What's the cost to clear a few acres

Pushed up, stacked, and burned probably around 15k. I was quoted 5k/acre for something similar in Ascension parish last year.

I mean, you could probably sell the trees too

Nope

Didn't think so.

It will vary of course on what you plan to do and how congested it is. If you have buildings near some of them or power lines those will generally drive up the cost. If there is no chance of them hitting anything when they come down it will be way less money. Also depends on what you and they plan to do with them...if they plan to leave them for you to contend with it will be less than the taking them away. If they do the latter it will depend on what they do with them....if they have a place to dispose of them it will be way cheaper than putting them in a land fill.

I just cleared .3 of an acre in a neighborhood. I had them buck the trees that were more than 18 inches in diameter in 10 1/2 foot or longer logs. They hauled everything else off including all the limbs. This lot had a house on one side and a pole barn on another and a power line on another...it was very congested. Most of the pines on this lot were pushing 30 inches in diameter and 100+ feet tall....they were 60-70 years old. Some where in the neighborhood of 70,000 board feet of what surpasses for old growth southern yellow pine today....60 year old pine trees are fairly rare in the era of planted pines. There is absolutely NO market for the trees in my area (east central Georgia). I got quotes as high as $37K and got it done for $8500. Again, that is them leaving the trees for the most part. They did install 70 feet of culvert, back filled and graded it to the road and got rid of ALL the stumps and roots....they raked the entire area and had to move the logs several times to do so...it was a LOT of work. They tossed out grass seed and covered it with straw. This was a septic tank contractor and the lot is tiny so there is not much room for error - they installed a 1000 gallon concrete septic tank and 197' feet of fill line (the chamber system) for an additional $4000, which is CHEAP in our area. All in it cost me $12,500. That was about the price most clearing and grading companies wanted just to get rid of the trees and no septic system. We now have a 1/3 of an acre lot with a septic system and a circular driveway (not a lot of gravel on it but it will eventually be concrete) for $12,500. I am pretty satisfied. I had figured the work would cost around $10K. I was WAYYYYY off. I'd expect around $10K for 3 acres in my area if it is not congested and they leave the trees or have a place to take them for free.

One interesting note....in our area pine trees have almost no roots....I suspect planted pines have even less. I really expected the place to look like a bombing range....instead those old huge pine trees had a root ball about 18 inches deep and maybe 8 feet in diameter...it is amazing they stand up. Its especially amazing when you watch a 10 tone excavator drive up to a pine tree you can't reach around and slowly push the damned thing over....roots and all.

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Is there any value in a piece so small?

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A pile of value to the people who clear land...they get paid handsomely to get shed of them. As far as value as lumber or pulp almost none....at least in my area. I know people with HUNDREDS of acres who can't give them away in my area. People who are in the industry. It is a huge problem in my area...and going to get worse because they grow so damned fast that they almost have to be harvested at some point no matter how little they are worth or they become permanently valueless. LOT of difference in hauling a 18 inch 40 foot long pine tree and a 36 inch 120 foot long one....