Northern Area
This week’s surveys show what contacts indicated most of October – that most end users are experiencing slower new orders and shallower order files. Sales of hardwood goods are mostly in the fair category, but some pallet, upholstered furniture, and wood component makers state that sales are weak. A few flooring and moulding/millwork manufacturers note good sales. Finished goods inventories are listed as adequate to high for most all sectors, with only a few flooring companies posting low inventory status. Northern suppliers’ responses are equally negative in regard to end users’ needs for hardwood lumber. The cabinet, distribution yard, wood furniture, and wood component sectors each registered slow to fair ratings. All Northern vendors list moulding/millwork as weak, while business to truck trailer flooring producers is mostly positive. However, production in this region is not very high. Wet weather conditions across the Upper Midwest slowed logging and log receipts for many area mills. Too, weak pulpwood markets continue to impact logging activity. In addition, it is difficult to obtain a reasonable return on log investments based on current green pricing. In total, developing supplies are marginally adequate to meet the market’s needs for several key species, including Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Red Oak, and White Oak. A few species continue to be problematic for area mills, such as Basswood and Aspen.
ASH: Most secondary manufacturers and lumber distributors have experienced a slowdown in sales, but Ash supplies are not adequate to meet the market’s needs for several grades and thicknesses. Shortages are driving price gains, but prices are rising, nonetheless. Information raises the kiln dried 4/4 Fas figures, as well as the low ends of the 4/4 #2A ranges. Green production is limited, with Fas&Sel output especially low. The 4/4 and 5/4 Fas&Sel listings advance. Transactions show steady pricing for green #1C and #2A, allowing the published figures to stand.
ASPEN: Business is not particularly good for this species. Aspen has lost market share to MDF, plywood, and non-wood products. Low grade lumber is challenging to move, as well, especially material destined for pallet manufacturers. Reported prices show downward movement, requiring reductions to the green 4/4 #2B&Btr listings. Meanwhile, kiln dried inventories are high relative to demand. However, previous reductions have most of the kiln dried figures in order. Only the top sides of the 4/4 Fas ranges are decreased.
BASSWOOD: Most sawmill operators report level to lower log inventories, which is not unusual for this time of year. But transition from fall to winter can provide opportunity for mills to clean up log decks. And while primary producers are dodging this species to the extent possible, developing supplies are excessive to the market’s needs. Some mills are stacking unsellable lumber, while others do not have that option. Open market transactions point out broadly lower pricing for green stocks. All of the green #2B&Btr listings are reduced. Kiln dried inventories are elevated, due to lack of interest in most grades and thicknesses. However, vendors are not under the same pressure to ship kiln dried Basswood as they are green material. Transactions point out a downward price bias, but movement is within the #2A&Btr ranges, allowing the kiln dried figures to stand.
BIRCH: Birch has a strong presence in the marketplace as a standalone species in a number of finished goods applications. While demand from regular customers has declined over time, sales are decent, and prices are steady. However, non-traditional business is slow, and prices are down. Balancing the variance in pricing in regular activity versus non-traditional business is challenging, with wide margins in pricing noted. But past changes have the kiln dried #2A&Btr figures in order. Green Birch production is not very high but is sufficient to satisfy buyers’ requirements. The green #3A&Btr listings are in order for now.
HARD MAPLE: Green Hard Maple production is beginning to pick up slightly. However, output has been low for an extended period of time, resulting in shortages of several kiln dried grades and thicknesses. At the same time, demand for good Unselected and #1&2 White is steady, while interest in off-color material is slow. The kiln dried #1&2 White 6/4 #1C&Btr and 5/4 #1C figures advance, as do the bottom ends of the 4/4 Fas and top sides of the 4/4 #1C ranges. The Unselected 5/4 #1C figures are raised along with the low ends of the 4/4 Fas ranges. Concentration yards and secondary manufacturers are working to bolster on hand supplies amid controlled production. Green prices are responding, with all of the #1&2 White #2A&Btr and Unselected #3A&Btr listings climbing.
SOFT MAPLE: Interest in Soft Maple has increased for the same reason Hard Maple business has improved – shortages of available lumber. Eastern US production is on pace to be the lowest since HMR began tracking data in 1960. Competition for developing supplies is pushing prices for green stocks up. All published thicknesses of Sap&Btr and Unselected #2A&Btr are raised. Kiln dried business has accelerated for the same reason. Demand for Fas is best, with the Sap&Btr 4/4 through 8/4 Fas listings and low end range figures advancing. In addition, the Unselected 4/4 Fas figures are increased.
RED OAK: Wet weather conditions are affecting the flow of logs from the woods to area mills, including Red Oak. End users would like to boost on hand supplies but are struggling to do so. Reported prices for green 4/4 through 8/4 #1C&Btr are increased. Because mill output has been controlled for some time, kiln dried inventories are thin for several items. Information raises the 5/4 #1C&Btr, 6/4 #1C&Btr, and 4/4 #1C listings and ranges
Southern Area
Log inventories are widely varied throughout the Southern region. Extremely dry weather conditions have provided logging contractors access to timber, but not all area mills are willing to pay prices necessary to purchase available raw materials. Other local mills have increased log decks and green production. Most lumber buyers indicate receipts were better in October than in previous months, though on hand supplies are low for concentration yards and some secondary manufacturers.
ASH: Multiple contacts state that lowland logging conditions are the best they have seen in many years. More Ash logs are flowing to area mills, and green output is a bit higher. The marketplace is welcoming the additional volume, and reported prices for green #2A&Btr are steady. Kiln dried business is holding up well. Interest in Fas is best, though demand for #1C and #2A is decent. Prices vary accordingly, but any price changes are within the #2A&Btr ranges.
COTTONWOOD: Markets for green #1C&Btr are solid, while interest in low grade and Cottonwood cants is not very good. At the same time, log decks are improving, and production is edging up. Reported prices for #1C&Btr are firm, with #2A and #2B pricing weak, but no changes are warranted to the #2B&Btr listings. Meanwhile, kiln dried business has not gained momentum, and inventories have increased. Transactions point out prices in line with last week.
PECAN & HICKORY: Demand for these species is weak and is especially lackluster from the residential solid wood flooring sector. Most end users have ample supplies amid somewhat higher green production. Reported prices are lower, necessitating decreases to the 4/4 #1C&Btr listings, as well as all thicknesses of #2A and #2B.
#2A&3A OAK: Demand for truck trailer flooring is far better than for solid wood residential flooring. And buyers from the truck trailer sector are more assertive with purchases than buyers from the residential sector. Prices vary accordingly, though information holds the green #2A&3A Red and White Oak listings in check.
RED OAK: Most sawmill contacts report higher green Red Oak production the past few weeks. Concentration yards and secondary manufacturers are readily accepting developing supplies. Reported prices for #3A&Btr are reflective of activity. Kiln dried inventories remain low, especially for the most desirable lengths and widths. Those items are bringing premiums over unselected Red Oak. Transactions point out steady pricing for #2A&Btr, allowing the published figures to stand.
WHITE OAK: Activity for #1C&Btr White Oak is better than for any other species originating from this region. The lower grades are performing well, but not like upper grade White Oak. Buyers cannot get enough, and prices are responding. The green 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f listings are raised. Increases are also warranted to the kiln dried 4/4 and 5/4 Fas figures.
POPLAR: Total demand for hardwood finished goods and hardwood lumber is not particularly good in the US or abroad. However, Poplar is a mainstay species in manufactured products. But production is meeting buyers’ needs for most grades and thicknesses. Interest in Fas&1f is best, and reported prices are firm for these grades. However, all of the green #2B&Btr listings are representative of reported pricing. Markets for kiln dried Poplar are decent, and inventories are not very high. Transactions point out prices in line with last week.
FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD: Even though green production is low, supplies of well air dried framestock are ample for the current rate of demand. Reported prices are soft, but the Oak and Mixed Species ranges are reflective of activity. The slower US and world economies are impacting global shipments of goods and demand for pallets and containers. Most end users have ample raw material supplies and are purchasing for replacement needs. Reported prices are weak, though any price changes are within the cant range. 7x9 crosstie business is solid, as treaters work to build on hand supplies. Some facilities are at maximum receiving capabilities for now though are still purchasing steady volumes. Transactions point out steady pricing for 7x9 crossties. Board road business is slow but steady, and reported prices are in line with last week, allowing the listing and range to stand.
Appalachian Area
The Appalachian lumber price matrices show additional increases for many green and kiln dried items this week, and only one reduction (green 4/4 #1C Hickory). That said, upward price momentum is less pronounced than in previous weeks for several species, including Ash, Cherry, Hard Maple, and Red Oak. Supplies of these species are far from overwhelming demand, but production has nudged up in parts of the Appalachian region and is easing price pressures. Most secondary wood products manufacturers have adequate lumber inventories compared to the current rate of finished goods demand. Many that had bought extra lumber in August and early September have transitioned to replacement purchasing mode.
ASH: This species is performing better than most others in overseas markets. For example, year to date US exports of Ash lumber to China climbed 20% through August, during which time combined shipments of all other species to China fell 12%. Green Ash is moving well to concentration yards with export programs. However, green and kiln dried sales to domestic end users are slow. Reported prices keep most of the green listings intact though do raise the 4/4 #1C and #2A figures. The kiln dried 6/4 Fas, 4/4 and 5/4 #1C, and 4/4 #2A listings and most range numbers also advance.
BASSWOOD: Secondary wood products manufacturers that use Basswood are struggling with slow finished goods business. In addition, non-solid and non-wood materials are encroaching on Basswood’s market share in several product categories. Given these circumstances and related price declines in recent months, sawmills and resellers are processing less of this species. Green and kiln dried prices are nevertheless pressured, but previous reductions have all the published figures in order.
CHERRY: Reports about demand for this species continue to vary based on the markets being served. Sales companies that ship most of their Cherry to China – or which supply such companies with green lumber – are experiencing the better side of business. There has been a level of continuity in orders and shipments, along with recovering prices. On the other hand, sales operations that rely on domestic markets are struggling to generate orders. Green and kiln dried prices have risen substantially in recent months, but that upward momentum is beginning to ease. Even so, the green 4/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f listings warrant increases in both producing areas, as do the kiln dried Appalachian 6/4 and 8/4 Fas listings and top side range numbers.
HICKORY: Reduced interest from the residential wood flooring industry is weighing heavily on total demand for Hickory. Flooring producers have not altogether stopped Hickory purchases, but they are buying much less than before and continue to lower prices. The listing for green 4/4 #1C – which many flooring plants use as a basis for flat pricing on #3A&Btr purchases – is reduced this week. All the other green listings remain intact for now. Reports about markets for kiln dried 4/4 #2A&Btr Hickory are overwhelmingly negative; buyers are showing little interest in this species. However, some companies are having success selling rustic items. The kiln dried 4/4 #2A&Btr listings and ranges hold steady in this issue.
HARD MAPLE: Sales contacts are not as enthused about business for this species as in recent weeks. Markets are not quiet, but they are less energized. Likewise, prices are not climbing as rapidly or as broadly as they were. All that said, activity is stronger in the northeastern section of the region than elsewhere. Reported prices for most #1&2 White items are similar to last week, with only the noted kiln dried 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 Fas range figures advancing. The green Unselected 4/4 through 5/4 #2A&Btr and 6/4 through 8/4 #1C&Btr listings also bump up.
SOFT MAPLE: Market conditions for Soft Maple are largely parallel with those for Hard Maple. Reports point out decent Soft Maple sales that are mostly supply driven. Green prices did register broader gains for Soft Maple than Hard Maple this week, but from lower baselines. All of the listings in both color classifications are raised except for Sap&Btr 5/4 through 8/4 Fas&1f. For kiln dried Soft Maple, the 4/4 Fas and 5/4 #2A figures climb in both color designations, along with the Unselected 6/4 and 8/4 Fas listings and ranges.
#2A&3A OAK: Oak strip flooring manufacturers are contending with relatively slow business and softening sales prices. Most are controlling #2A&3A Red Oak lumber purchases, and some are doing the same with White Oak purchases. At the same time, truck trailer flooring plants are buying consistent quantities of #2A&3A in both species. Transactions show a few reductions but are mostly consistent with last week, allowing all of the listings to stand.
RED OAK: Sawmill operators report decent demand for green Red Oak. While all grades are salable, Fas&1f and #1C are moving a bit better than #2A&3A. Higher reported prices lift the 4/4 Fas&1f, 5/4 Fas&1f, and 5/4 through 8/4 #1C listings. Domestic sales of kiln dried Red Oak are mediocre, at best. Chinese demand improved for a time this summer but has since moderated. Nevertheless, sellers do not have an abundance of kiln dried Red Oak to offer customers due to historically low sawmill production this year. No changes are warranted to the kiln dried figures in this issue.
WHITE OAK: This is among the bestselling species in the hardwood marketplace. Sales of upper grade White Oak are limited more by supply than demand, and prices are surging. The green WHAD and WHND Fas&1f listings and kiln dried Fas listings and ranges climb in all published thicknesses. Markets for #1C are fairly busy. Prices are firm, though only the green 6/4 and 8/4 #1C listings warrant increases this week. Green #2A&3A and kiln dried #2A are moving steadily at prices consistent with previous reports.
POPLAR: Supply and demand for Poplar are relatively balanced, overall. Consumption is holding up well in several key US markets, particularly the moulding and millwork industry. Prices range from steady to firm, though previous adjustments have all the green and kiln dried listings and ranges in order.
WALNUT: Drying operations are struggling to purchase sufficient volumes of this species. And the green Walnut being produced is commanding sharply higher prices. The 4/4 through 8/4 #2A&Btr listings all advance, with some items notching big gains. Markets are not as robust for kiln dried as for green Walnut. However, in both the US and China, Fas is moving well, #1C sales are decent, and #2A business is not bad. All of the listings and ranges remain intact.
FRAMESTOCK, CANTS, TIES, & BOARD ROAD: Sales of Mixed Species framestock to upholstered furniture factories are slow, and Oak framestock sales are slower still. However, the respective ranges are representative of prices in observed and reported transactions. Market conditions for hardwood pallets further deteriorated this week, according to surveyed pallet manufacturers. There are some bright spots both regionally and by industry sector, but not many. More and more sawmills are finding it difficult to move all developing cants. Cant prices continue to soften, yet previous decreases have the listing and range in order. Sawmills are welcoming steady orders for 7x9 crossties from treating operations. Mills are sawing more Hickory into crossties due to faltering sales and selling prices for grade lumber. Reported prices are in line with the Northern Appalachian and Southern Appalachian 7x9 crosstie ranges. Cooler weather has further reduced what was already weak demand for board road. Prices are largely unchanged in ongoing activity
(Source: Condensed from Hardwood Market Report,November 3, 2023. For more information or to subscribe to Hardwood Market Report, call (901) 767-9216, email: hmr@hmr.com, website: www.hmr.com)
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NEW: Softwood Appraisal Bulletin
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US Forest Service Region 2 covers Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, & Wyoming.
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Industry Thoughts/Quotes:
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News and quotes about the industry and utilization... Excerpts from the articles that caught my eye and indicate a common theme I'll recap below. [Words in square brackets are summaries of adjacent text or background info]. (Links are provided should you want to read the entire thing.)
Debate on Tahoe forest health best practices continue on cusp of timber mill opening
Tahoe Dailey Tribune - November 25, 2023
[The area was over logged in the Comstock era (1860-1920)]… logging companies decimated the forest, cutting down large trees that had commercial value and not acknowledging what those effects would have on future generations of the forest.
[Pre-1860 likely 20 trees per acre. Now 50-75 trees per acre. 2007 Angora Fire burned 3,100 acres destroying 242 residences; 2021 Caldor fire burned 221,835 acres destroying 1,003 structures.]
…Tahoe Forest Products LLC, the new timber mill that has been built in Carson City in a partnership with the Washoe Development Corporation, which is an affiliate of the Washoe Tribe. TFP has been accepting logs for over a year now and will start lumber production this fall.
[All equipment was purchased at auction from other closed mills.]
…Tahoe Forest Products isn’t a big enough sawmill to keep up with the amount of lumber that’s been cleared. “We are a helper [of mitigating fire risk in the Tahoe area] but not the entire solution. We are not big enough of a sawmill to harvest all the trees.”
Read the entire article
Milling or burning? Two experts offer differing views on managing eastern red cedar
North Platte Telegraph - November 27, 2023
The most cost-effective way to manage eastern red cedar is fire management, says Andy Moore, Loess Canyons coordinating wildlife biologist with Pheasants Forever.
Not so, according to saw mill operator John Peterson. When he sees a controlled burn, he says, “There goes a couple hundred thousand dollars down the drain, or more, you know.”
Some land may be worth cutting cedar from if the terrain is accessible enough, Peterson said.
[In a recording of the interview by Ryan Herzog posted above the article on the North Platte Telegraph website, John Peterson is heard saying:]
“See the mindset of the ranchers and the conservationists is to get rid of the cedar trees anyway they can. Whereas I’m thinking it's a natural resource that Nebraska has, and we need to utilize it as a natural resource. Lumber, make posts, start a biomass generator, stuff like that. We would produce a lot of jobs because they need to have more loggers. If you can get the financing and in which there are probably some grants. A person can make a living. Instead of just cuttin’ it down and burning it, cut it down and use it as a natural resource.”
Read the entire article
RECAP
The amount of resources in wood fiber being unutilized during forest management, fire rehab and fuels reduction projects is mind boggling. Not all of it is timber to make lumber. And yes when you can catch rangeland with small cedar trees consistently conducting prescribed fire is the most cost-effective treatment. However there are many acres of range where a harvest for utilization can return the ground to the point where the prescribed fire can maintain it. There is room for more loggers/contractors, more sawmills/processors, and more jobs! Encourage others to join in and find their niche in the supply chain or as a business making value added products! Let's chat.
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Utilization Events and Resources
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BIOCHAR SAMPLES WANTED (from an email recieved)
The following is a joint message from the US Biochar Initiative and the USDA Agricultural Research Service and National Resources Conservation Service teams about expanding the Biochar Atlas project to support US producers and distributors.
Hello,
The US Biochar Initiative and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) seek your assistance to help build a stronger biochar industry. We request samples of your biochar that will be analyzed by USDA ARS scientists according to International Biochar Initiative testing protocols. Results from these analyses would be provided to you and then may be incorporated into the national Biochar Atlas tool which is currently under development.
Your participation in this process will:
- Help grow awareness of biochar among agricultural producers
- Support development of the Biochar Atlas, a biochar decision-support tool
- Help improve biochar laboratory analysis methods
- Provide you with FREE biochar analytical data completed by USDA ARS
We encourage interested US producers to contact Rachel Basheieri, Biological Science Technician at USDA ARS, to arrange sample shipments: rachel.baschieri@usda.gov or +1 (541) 738-4168.
About the Biochar Atlas
The Biochar Atlas is an online biochar decision support tool being developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to expand information access about biochar and biochar producers to US agricultural producers. The website for this tool is currently under development, but it will be modeled on the existing Pacific Northwest Biochar Atlas. The Biochar Atlas is an on-going collaboration between the USDA ARS, and the US Biochar Initiative, American Farmland Trust, Oregon State University and Washington State University.
History of the Biochar Atlas
The project began as the regional Pacific Northwest Biochar Atlas decision support tool for growers applying biochar. The National Resource Conservation Service is funding the expansion of the Atlas to support implementation of NRCS Practice Standard 336 which provides cost share to apply biochar as a soil amendment to increase soil carbon content.
USBI, in collaboration with our ARS partners are now working to expand the Biochar Atlas to support the entire United States focusing on the effectiveness of different biochars for meeting site-specific crop and soil needs. The tool is designed to guide growers to regional biochar producers who can supply effective biochars. Participation in this tool may help drive revenue as part of your go-to-market strategy.
Your Help is Critical
To grow the Biochar Atlas we are requesting physical biochar samples from all biochar producers across the United States creating biochars from a range of feedstocks using different production technologies. (This program is only available for biochar produced in the US and qualified territories.)
For each raw biochar sample, USDA ARS laboratory technicians will conduct physiochemical analysis to classify the product according to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) Classification System which includes carbon storage value, fertilizer value, liming value, and particle size distribution, and other parameters in the table image below.
The results of these sample analyses are not intended to be directly applicable toward USDA or IBI certification. Instead, these analyses will be conducted to include product data in our database and for making biochar product/application recommendations to users of the Biochar Atlas, and to provide data to US biochar suppliers. At this time, we are requesting physical samples, and authorization to analyze those samples according to the methods listed below. Before any sample analysis data is incorporated into the Biochar Atlas website we will request further authorization from you.
There is no fee to participate in this program beyond the cost of sample shipping. The laboratory analysis of your biochar is free and results will be provided to you. Additionally, we offer a free consultation to discuss analysis/classification results with you, and no data will be included in the Biochar Atlas tool without future authorization from you.
Sample collection instructions and delivery details found here: http://www.pnwbiochar.org/home/submit_sample/
Do not delay! Join in this opportunity now. Contact Rachel Baschieri, +1 (541) 738-4168, to arrange sample delivery for inclusion in this important Biochar Atlas program.
We appreciate your participation and look forward to building the biochar industry in the US with your assistance.
Publications
We just developed several factsheets for various industries and how biochar can be incorporated – for example to change one ingredient to a renewable resource. Watch for Spanish translations of each and a new how-to interpret biochar analysis report currently in the pipeline.
Find them on NFS website: https://go.unl.edu/biochar
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Different Products – New Markets
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Ever have an idea for a wood product you haven’t seen in production? Let’s chat about it. Give Kim a call/email!
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We are exploring the idea of a webpage that would have sales and where hazardous fuels / forest stand improvement projects are occurring to facilitate the utilization of all material being removed from our forests. This would allow anyone with 1 tree to hundreds of acres to get the word out. Please email or call Kim to share your input on this effort. Timber Talk would continue to have formal timber sales listed.
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| Walnut |
Veneer 3 |
3,036 |
bf |
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NFS Forester |
| (93 trees) |
Veneer 2 |
217 |
bf |
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Jorden Smith |
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Lumber 3 |
12,751 |
bf |
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| Total bf |
Lumber 2 |
9,899 |
bf |
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Apraisal Date: |
| 33445 |
Lumber 1 |
7,705 |
bf |
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November 6-8, 2023 |
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| Raymond Schulte |
12020 Calhoun RD |
Omaha |
NE |
68152 |
| (402) 689-8181 |
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| Location: |
Douglas County |
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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