Are your businesses fully insured? 

• Yes. We carry all the necessary liability and workman's compensation coverages to protect our team and customers.

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Are you going to cut down ALL my trees (clearcut)?

• No. Michigan Timber Services practices a select cut forest management methodology for all hardwood stands.

  • We identify select mature trees that should be harvested to promote healthy forest regeneration.

• There are scenarios in which the DNR encourages clearcutting certain tree species. (DNR Fact Sheet)

  • The two most common species the DNR recommends for clearcutting ​​​are aspens (popples) and jack pine.

    • Both species are considered shade intolerant and need aggressive harvesting for new growth to thrive.​

    • Both species are considered "pioneer trees" which regenerate naturally after fire, flood, wind, and harvest.

    • These two species combined contribute to over 50% of wood products and jobs vital to Michiganders.

  • Aspen grow in groups with intertwined root systems that regenerate sprouts naturally following a clearcut harvest.

  • Jack pines also regenerate naturally when their cones are spread across the ground following a clearcut harvest.​​

• There are also instances in which a landowner may request us to clearcut specific areas or land for future projects such as home construction, pole barn construction, farming, wildlife habitats, and the list goes on.

• Ultimately, we will always provide the personalized service required to ensure the landowners needs are met.

  • Source for aforementioned clearcutting facts - DNR Questions and Answers about Clearcutting 

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Why should I cut down ANY of my trees?

• The primary reason for harvesting mature trees is to promote the overall growth of your timber stand.

• Mature tree crowns eventually crowd out needed sunlight for the less mature tree population.

• Opening the canopy by harvesting mature trees allows needed nutrients to reach the forest floor.

• Allowing less mature trees access to necessary nutrients leads to healthy timber stand regeneration.

  • Check out our Before & Afters photo gallery to see tree canopies both before and after a harvest.​

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How will harvesting timber affect the wildlife?

• When practiced properly, forest management and wildlife management go hand in hand.

• The positive impact of opening large tree canopies promotes foliage growth for wildlife and saplings alike.

• Deer especially benefit from open canopies due to adequate sunlight needed for increased browse yield.



Can you harvest timber in any season of the year?

• ​Yes we can, thanks to our state of the art and highly specialized timber harvesting equipment.

• Our equipment is capable of harvesting quickly, efficiently, and with unsurpassed quality, regardless of season.

  • Take a look at the reduced footprint of our ​harvesting equipment in our Logging photo gallery.



How do you determine the value of my trees?

• Every species carries an inherent cash value measured by the cord or per 1,000 board feet.

• Each tree is cut and sorted for maximum profitability of your logs based on size and individual species.

• Aside from species, log profitability is driven by quality of cut, size, and inherent quality differentiators (defects)

  • The following is a general log profitability guide from most valuable to least valuable:​

    • Veneer/Grade Saw Logs - Typically 11'" or greater in diameter

      • Most commonly used for cabinet facing, wood doors, finished plywood panels, grade lumber, ​etc.

    • Saw Logs - Typically 11" or greater in diameter

      • Most commonly used to produce lumber​

    • Scrag/Bolt Logs - Typically 6" to 10" in diameter

      • Most commonly used to produce low grade lumber and pallet stock

    • Pulpwood/Firewood - Typically 4" to 5" in diameter

      • Most commonly used to produce wood pulp for paper production and firewood

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• ​Upon a FREE inspection of your property, our team will analyze variables such as tree species, tree size, tree maturity, equipment accessibility, timber tract size, presence of defects/disease, and forest floor (wet, dry, sandy, clay, etc.). These variables, and the list above, will ultimately determine the value of your timber.

• After completing a FREE inspection, Michigan Timber Services will determine the best market for your timber, negotiate the best prices in those markets, and prepare a Timber Sale Contract to review with the landowner.

• Our streamlined process, paired with the fact that we are Your Local Forestry Specialists, Loggers, Truckers, Sawyers, and Sellers of Northern Michigans Highest Quality Forestry Products, provides a significant competitive advantage in assuring the landowner always receives the best value for their timber.



Will I have to replant more trees after a harvest?​

• A proper harvest provides the optimal habitat for the vast majority of tree species to naturally regenerate.

  • Here's a general guide for tree regeneration by species:​

    • Aspen will naturally resprout at a rate of approximately 10,000 stems/saplings per acre.

    • Oak, birch, maple and basswood are aggressive stump sprouters and will also reproduce by seed.

    • Conifers, such as balsam and spruce, also regenerate naturally.

    • Jack pine typically regenerate naturally when branches/cones are spread over the site while harvesting.

    • Red and white pine will typically need to be replanted since regeneration of these species is so much slower than other species, causing the faster growing species to normally overrun the red and white pine.

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Are you going to clean up after yourself when you're done with the harvest?​

• Absolutely. Our team will back blade all logging roads utilized with a dozer and ensure their debris free.

• We will intentionally leave tree tops in the woods to decompose and return necessary nutrients to the soil.

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How long after a harvest until my property will be ready to harvest again?

• This depends largely on the tree species ​since different species will mature at different growth rates.

• The landowners comfort level with adequately harvesting mature trees also plays a vital role in regeneration.

• Taking these factors into consideration, a general timeframe for maturation is approximately 12 - 15 years.

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How does an infestation of emerald ash borer (EAB) affect the value of my trees?

• Infected ash trees typically still have some value, as long as the infestation isn't too excessive.

• If signs of EAB are present, we recommend removing all ash trees from your stand since EAB spreads rapidly. 

• Signs and symptoms of EAB infestation include canopy die back, bark splitting, track marks from larva, and D-shaped exit holes made by adult emerald ash borer insects exiting the tree.  For more information on identifiying signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer activity you can visit  www.emeraldashborer.info

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How big is Michigan's forest land?

• 53% of Michigan is covered in 18.6 million acres of timberland.

• 55% of the 18.6 million acres are found in the lower peninsula of Michigan with the balance found in U.P. 

• Michigan's timberland is the fifth largest in the United States. 

  • ​(Source: Michigan Forest Resource Alliance)

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Is Michigan running out of trees?

• No. Michigan forests are growing 2.7 times more wood than is harvested each year.

• Michigan has approximately 1.3 million more acres of timberland than in 1980.

• Our timber surplus (total growth minus harvest) is #1 in the nation.

• Annually for every tree harvested, 5 new trees grow and 1 tree dies from natural causes (insect, disease, and fire), leaving a net gain of 4 trees.

  • (Source: Michigan Forest Resource Alliance)