The Management Plan

In a farming or ranching enterprise one of the objectives of the owner is to build and maintain the highest possible level of income from all lands in the unit.

Forest land should be managed as an integrated part of the ranch operation. Timber, like hay and grain, is a crop. Although income from timber may not be realized annually, a healthy, thrifty, well managed stand will add value to your land. Good management practices will reduce the time necessary to grow tree crops.
While the timber crop is growing, some products can be harvested from the forest which would eliminate a cash outlay for the commercial product. For instance, fence posts, corral rails and small poles can be removed in thinnings. Custom sawing will provide lumber for barns and other outbuildings. In some areas Christmas trees and firewood can provide an income to help defray taxes and protection costs.

ranch operation = the business and daily management of a large tract of land used primarily for raising grazing livestock, such as cattle, sheep, or horses
ranching enterprise = a specific production unit or profit-generating activity within a larger agricultural business that raises grazing livestock like cattle or sheep
stand = a group of growing plants of a specified kind, especially trees
cash outlay = an amount of money spent for a particular purpose, especially as a first investment in something
corral = an area surrounded by a fence or other structure in order to hold or capture horses and cattle
custom sawing = cutting logs into specific, non-standard sizes of lumber according to a client's needs
outbuilding = a usually small building near to and on the same piece of land as a larger building
defray = to pay or provide all or part of the money for costs or expenses