Last year about this time, I wrote that the harvest regulations on wild ginseng had been greatly restricted. The laws had changed on export of any plant root that was less than 10 years old. I also predicted (as did a number of others) that there was no way that the law would be allowed to exist for any long period of time. Due to comments and protests from diggers, buyers, and exporters, the law has been restored to what it was prior to last year's change.
That is to say that root that is five years old can again be harvested and exported. The general rule of thumb there is not to dig anything less than "three pronged" plants. Generally speaking, this almost guarantees the plant to be five years or older.
Predictions are that the root will bring as much as $325 again this year. However, talking to John Morgan (a local buyer), he hasn't heard anything about opening prices, and probably won't until after the season opens.
Remember you cannot legally harvest ginseng prior to Aug. 15. On the other hand, he states that he is currently paying $24 a pound on Golden Seal (yellow root), but currently only has one guy doing any digging.
Look, I know the weather has been awful hot, but if you aren't digging yellow root, you are missing out. I also know it is hard to compare $300 a pound to $24. a pound, but one can dig 20 pounds of yellow root while he is digging one pound of "sang". Get out there folks, find those patches and give John something to do!
I think I may well give it a shot in the next few days if I can squeeze in a few hours. Be sure that if you get out there, to use plenty of insect repellent, and keep an eye out for "Mr. No Shoulders", bugs and snakes are anywhere you find Ginseng and Golden Seal.
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