Value Of Maple Trees

[Bruce L]

Hi everyone,the government has decided to spend some more of our tax dollars "realigning" the highway next to our sugarbush,so the city folk can drive even faster on a straight stretch of road,so they are removing about 20 taps of our maples in mature trees.What kind of value can you put on a tappable maple.Thay are offering us peanuts for the bit of land of course,but the maples will not be replaced in my lifetime.We are going to the lawyer later on this month,and it would be good to show her figures.
Thanks

[Brokermike]

I know for eminant domain issues in VT you need to show what level of income they would produce in perpetuity and discount it for current value. So if those 20 trees produce 25 gallons of syrup per year, at $40 per gallon, and assuming you could reasonably get 25 years of production out of them and that syrup prices grow at 6% per year the income generated by those 20 trees would be about $4300 per year in 25 years. What you need to decide is some happy medium. Lets say over the next 25 years you receive an average income of roughly $2000 from those trees, what present value would adequately compensate you for that loss of income?

[adk1]

the heck with that, I would not even mention the tapping of them and tell them that they are vaneer hard maple trees and you are waiting for them to get alittle bigger but if they ahve to come down, I would get $1,500/mbf and that there are 10mbf in there so $15,000..then once taken down, use them for firewood

[3rdgen.maple]

I would strap myself and family to those trees when they come to cut them. :D No money can make up for the enjoyment a maple tree gives me or my family especially not for a road.

[wally]

the heck with that, I would not even mention the tapping of them and tell them that they are vaneer hard maple trees and you are waiting for them to get alittle bigger but if they ahve to come down, I would get $1,500/mbf and that there are 10mbf in there so $15,000..then once taken down, use them for firewood

that's a one-shot deal, though. the syrup production value could be a bit higher, in terms of total value, since each year's total contributes to the bottom line. on the other hand, 25 gallons is a bit much syrup to expect per year from 20 taps. 5 would be much more defensible.

that said, you'd also likely have to prove that the wood was veneer-quality, if you wanted to get compensated for missing out on that future product.

[adk1]

I was really just kidding. He will not have a choice in the matter anyways. The gov't will come in, assess the trees usign a forester who will give them the fair market value for the timber (no way you will get it fo the syrup) and then the govet will say, this is what you are getting. That is the beauty of eminent domain. At least in the US that is.

[brookledge]

Any chance you could use this to your advantage, Is there any land that the town or city owns that has maples on it? Maybe instead of them paying you for the loss of your tress there are some trees that they would allow you to tap for free in exchange. Towns and cities like when they don't have to pay. Write out a long term lease.
Otherwise they are only obligated to pay the appraised value.
Keith

[sapbrush]

Hes Is In Canada, Not The Us Socanadian Laws Are Different In These Matters

[KenWP]

Yes we have such neat things as Queens Rule and the good old were goverment your a peon so suck it up baby and let us steal the land things. I have seen whole houses go the way of a bulldozer due to roads just haveing to be built there kind of rules. Trees would not have a chance.

[Brent]

don't get your knickers on a knot over this. The lawyer is the only one that will win in this battle.

Argue for yourselft then take what you can get and get over it.

[gar]

I got up one morning and heard chain saws running, and heavy equipment. When I went to see what was up I found them cutting trees and digging a big ditch across my property! They were diverting the brook/river across my land to replace the box culvert on our road! When I asked who's permision they had they said they had the right by law! When I told this to my lawyer he laughed, and is now working on my case. Always talk to a lawyer!!! If you want to get a crook hire one!

[adk1]

That is crazy!