Few people realize that one of the leading agricultural commodities produced in Robeson County is timber and forest products. Each year, almost $20 million worth of timber is harvested from the forest of this county.

First of all, let me share with you that the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service will again this year provide its annual pine seedling distribution program for homeowners and other individuals interested in obtaining a small number of seedlings. Bundles of 25 to 50 improved loblolly pine seedlings will be made available at no cost to individuals beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 31, at the O. P. Owens Agriculture Center in Lumberton. Pine seedlings will be distributed as long as the supplies last. These seedlings are being provided by International Paper SuperTree Nursery in Blenhiem, South Carolina.

Pine seedlings are usually purchased by the thousand and can be obtained from several private timber nurseries or from the North Carolina Forest Service state nurseries. But homeowners and others who wish to plant just a few seedlings for landscape purposes or to construct windbreaks around barnyards often have difficulty finding a small number of seedlings.

Contrary to popular belief, most forestlands are owned by private individuals, not large timber companies. The large timber companies manage their forestlands for timber production. Most private landowners do not really manage timber but rather harvest trees from their woodlands whenever they feel they need cash.

As mentioned in this column in the past, trees are just like other crops. Trees should be properly planted, and when mature, should be harvested and then replanted. Forestlands in Robeson County are probably the least managed of all lands on private property.

Forestation or reforestation is not a complicated process and, with the various cost-share programs that are now available, is not an extremely expensive process. When considered on an annual basis, returns from pine production is usually similar to returns from the traditional crops that are planted in the county. However, timber is harvested only once every 20 to 30 years, whereas crops are harvested every year.

Many landowners feel that their forestlands are not large enough to be worth managing or that the woodlands on their property are not good enough to warrant management. Except for some of the extremely wet swamplands, all forestlands in this area have good potential for producing high-quality timber and generating additional income for the landowner.

Landowners interested in improving their forest management practices or interested in developing highly productive forest from existing wooded areas or from marginal farmlands are encouraged to contact the Cooperative Extension Service or the North Carolina Forest Service. In addition to informational and educational services, these agencies can assist by making sure landowners are familiar with the various cost-share programs and can advise which of these programs would be of greatest benefit.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 2/12/03