HIGH GRADING - As a landowner you should not assume you are making the first decision about your woods. Average ownership periodin Ohio is approx. 20 years.  It is common for a landowner to acquire land that has been high graded during another ownership or even right before the sale of the land, causing you to be faced with mgm options based on previous owners decision about how to harvest the woods.  The decisions you make will not only affect your benefits, but the benefits of those landowners that follow.  If you plan to pass your land onto family members, your decisions will help determine the benefits that your family will share for years to come.