Timber Market

[Dennis]

Was just wondering if y’all would want to share what your timber markets are like in your areas. I grew up in the mountains of south west Virginia and did some mechanized logging for a couple years, I moved to the north eastern part of Virginia about four years ago and noticed a major difference in the prices of timber and what was being cut. I have started doing mule logging on a part time basis and am somewhat discouraged on the markets in this area. Most of what is done around here is pulp wood and it is bringing in about $35 a ton. Pine logs are bringing in $165 mbf, which is $45 dollars less than pulp by weight. The hardwood mills are around $210- $225mbf, if it is larger than a 12″ log you can get $275mbf because they are cutting them for railroad ties. So far I have notice that logs are measured by weight and not looked at and graded, so from a poor quality log to veneer they all bring in the same price. I have been able to market smaller loads of logs to individuals who are interested in cutting there own lumber, since I just haul with a gooseneck flatbed on a ton truck. So I was just interested in seeing what you guys around the map are seeing as prices and what extra you are able to market.

[Baystatetom]

Denis, I sell timber on the stump to skidder loggers so we may be comparing apples to oranges. Straight through on the stump $ up front based on my tally is how I do it. Red Oak $300-$400/mbf, eastern white pine $75-$150, hemlock $50/mbf, Sugar Maple and cherry $400, red maple, Black and Yellow Birch $100ish, white ash $150, beech, white birch, other pallet grade stuff $40-$50/mbf.
They haul logs from western Mass. all the way to Canada, I should think if you could load trailers you could find a mill to take your grade logs for more money then they are worth for RR ties. But it does take time and effort finding those connections. Good luck and stay safe.
~Tom

[Rick Alger]

In northern NH, pulp runs around $33 a ton. White pine and spruce/fir around $300. Red pine and hemlock around $200. Pallet and ties around 180. Very little high quality hardwood up here. When I get something decent I bring it to a collection yard. We are well over 100 miles from most markets so you need a tractor trailer load of a specific type in order to move it. Trucking can be over 500 a load.

[Does’ Leap]

I sell hemlock to a local mill that is paying $275 / mbf straight through with a premium ($315) for 18′< logs with 16"< diameter. Log length firewood runs between $70 and $80 / chord on the landing. George

[PhilG]

in Colorado,
i just paid $3000 for a load (20+ tons) of dug fir saw logs, lots of surface rott though, $2,000 to $2,500 for load of engelman spruce saw logs, between $5,000 and $8,000 for load of spruce house logs (26-28 @18″ midspan, 40-50′) $800-$1,200 for lodgepole firewood logs or mixed firewood logs, ranges from 35-45 tons depending on how curly and scragly they are usually about 12-15 cords when cut and split. Nice dug fir saw/house logs from Utah or Idaho about $4-5,000 delivered to Colorado, usually some surface rott also. Buying off the log decks we can get Lodgepole for $400 a load, Spruce for $1,000 to $2,000 depending on if you can sort at the pile. Stumpage on spruce and fir is about $25-$28 mbf, lodgpole they are paying to remove about $1-2,000 and acre, or just letting it rott. Private is a good option now around here, we have gotten at the wood for free instead of charging to remove it in a few cases, it can work out great for both parties, with the lack of building around here though a lot of good logs end up in the firewood pile this time of year, its worth $150 a cord cut and split, and my kids are doing ALL the splitting now so they get most of that (great kids job!)

[Baystatetom]

I am to lazy to look for the link this minute but a lot of states extension service post the average stumpages prices quarterly. I know for sure Mass. does it and am pretty sure I have seen them from other states as well. Try googleing stumpage prices, you’ll find it.
~Tom

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