Maximising returns and protecting sensitive local environment exceeds expectations for the Russells

"I am pleased to provide this reference for Craig Fisher, Harvest Manager, PF Olsen.

"Our relationship with Craig and the PF Olsen team started a couple of years ago when Craig first contacted us about our woodlot on our recently purchased farm at Lake Okareka, Rotorua.

"Our farm is located in "sensitive lakes zone" and the woodlot was situated on prediminanlty challenging terrain surrounded by grazing farmland and infrastructure, native bush and our home with its extensive grounds.

"Craig's professional, enthusiastic and committed approach to maximising the return from our woodlot and still respecting the unique local environment exceeded our expectations.

"Craig and the PF Olsen team "can do attitude" leads me to have no hesitation in recommending their services.

"Please do not hestitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance."

Chris Russell

Amberlea Farm

"PF Olsen achieved full compliance with Regional Council requirements"

George Parkes signed up with PF Olsen Ltd to manage his woodlot harvesting and marketing. The harvesting was done from December 2009 to February 2010 and coincided with good summer weather and a favourable log market.

George says: "I was impressed with the harvesting contractor, who left a tidy cutover and logged all the trees off some very difficult areas. PF Olsen's communication was good. The Auckland Regional Council seemed to take a special interest in this job as it is in the area of the Whangateau Harbour and their audits during and after the operation revealed full compliance with their requirements. We had good weather and a buoyant export market (so I am told) and this will have helped the profit result being better than PF Olsen's estimate. PF Olsen clearly did not try and win the work on the basis of inflated profit expectations."

Find out how PF Olsen can help you with your forestry investment! Speak to your local representative on toll-free 0508 PFOLSEN (736 5736) or e-mail info@pfolsen.com

Ivan & Glenda Porter of Whakatane

"We bought the house with the Radiata Pines already on. They were a little neglected and appeared to be used as more of a boundary, than forestry. Our section is more of a 'toy farm' and I would describe it as an oversized lifestyle block. We have 33 hectares of land and 11 of those are covered in Radiata pines. I would think of myself as a horticulturist, so my wife and I nurtured the trees and looked after them.

In the last year or so, being only about 15kms from the Whakatane coastline, we have had some big winds blow up through the hills and these have caused the tops of some of the pines to be twisted or broken off. However, thanks to some relatively mild winter conditions, our pines have done pretty well.

With the oldest of the pines being 29 years old, we felt it was time to harvest them. We contacted PF Olsen because one of our neighbours had introduced me to one of the guys that worked there, some time ago. Their name had just stuck in my head and I gave them a ring and they came out to see us. PF Olsen saw the trees and explained what we could do and how they would be able to help us.

I have to admit there were a few teething problems to start with, as there was a change over in staff at their end. However, when they came with the diggers and all of their equipment, it was really exciting. Apart from obtaining permission to cut down my trees, by entering Maori land, PF Olsen did absolutely everything for us. This was fantastic and meant that it was completely out of our hands.

My next woodlot will be ready in 12 years time and I will definitely be giving them a call again. I would recommend them to anyone!

You only get one chance to sell your trees and thirty years is a long time to wait. PF Olsen are price getters and are constantly looking at options to improve overall financial returns.

Jim Donald attended a PF Olsen Harvest-Ready Seminar and by being Harvest-Ready benefited from the recent export log price increases while maintaining good domestic options. Due to forward planning the Donald family also received a sharp logging rate.

Harvesting 37 hectares (25 000 tonnes) is not a small operation, nor is ensuring you have the information and support to make the best decisions. Dale Donald planted these trees 32 years ago so the returns have been long awaited, however planning and timing have been the keys to ensuring that the Donald Trust achieved a great return.

Jim and Dale Donald explain that they went through a very rigorous selection process involving both their lawyer and accountant before committing to a service provider. "Total package of professional management, marketing strategy, expected returns and risk management", are what the Donalds say made them choose PF Olsen. "Liability issues were also high on our selection criteria", they commented. With a mix of both hauler and ground-based work the harvesting itself required specialist planning and time to book in the right crews for the conditions. It has paid off and as a result the Donald family reflect on their forestry investment as a very positive one. As Jim said "You only get one chance to sell your trees and thirty years is a long time to wait"!