Skip to main content

AFM NEWS

A Landowner Case Study

2021/10/19

Foresters with American Forest Management (AFM) manage property for a wide variety of clients. With each landowner is a unique set of goals for their land. We take pride in helping the landowner realize their goals. Jon Claflin, a landowner in Maine recently shared his experience working with AFM.

“I began looking into timber harvesting in winter of 2020. My wife and I were considering timber harvesting because we had big goals for our getaway property in Industry, ME, and one of those goals was finding a way to install the first septic on the property in the 81 years of my family’s ownership. The stakes were high because it’s only 25 (hilly, rocky) acres and septic systems aren’t cheap.

My early research made one thing clear… hire a forester! From independent landowners to major operations, foresters are a necessity for maximum return, and creating a future forest health plan. I read a ton and I also referred to several property owner interviews online. There was no doubt that we’d go in this direction.

The overarching reality is that having a trained set of eyes assisting and directing the operation and the loggers is the key to a successful harvest. I live 170 miles away from the property, and I couldn’t be there for much of the process. I decided to work with AFM because they share the same ecological goals that I had. I was assigned to Forester Bill Haslam out of their Farmington office. This turned out to be a perfect fit.

Bill navigated the paperwork and chose a logger who was equally engaged and equally committed to the ecology of the forest. Bill will be the first to say that it was the forest that ended up producing amazing numbers, but it was clear to me that it was Bill’s knowledge of the ever-changing wood pricing, and the various timber market appetites of the area mills that brought about such a successful harvest.

We were able to have our septic installed, and we were able to go so much further into our cabin’s updates than we ever imagined. We even paid our property tax with timber harvest funds. It’s rare that something is such a win/win, but this project was.”

AFM can help you achieve your land ownership goals too.

Return to News
Subscribe

Get notified of new posts

Stay up to date with the latest news and insights from American Forest Management.

Get notified of new posts (Login Required)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • AFM works with a wide variety of clients, from independent landowners to major operations. Each landowner brings a unique set of goals for their land, and AFM foresters take pride in helping each one realize those goals.

  • Research and firsthand experience both point to the same conclusion: hiring a forester is essential for maximizing return and creating a future forest health plan. A trained forester can direct the operation, work alongside loggers, and bring knowledge of current wood pricing and local timber market conditions that a landowner acting alone would likely miss.

  • Yes. Jon Claflin, an AFM client in Maine, lives 170 miles from his 25-acre property in Industry, ME, and was unable to be present for much of the harvest process. His assigned AFM forester handled the on-site work, navigated the paperwork, and selected a logger committed to the ecology of the forest, allowing Jon to stay informed and achieve his goals without being there in person.

  • AFM assigns a forester from a nearby office who is a good fit for the landowner's specific goals and location. In Jon Claflin's case, he was assigned to Forester Bill Haslam out of AFM's Farmington, Maine office. Bill then selected a logger who was equally engaged and committed to the ecological goals of the project.

  • An AFM forester brings current knowledge of wood pricing and the timber market appetites of area mills, which can make a significant difference in harvest revenue. In Jon Claflin's project, this expertise helped produce strong financial results that allowed him to install a septic system, fund major cabin updates, and even cover property taxes using timber harvest proceeds.

  • It can. Jon Claflin's timber harvest on his 25-acre Maine property generated enough revenue to install the first septic system in 81 years of family ownership, fund cabin updates beyond what he originally imagined, and pay his property taxes. AFM foresters work to align the harvest with the landowner's financial and ecological goals so the results benefit both the landowner and the long-term health of the forest.