metres of their length at maturity and are free of defects," says the Ministry of Natural Resources in its Extension Note, Managing Young Hardwood Stands for Sawlog Production. The note goes on to say that there are three key steps: 1. Selecting Crop Trees — Mark the trees that are to be grown as an investment for the future. They are usually of high value such as oak, ash, maple, cherry or basswood. 2. Releasing the Stand — Releasing means thinning the stand to give the crop trees room to grow by removing trees that would compete with crop trees for water, nutrients and sunlight. 3. Harvesting Sawlogs — The best times to harvest are in the late summer, fall and winter. Never harvest from the middle of March to the end of June. Although wood prices are depressed at the moment, the farm woodlot, with very little effort, can yield returns over the long term about equal to the returns from conventional farm crops.0 Andrew Grindlay owns a large woodlot in lluron County. ATTENTION COMBINE OWNERS... gQ07 @1 Sickle Bar System Keeps cutting under all conditions with less breakage and no adjustments. Kits available for combines, swathers and mower conditioners. Price of some of our complete kits: 9 ft. - $615.00 16ft. - $935.00 25 ft. - $1340.00 - Also Available - Croplifters - Height -adjustable lifters with locking spring clip Standard croplifter (AS series) Several million of these croplifters are in use throughout the world. Almost all combine harvester manufacturers fit this croplifter aspriginal equipment. Special Price $19.95 �' _ *+$ __ A We recommend this type for normal harvesting conditions. Special Croplifter (SK series) A croplifter, with support skid, having a load bearing capacity of approximately 50 kg (110 lbs). The design of the skid enables the lifter to move parallel with the contours of the ground when under load and carries the cutter bar evenly over rough surfaces. A crops iter for difficult Special Price $29.95 harvesting conditions For more information contact your local farm equipment dealer or ... AflGls 2oo RR #3 Listowel, Ontario, Canada N4W 3G8 Ltd. (519) 291-4205 Fax: (519) 291-5215 SEED & GRAIN CLEANING SERVICES It's that time of year with crops coming off. Stop in or call for prices on custom seed cleaning and treating of your own seeds. Custom grain cleaning for feed Truck available for pick-up and delivery Bags, totes and bulk available for both seed and feed orders Dealer inquiries welcome! Skid Steer service available, inquire on rates. BRANT SEEDS Cty. Rd. 10 N. of Hanover Phone: 519-364-1525 Fax: 519-364-3835 AUGUST 1998 13