@Dave Foster    death and tax's  Timber for sure if great long term wealth builder as we know.. but you still have basis in the timber and you have to pay tax when you harvest.. but you can do just like other real estate and pass it down and step up the basis.my main point here.. is with those that buy a few rental props exiting is not always a joy and can be a shocker..

And the other one I paid for cash, I harvested that equity a few years later by doing a cash out refi on it.

IF the farm is being actively used you might put in a notice period that they would get possession after crops are harvested or they purchase the unharvested crop.  

Do searches in the Harvest, Athens, Madison etc areas. 

That said, capital loss harvesting and an investment in a business with depreciable fixed assets can offset the timber and LT capital gains. 

My son buys mountain land and usually harvests the timber.

I own in Madison, work in Huntsville and eventually plan on owning in Huntsville and Surrounding areas, like limestone, harvest, Meridianville, hazel green, Owens cross roads, toney, etc.

If you don't need cash flow now but are thinking you will in 15 or so years I'd still focus on cash flow now.If you build a strong cash flowing portfolio over the coming years you can use the cash flow to pay down the HELOC or simply expand the portfolio until you're ready to start "harvesting" the cash for your own needs. 

What they did not ***** about were the government CRP (crop rotation programs) that paid individuals six figures per year to NOT plant, grow, & harvest.  

They are able to defer harvesting the land for payments.