South Florida Slash 25/26 Timber Sale

SALE ADVERTISEMENT

South Florida Slash 25/26 Timber Sale

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service is seeking sealed bids for the sale of timber. This sale is approximately 479 acres in size and consists of a combination of approximately 209 acres of third row thinning with operator select (Area 1) and 270 acres of shelterwood cut (Area 2) on Myakka State Forest in Sarasota County (see attached maps). Area 1 is a 270-acre stagnant stand of 50+ year old South Florida slash pines which will be harvested primarily with operator-select under the direct supervision of the Forester-in-Charge. A small portion of test-plots do have the leave trees marked with white paint. Marked trees should be left uncut and these plots should be used as a guide for harvesting the remaining area. The goal is to reduce the stand to 30 square feet of basal area per acre while creating seed tree clusters. A two (2)- tree buffer of leave trees will remain on each side of the existing bike trail. Area 2 is a third row thinning with operator-select in two separate stands totaling 209 acres (aged 15 years and 26 years). Trees to be removed from the selection rows include diseased, damaged, defective, forked, and suppressed trees; followed by a portion of the intermediate and co-dominant trees to reach the desired basal area.  The goal is to reduce the planted pines density to 50 square feet of basal area per acre and create some gaps through operator select. The estimated volume to be removed from the total sale area is 6,328 tons of pine pulpwood. Sale boundaries are forest boundaries, roads, and fire lines as marked on included maps. This will be an eighteen (18) month contract. Interested parties may obtain complete bid information by contacting Caroline Ritchey at (941) 460-1333.

The Florida Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any irregularity in bids received.

Bids will be opened at:

4723 53 Avenue E, Bradenton, Fl 34203-4138

02/03/2026 10:00 AM, EST