Pine plantation- wood prices

Those were the same prices I got a little over a year ago on a 2nd thinning. I have not followed the market since; glad they're the same so I don't have to kick myself for not waiting.

So many variables involved in valuing a property, but them getting $9-10 at the mill for pulpwood and a little more than double that for chip and saw is normal.

Main variables are property, access, and distance to mills

Get another bid or two. What's it gonna hurt?

Most of the time it is sorted by its diameter at the "ring knot". This is the first collection of live limbs --usually 2-4 -- coming from essentially one spot up on the tree. This is where the usuable lumber ends. So, your logger will cut the tree off about 1' below the ring knot. It's diameter at this point is its "top size".

This determines what category it falls into from a size standpoint. Medium CNS, sawtimber, etc.

A tree 12-14" diameter at chest height (DBH) isn't Chip N Saw. That's sawtimber. A tree with 14" DBH will have a 16-17" butt, and it's top will usually be 9-11" at a merchantable height of 38-45 feet. This tree will weigh very close to one ton.

That is a perfect tree for a modern chipper canter sawmill (Chip N Saw mill). It's actually on the large size for that market. Typically, at a second thinning, those are the trees you want to leave, not cut. Unless they have a defect or something.

When you do a second thinning, you are hoping to leave 110-140 trees to the acre. This is your terminal crop. When you harvest these at age 30-40 you want as many of them to make ply logs, or grade logs as possible. Even in a bad market, you can expect to get $30-35 per ton for the best logs at the terminal harvest.

10-15 years ago, that price was $40-45. But it may be a while before we see those prices again. In real, inflation adjusted terms, they may never reach those levels.

It happens but most decent business men aren't gonna risk years and jail and losing everything they own over a few loads of wood.

about normal for what we pay in NW LA and we mostly do first and second thinnings Like others said a lot of variables, including land. If we can cut in winter we will pay more than flatwoods. We probably already have more summer tracts bought than we will be able to get to. As far as rerouted loads, there are some unscrupulous companies out there, but just not worth it. You should get a copy of the loader log with times, the load tickets, and a stumpage report, all will cross reference each other. Every load we bring into the mill has to be tied to a tract and the mills will randomly verify. We have had landowners sit and count loads, hey its their property... Just use someone with a good reputation and get it in writing before they start.

Ditto. Thanks for the info.

This thread has reminded me I need to talk to my grand father more about his work before his days are through. He was on the service side of paper and lumber mills until he retired only a few years ago. Alzheimer's is stealing his memory away right now bit by bit though.

Most wood and work related stuff is stuck in there though. Ater being in the industry since 1959 or so, it's hard to route out I guess.

Any of you old timers? Remember Soderham's? Might be spelling that wrong. Huge outfit until the 70s/ early 80s.

good job Colors, very informative.