If you’ve ever wanted to run your own logging empire in Farming Simulator 25, this is your chance—just know, it’s going to take a bit of patience and a lot of strategy. You’ll be planting, cutting, and turning trees into all sorts of valuable goodies like planks and wood chips.
Whether you’re using heavy-duty machinery to take down trees or planting saplings into towering forests, there’s something really satisfying about this certain part of the game—in fact, it’s my favorite! In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process—buying land, planting trees, processing logs, and selling your goods for some sweet profits.
Complete Guide to Forestry | Everything You Need To Know
First things first, you need to find a lovely patch of forest to call your own; you have to make sure I own the land. So, open the map and head to the “buy land” section. Keep in mind, if you don’t own the land, the trees stay put!
Once the land is yours, you can harvest the trees and sell the land back for the same price. However, after you cut the trees, they won’t regrow, so if you want to continue your forestry empire, you’ll need to replant.
NOTE: Trees take time to grow back, so patience is key. But that’s also what makes forestry rewarding!
Planting Trees
Of course, you must first buy ‘Tree Saplings,’ then you can proceed to plant them on lands you own. There are two main ways to plant trees in Farming Simulator 25: with the Damon Planter or the Excavator-Mounted Planter. I personally like the Damon Planter for its simplicity, but if you’ve got an excavator, the excavator-mounted planter is a budget-friendly option.
In the store, head to the Forestry Equipment section. The Damon Planter can be attached to a tractor and can plant saplings like pine (perfect for logging) and other tree types.
How to Plant:
- Attach the planter to your tractor.
- Lower the planter and activate it to start planting. It’ll space out the trees nicely for you.
If you’re using the Excavator-mounted Planter, it’s a little more hands-on:
- After attaching it, adjust it carefully.
- Press the button to plant each tree. Be careful not to crowd them, or they won’t grow properly.
Pro Tip: When switching tree types, unload and reload the pallets in your inventory. You can even toggle the help menu (F1) to check which tree you’re planting.
Just a heads-up: Trees take time to grow! For instance, Lodgepole Pines take about two years to reach full maturity. After planting, you’ll need to let them grow before you can harvest them. This is why forestry requires patience—it’s a long-term investment.
Harvesting Trees: Getting Down to Business
Let’s get to the fun part—cutting down trees! When harvesting, you have several options. Let’s explore the key tools available:
- Harvesters:
- Head to the Forestry Section in the store and check out the available harvesters. The John Deere harvester is perfect for smaller trees (up to 58 cm in diameter). For larger trees, you’ll want something beefier, like the 120 cm harvester.
- Excavators:
- You can also use excavators for two approaches: the Woodcracker for larger trees or the standard processor head for general harvesting. They’re versatile, but make sure to choose the right one for the job.
- Chainsaws:
- For a more personal touch, grab a chainsaw. Simply head to the Hand Tools section and buy one. To use it, press 2 to equip it.
- Aim at the tree and hold down the right mouse button to adjust the cutting angle. Look for the green indicator—this is your sweet spot for cutting.
- If the tree is too small for a harvester but still too big for your chainsaw, just chop it down manually!
Just a quick tip: you don’t need to spam-click with the chainsaw to remove the small branches. Simply approach the tree, but don’t get too close to trigger the cutting guide. Click and hold the button to activate the chainsaw, then move up and down the tree, and you’ll quickly trim off the excess branches.
Cutting, Lifting, and Transporting Logs
Once your tree is down, it’s time to cut it into manageable logs and move them!
- Cutting Logs: After felling a tree, cut it into smaller pieces. If the log is light enough, you can pick it up by hand, but for heavier logs, you’ll need machinery.
- Using the John Deere Harvester: The John Deere harvester can grab and cut up to two trees at once! To use it:
- Lower the harvester and approach the tree. It will automatically cut and grab it. You can move the tree and position it as needed.
- Log Transport:
- When it comes to moving logs, I recommend using a wheel loader with a log fork attachment. It’s my favorite method because it’s efficient and easy to handle once you get used to the controls.
- You can also use forwarders, but I find them a bit slow and tricky.
Pro Tip: Keep your logs neat! If you want to stack them nicely for easier transport, just position them carefully. Trust me, your future self will thank you when it’s time to load them onto the truck.
For tall trees, it’s a good idea to use a smaller tree trailer with a crane mounted on the side of the tractor hitch. This allows you to lift large trees and drag them onto the trailer. Once on the trailer, you can manually cut them while the crane holds the tree in place.
Afterward, go back to the crane to pull the remaining parts into the trailer, get out, and cut again. This process is efficient and cost-effective if you’re working with the right trees, as it saves you from investing a lot into forestry equipment.
You can fill your tree trailer and cut the logs to size without spending more than 50k!
Advanced Tools: Winches & Yarders
For challenging terrains, you’ll need winches and yarders. These tools are perfect for pulling logs out of tough spots.
- Winches: These are simple tools that attach to a tree and drag it along the ground.
- Yarders: More advanced, these use cables to pull trees over long distances, even uphill.
How to Use a Yarder:
- Cut down a tree and attach it to the yarder.
- Use the controls to lift and move the tree to your desired location.
Wood Chipping: Turning Logs into Chips
Once you’ve got all those logs, consider turning them into wood chips for additional income!
- Self-Propelled Wood Chipper: This machine is ready to go as soon as you activate it and is great for processing logs quickly. It even comes with a crane to help load logs.
- Pull-Behind Wood Chipper: A bit more old-school, this one needs a tractor to tow it. You’ll have to load the logs manually, but it gets the job done.
Pro Tip: Use the wood chips as an alternative to selling logs. You can sell them at the Animal Dealer or other sell points, although they’re usually less profitable than selling whole logs.
If you’ve noticed your woodchipper shutting off every time you hop out of the tractor, the culprit is most likely the Automatic Engine Start setting. By default, this handy feature turns the tractor’s engine on when you climb in and off when you step out.
While that’s great for saving fuel and adding realism, it’s not ideal when you’re running machinery like woodchippers that need to stay powered even when you’re outside the tractor.
Here’s how to fix it:
- Open your Settings menu.
- Look for the Automatic Engine Start option.
- Toggle it off so the engine keeps running until you manually turn it off.
Stump Removal & Mulching
After cutting trees, don’t forget about the stumps! You’ve got two main tools for this:
- Stump Cutter: Attaches to your tractor to remove stumps with precision.
- Mulcher: Grinds up stumps and debris, but it’s more effective on smaller stumps.
Get rid of those stumps early to make replanting easier!
Selling Logs & Wood Chips: Turning Forestry into Profit
Once you’ve gathered your logs and wood chips, it’s time to make some money!
- Logs: You can sell whole logs at locations like the Carpentry Point or Sawmill. Just drive up to the trigger area, press R, and watch your earnings grow!
- Wood Chips: Head to the Animal Dealer or another designated sell point to unload your chips. While not as profitable as logs, they’re still a solid source of income.
Keep on Logging, Keep on Earning!
And there you have it—my complete guide to forestry in Farming Simulator 25. From planting and harvesting to selling logs and chipping, you’ve now got everything you need to create your very own forestry empire! Before I let you go, here are more useful tips about Forestry in FS25:
- Trimming trees: You can actually keep your chainsaw running and walk along the trunk to trim the branches more easily, saving you time.
- Picking up logs: If you’re struggling with log pickups, especially with claws, it’s worth checking if you’re using an autoload mod for easier handling, especially for console players.
