The growth of herbaceous vegetation will be increased by fertilization and will have to be eliminated before raking. Research has shown that removal of the straw has only a minimal effect on growth rate. For maximum needle production the basal area of the longleaf stand should be maintained in the range from 90 to 100 square feet per acre. Selling Pine Straw Private landowners often sell their longleaf pine straw to producers, who do the raking and baling. The producer pays by the bale.
Some landowners rake and bale their own straw and sell it directly to the retailer or user.
Most who do so have storage sheds. Private landowners could benefit by adopting this sale method. Its advantages are that payment is made before harvesting, competitive bidding brings the highest price, and the owner need not be concerned with keeping track of every bale harvested. Lakes State Forest has marketed its straw by the bale method for many years. Greater participation in marketing longleaf pine straw can be expected where balers set up buying stations and purchase loose straw hauled to the baling site.