NEBRASKA'S FOREST PRODUCTS BULLETIN

TIMBER TALK


LUMBER MARKET REPORTS
 
Northern

Data from this week’s surveys point out a significant downturn in kiln dried hardwood lumber business. Respondents unanimously stated sales to cabinet, wood furniture, and wood component customers were slow. Activity to distribution yards, residential flooring, truck trailer flooring, and moulding/millwork companies was also described as slow by 75% of those surveyed; the remaining 25% stated business to these market sectors was fair. Two thirds of green lumber suppliers acknowledged sales were fair, with the other one third stating activity was slow for green grade lumber. Comments on industrial markets were more mixed. Half of the responding tie producers stated markets are good, while the other half said demand is either fair or slow. Conversations with treaters and railroad contacts point out uncertainty about future tie needs and availability. If the US economy is slow to improve, there will be fewer tie insertions this summer than were previously planned. And if sawmill operators cannot ship total mill output and residuals, tie supplies could be adversely affected in the longer term. All sectors of the hardwood industry have been damaged to some extent by COVID-19 shutdowns, and there is no clarity on when businesses can expect demand for products to gain traction. It is hardly possible for companies to make sound decisions about the future when there is a high degree of worldwide market volatility.

Southern

Just as Chinese markets begin to slow, domestic demand for kiln dried lumber is showing signs of improvement. Still, sales and shipments of kiln dried hardwood lumber are not good, overall, and are inadequate to sustain steady, efficient sawmill and dry kiln production. There also are other problems facing area mills. Of particular concern, green #2A&3A markets are extremely weak, due to slow sales and declining prices for solid wood residential and truck trailer flooring. Too, some area mills are struggling to find outlets for residual products, such as chips and sawdust. Sawmill operators cannot run efficiently without having outlets for total production and offal. The estimated annual rate of Eastern US hardwood lumber production fell to 4.317 billion board feet in May, dropping to the lowest level since HMR began tracking these figures (1960). Yet, supply and demand for many products are still not aligned.

Appalachian

The estimated annual rate of Eastern US hardwood lumber production for May was 4.317 billion board feet. That is barely half the levels of the last three years and is the lowest rate in the 60 years HMR has been tracking production. While production has fallen, demand has plunged even faster. Sawmills are encountering considerable difficulty moving green lumber to almost every market. And, now that exports are slowing to China, the same is true for drying operations. Green mills typically do not hold onto sawn lumber and industrial products, but many are doing just that because they cannot generate enough orders to cover total output. Contacts throughout the hardwood supply chain believe May will prove to be the low point for the industry, with improvement coming each successive month. With the economy slowly reopening, there is reason for cautious optimism, although the timing and strength of the recovery are uncertain

(Source: Condensed from Hardwood Market Report, June 5, 2020. For more information or to subscribe to Hardwood Market Report, call (901) 767-9216, email: hmr@hmr.com, website: www.hmr.com)
Hardwood Lumber Prices - Green 
 
Species FAS #1C #2A
6/20 2/20 11/19 5/18 2/19 11/18 8/18 5/18 2/19 11/18 8/18 5/18
Ash 1090 1090 1230 1210 695 700 845 810 420 420 455 445
Basswood 780 795 795 795 420 420 430 430 275 215 225 225
Cottonwood 780 780 780 780 575 575 575 575 260 260 260 260
Cherry 980 1010 1050 1110 500 515 555 590 290 310 320 335
Elm 670 670 670 650 420 420 420 420 290 290 290 290
Hackberry 530 530 530 530 480 480 480 480 295 295 295 295
Hickory 785 800 800 850 515 530 530 545 415 400 400 415
Soft Maple 1305 1235 1235 1180 830 820 790 760 470 460 460 460
Red Oak 855 780 760 825 555 530 540 560 445 485 495 515
White Oak 1725 1700 1700 1725 875 885 895 970 510 540 550 550
Walnut 2240 2175 2175 2315 1175 1175 1175 1300 465 465 465 510
Note: Lumber prices quoted in $/MBF, average market prices FOB mill, truckload and greater quantities, 4/4, rough, green, random widths and lengths graded in accordance with NHLA rules. Prices for ash, basswood, northern soft grey elm, unselected soft maple, red oak and white oak from Northern Hardwoods list. Prices for cottonwood and hackberry from Southern Hardwoods list. Prices for cherry, hickory and walnut (steam treated) from Appalachian Hardwoods list. (Source: Hardwood Market Report (HMR), above prices are from the first issue of the identifed month. To subscribe to HMR, call 901-767-9126; email hmr@hmr.com; or go to www.hmr.com.)
Hardwood Lumber Prices - Kiln Dried 
 
Species FAS #1C #2A
6/20 2/20 11/19 8/19 6/20 2/20 11/19 8/19 6/20 2/20 11/19 8/19
Ash 1225 1225 1300 1400 765 830 860 935 595 620 675 720
Basswood 1200 1200 1200 1200 720 720 720 730 475 485 485 485
Cottonwood 1025 1025 1025 1025 760 760 760 760 ---- ---- ---- ----
Cherry 1495 1470 1565 1800 970 910 975 1140 575 560 580 680
Elm ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Hackberry ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Hickory 1425 1425 1450 1460 1000 1000 1040 1080 860 860 900 940
Soft Maple 1810 1715 1690 1630 1165 1170 1150 1105 790 800 800 800
Red Oak 1250 1160 1200 1355 995 900 870 935 790 780 790 805
White Oak 2375 2350 2350 2350 1330 1330 1330 1510 995 1010 1010 1025
Walnut 3650 3575 3575 3725 2050 2050 2100 2375 1130 1165 1215 1450
Note: Kiln dried prices in $/MBF, FOB mill, is an estimate of predominant prices for 4/4 lumber measured after kiln drying. Prices for cottonwood and hackberry from Southern Hardwoods list. Prices for ash, basswood, northern soft grey elm, unselected soft maple, red oak, and white oak from Northern Hardwood list. Prices for cherry, hickory and walnut (steam treated) from Appalachian Hardwoods list. (Source: Hardwood Market Report (HMR), above prices are from the first issue of the identified month. To subscribe to HMR, call 901-767-9126; email hmr@hmr.com; or go to www.hmr.com.)
Pallet Lumber - Green
Dimension 6/20 2/20 11/19 8/19
4/4 x RW 355 405 405 405
5/4 x RW 390 420 420 420
6/4 x RW 415 445 445 445
4/4 x SW 400 440 440 440
5/4 x SW 420 450 450 450
6/4 x SW 450 480 480 480
Ties (7x9) - Green
Region 6/20 2/20 11/19 8/19
Crossties ---- ---- ---- ----
Northern - 8.5' 27.9 - 31.5 27.9 - 31.5 27.9 - 31.5 27.9 - 31.5
Appalachian (South) - 8.5' 29.5 - 34.5 30.5 - 36 30.5 - 35.5 30.5 - 35.5
Appalachian (North) - 8.5' 28.5 - 32.5 30 - 34.5 30.25-34.25 30.25 - 34.25
Southern (West) - 9' 31.5 - 35.5 31.5 - 37 31.5 - 37 31.5 - 37
Southern (East) - 8.5' 31 - 35.5 31 - 37 31.5 - 37 31.5 - 37

FOREST NEWS

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Kearney 
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that the emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Kearney. A severely declining street tree located near Pioneer Park was determined to be infested with the insect. This detection adds Buffalo County to the growing list of Nebraska counties with known EAB infestations.
EAB Info
Hardwood Log Scaling

By Collin Buntrock, Wisconsin DNR forest products team leader, Rhinelander, 608‐286‐9083 and Scott Lyon, Wisconsin DNR forest products specialist, Green Bay, 920‐360‐3722

Why scale logs? Log scaling (volume estimation) and log grading (quality determination) provide the basis for the sale of logs thereby encouraging the equitable exchange of logs between landowner, logger, and mill owner. Furthermore, mills may use a combination of scaling and grading as a method for tracking log inventory, quality control, and operating efficiency. Click the link for the full article.
Hardwood Log Scaling
Online Kiln Drying Workshop Recordings Available

Over a 4-week period, NHLA hosted a webinar series on kiln drying hardwood lumber. The series was taught by Gene Wengert, President of the Wood Doctor’s Rx LLC, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin.

Topics included:

· Measuring moisture content during drying: weighing and moisture meters

· Safe dry wood storage

· Control of dry wood powder post beetle

· Using moisture content to control the drying process

· Causes and cures for drying defects

To review the recorded webinar, click on the link below.
Webinar
Timber Sales

The following listings are for stands of timber or logs being offered for sale by owners or persons of delegated authority. Timber was cruised and/or marked for harvest by the Nebraska Forest Service or other professional foresters. Volumes in board feet (Doyle scale unless otherwise indicated) are estimates by the forester. If no volume is listed, the trees or logs were not marked by a forester and the listing is included only as a marketing service to the owner. Listings are prepared according to the information at the time of publication.

Timber Information 

Black Walnut, 40 trees

Veneer 2 – 148 bf

Veneer 3 – 720 bf

Lumber 1 – 1,601 bf

Lumber 2 – 5,286 bf

Lumber 3 – 2,641 bf

Total – 10,396 bf

Forester/Date Seller Information

Karloff 6/2020
Scott Beckman 11741 County Road 9 Arlington, NE 68002 Ph: (605) 376-0906 Location: Washington County

TRADING POST

The Trading Post is provided as a free marketing service for the forestry industry. Only forestry-related advertisements will be accepted. Please submit written ads to the Timber Talk editor at least 15 days before scheduled Timber Talk publication dates. Ads may be edited to meet space constraints.

FOR SALE
 
Post Peeler - Morbark PS8 Post Peeler. Comes with 2 engines, 1 diesel and 1 electric. 8ft in-feed table with short return system. 33 ft of dead rolls with markers for trimming with hydraulic bar saw. Markers for 6½, 7, 8 and 10ft posts. Several bunks and banding equipment included. 24ft triple axle trailer for hauling also included. In excellent condition. Video available. Call John Hahn. 308-430-0630(c); 308-638-7531(h) Hay Springs, Nebraska.

Mulch - City of Nebraska City has approx. 60 semi loads of single grind mulch $200/ semi load or $50/dump truck load. Shipping not included. Arrangements will be made to load. Contact: Marty Stovall 402-873-5515 or email mstovall@nebraskacity.com.

Sawmill - Mighty Mite bandsaw. 20 HP electric motor, tandem axles w/ brakes on one axle, 36” x 24’ log capacity, (have cut 46” beams) hydraulic operation includes winch, knees, taper, near arm, dogging arms, far arm, dogging spike, log loading arms, and electric clutch and blade lift. Includes automatic blade sharpener, setting machine, 12 used blades and 4 new blades. Excellent condition. Never been used commercially. $17,500. Contact: Gary Fisher, Crawford, NE. Phone: 308-665-1580; email: fisher@bbcwb.net.

Walnut Lumber - All dimensions. $3.00 per board foot. Falls City, NE. Contact: Bruce Walker at 402-245-2031.


SERVICES AND MISC. 

Portable Sawmilling Service - Offering portable sawmilling service, turning your logs into valuable lumber. Contact : Doug Patton, D&S Sawmill Services, Palmyra, NE. Phone : (402)-269-4866 or Email : dssawmillservices@gmail.com

Woodshop Services - Millwork made from your lumber on my planer/molder. Chris Marlowe, Butte, NE 402-775-5000. Marlowepasture@nntc.net.

Sawmill Service and Supplies - Saw hammering and welding. Precision knife and saw grinding. Contact: Tim Schram, Schram Saw and Machine, PO Box 718, 204 E. 3rd St., Ponca, NE 68770, 402-755-4294.

Used Portable Sawmills - North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and equipment. Contact: Sawmill Exchange, 800-459-2148, website: www.sawmillexchange.com.


WANTED

Wood Residue - Slab wood, cutoffs, sawdust, mulch, bales, etc. Lincoln, NE. Call Scott Hofeling at 402-432-0806 or email scott@hofelingenterprises.com.

Logs and Slabwood - Cottonwood, cedar and pine. 4-26” diameter and 90-100” lengths. Below saw grade logs acceptable. Contact: American Wood Fibers, Clarks, NE at 800-662- 5459; or email: Pat Krish at pkrish@AWF.com.

Cottonwood Logs - Veneer-quality cottonwood logs, 16-36” diameter, 7’ and longer. Pick up service available. Contact: Barcel Mill & Lumber, Bellwood, NE 68624. Ask for Barton or Megan. Phone: 800-201-4780; email: bj@barcelmill.com.
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