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 | bogman
Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 106 Bogalusa, La. 
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2011-10-13 180869
I have a chance of picking up about 50 acres near my place at a decent price. It currently has pine trees on it. Prices for pulp and chip & saw wood are at very low levels.
Should I acquire this parcel, would it be best to cut the trees, clear it and plant a more lucrative crop? If so what would that crop be here in southern Louisiana?
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina 
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2011-10-14 180878
A question don't think can be answered fully here. The age of the trees and how thick they are will have a lot of impact. Their prices may be low but will not always remain there and really if your trees are say 5 years from being cut we all are counting on the economy to be better.
Think you will find in some area there has been a good bit of taking poor farm land and replanting with trees. Even government grants to do so. Do not know the details but if this land was done that way you might not be able to convert back to crop land without having to repair part of that grant.
As to the trees would suggest you find and yes hire someone who does planning on timber land to have real numbers on the value of what is there and ways to improve the value.
Also depending on the trees there the cost of clearing to convert to crop land can be a good bit and if wet lands might not be possible. It pines are what is on it not likely wet land or at least here.
You have to look at what you have in equipment, time and money and then where to sell what ever you plant. If you have the time and all then fresh vegetables probably are the most money per acre but a lot of work and then how are you selling it. For the most money you are also the retail seller.
Most likely you will find some great info on your state's dept of agriculture on cost and yields or common crops in your area. Most will show the yield even for each county or in your case Parrish. Certainly you have what we call County Agents there who should be able to help a lot at little if any cost.
Fish might also be an option depending very much on the land and water supply. Don't be over impressed with the gross per acre, it is only the net per acre you keep.
A word of caution, the more you talk about these the more others will know about the land for sale and might find who you got advice from is the new owner. ....
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| bogman
Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 106 Bogalusa, La.
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2011-10-14 180900
Hi KT, thanks for the ideas. Yes we do have the equivalent of county agents here. I will have to contact their office and see what they think.
This is family land that would only be available to me and the timber is only ten years old.
I had read a article about sawgrass or something like that awhile back and it was saying how fast it grew and it was being used for biofuel. I just wondered if anything like that would be better than pine trees. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2011-10-24 181003
If your pines are 10 years old you are what about 5 years from them being large enough for pulp or fence post? If the trees are planted in rows and as thick as they normally do (at least here) think you will have a thinning crop in about 5 years. If that is correct by the time you were to get the stumps out the ground you would have another year gone so about four years of growing time to have first tree harvest. Ask around for a true forester, one who can help you plan the forest and not just sell the trees who can look at the trees and give you some real ideas. Now if it was not planted in trees and there is one here and two in another 50 feet totally different issue. ....
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| hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3583 iowa
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2011-10-27 181011
Bogman;
That is a question which is about impossile to answer without being somewhat familliar with your aeria, the soil types,drainage, cost to clear it etc. I've been thru different parts of Louisiana and saw lots of soybeans, corn and some cotton, so I'm guessing one of those would be your best row crop choice.
Frank. ....
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| bogman
Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 106 Bogalusa, La.
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2011-10-27 181017
Hello Frank, there are corn crops all around this acreage. I know corn is high right now, but by next year I bet the price will be back down.
KT makes a good argument for the super loblolly pines that have been planted there now. If they can be thinned in 5 years without boogering up the remaining trees, a future timber crop might be the way to go.
I was just wondering if anyone out there had found a better crop.
Thanks for posting.......... ....
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