Market for Scotch Pine Poles?

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  • February 12, 2016 at 1:53 pm #87662
    JaredWoodcock
    Participant

    Is there a market for Scotch Pine Poles? I am going to be thinning a bunch pretty soon.

    February 13, 2016 at 9:01 am #87674
    Rick Alger
    Participant

    In my area at this time, round wood biomass is the only option.

    February 14, 2016 at 6:16 am #87682
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    When you say poles, do you mean like utility poles? Scots pine, if it grows straight, makes great utility poles. It is the species that the CCA pressure treatment was developed on. However in US most varieties have very weak leaders which leads to curvy growth, which is inferior for poles.

    About the most active utility pole market I know of in the NE is E & F Wood in Woodstock Valley, CT. Hans Frankhouser (860) 377-0601 e.f.wood@hotmail.com http://efwoodweb.com/index.htm

    I am pretty sure that Brad Johnson spoke to the log buyer within the last few months.

    Otherwise some mills or concentration yards that buy red pine sawlogs will also buy Scots pine, again if the logs are straight.

    Otherwise, as Rick says, chipwood or pulp is about your only hope.

    BTW, don’t plan on paying much if anything for stumpage on anything less than utility poles. Market value for these products is barely adequate to cover logging costs. Utility poles usually pay 2-3x what sawlogs are worth.

    Carl

    February 14, 2016 at 11:24 am #87685
    JaredWoodcock
    Participant

    The stand is mostly weaveled white pine and a plantation of scots and red (rumor is that they were intended to be c-mas trees). The landowner is going to drop and chop most of the stand to release some of the hardwoods and create some deer habitat. I am going in being paid hourly by the neighbor, to get some of the poles and salvage some white pine sawlogs for his new barn. Because the landowner doesnt want any of the softwood he has said we can take as much as we want which will save him time thinning. They had logged another 70 acres of hardwood last year so there is a huge landing with easy downhill skids. I will look into the utility pole market. I was planning on only working some hourly jobs this year as I learn the ropes but this might be a good opportunity to try and sell some logs as well.

    February 14, 2016 at 9:12 pm #87695
    Brad Johnson
    Participant

    The pole market is tricky to be sure. You do get a lot more money than selling red pine for logs, but you have to load the poles on the truck yourself, which is no picnic with poles up to 50+ feet in length. I have 130 or so poles marked by Hans on the woodlot I am on now, and I am going to try to send them, but have not yet figured out the loading. Carl is right that you cannot afford to pay any stumpage unless you get pole money. Not sure if Hans will take scotch pine but might be worth a try.
    -Brad

    February 14, 2016 at 9:35 pm #87697
    JaredWoodcock
    Participant

    Well I forgot a crucial detail, the landowner has a big tractor, excavator, and bulldozer at the landing because he is building a new house. I would have to be careful with the excavator to not damage the pole but it might work. I will keep you posted as we finish the logging for the barn I may try to sell the poles.

    Thanks Again

    February 14, 2016 at 11:50 pm #87699
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    I always just paid a local trucker by the hour to load the poles for me. Just need room for the truck with the loader and the trailer to park side by side.

    Carl

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Carl Russell.
    February 16, 2016 at 12:01 pm #87709
    Brad Johnson
    Participant

    Excavaotor will work, if is big enough. That is no problem with Hans – I asked him that question…
    -Brad

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