Tree Farmers of the Year – Chipola Plantation LLC

In 2005, Joe Harbison and partners of Chipola Plantation LLC purchased 1,800 acres along the Chipola River from Prudential Timber Investments. At the time of purchase, approximately 530 acres of the mature pine plantations on the property had been recently harvested. The owners purchased the property, and a long-term management plan was developed, which included reforesting the recently harvested areas, management of riparian and bottomland hardwood stands, protecting and improving wildlife habitat, and combating invasive plant intrusion.  Our forestry consultant, American Forest Management, helped develop and implement the long-term plan.

Initially, 350 acres of Loblolly pine were planted, in addition to 180 acres of Longleaf pine.  Areas that were reforested with Longleaf pine were also planted with wiregrass in an effort to restore the native grass cover. Multiple winter food plots were also established.

Over the next few years, thinning was accomplished, regular control burning was initiated, and invasive plant control was initiated.  All went well until October of 2018, when Hurricane Michael impacted most of our trees about five years before harvest. However, Chipola Plantation was able to clean up the debris, replant, and get back on track.

The long-term plan for the owners of Chipola Plantation is to continue managing this property as an investment and to improve the wildlife habitat.

We would like to thank the Florida Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for their years of help.

The Tree Farmer of the Year is sponsored by American Forest Management.  Nominees are selected each year by the Florida Forest Service’s County Forester, Barry Stafford.