Logging question

[eastTN270]

I've seen on here where a lot of you guys have logging done during the summer. I had a forester come out to my place in the spring, and he said to only cut during the winter when the sap is down. This will be a very selective cut if that makes a difference. So does it matter the time of year you cut.

 

[bigtex]

The best time to cut timber is when you can get a logger to cut it, lol.
I've had a contract signed since Spring and still not got it cut.
Seems the loggers in my area are booked up way into the future. I talked to one local logger and he said that he would do the job but it would be almost two years before he could get to it.

I don't think it matters much if the "sap is up" as long as the timber is going to be cut milled and dried ASAP. Timber prices might be higher in the Winter, i'm not sure and don't really care as I am not as worried about the cash as I am about improving my deer habitat.
There are a few "loggers" on here that know a lot more than I do about the subject i'm sure they can and will answer your question when they see it.

 

[BSK]

Generally trees weigh more, hence sell higher, in summer. Although at times, prices go up in winter because of lack of supply.

I have my logging done in summer because the ground is dry. If you have steep terrain that must be logged, logging equipment can really tear that ground up if logging is done when the soil is water-saturated (which it usually is during the winter).

 

[treefarmer]

I agree with the other comments. Some properties have easily damaged soils and are best left alone in the winter, but if you have soils that can be logged in winter, you will get a better price because of a shortage of lands loggers have available to cut in winter. Frequently loggers want a year to cut so they can schedule their work around weather and mill requests. The more limits you put on the logger the less they are willing to pay. I suspect trees cut in winter will sprout better in the spring.

 

[BSK]

I suspect trees cut in winter will sprout better in the spring.

Generally, that's true.

 

[timberjack86]

The best time to cut timber is when you can get a logger to cut it, lol.
I've had a contract signed since Spring and still not got it cut.
Seems the loggers in my area are booked up way into the future. I talked to one local logger and he said that he would do the job but it would be almost two years before he could get to it.

I don't think it matters much if the "sap is up" as long as the timber is going to be cut milled and dried ASAP. Timber prices might be higher in the Winter, i'm not sure and don't really care as I am not as worried about the cash as I am about improving my deer habitat.
There are a few "loggers" on here that know a lot more than I do about the subject i'm sure they can and will answer your question when they see it.

I agree! Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs. But this only applys to a few species, Whiteoak, Redoak, Walnut,cherry and sometimes maple. And these have to be the best logs with no blemishes or limbs. If you do not have alot of these logs then it really dosent matter when you cut them. I also agree whenever you can get a logger to cut your timber you better take it cause I just signed a contract with a landowner and I will be booked until 2014!

 

[eastTN270]

Well that may make more sence because he said I have several venneer quality trees

 

[BSK]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

 

[timberjack86]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

Is he selling them for whiskey barrels? I know they buy whiteoak veeneer logs for whiskey barrels all year long. Around here its hard to get a whole tractor a trailer load of whiteoak to sell for barrels. So we useally wait till fall to send all species of veeneer logs to the mill in one load. Truth be known they could probably veeneer any log any time of the year but the mills wont pay veeneer price for them. When a load pulls up at the mill the logger and landowner are at there mercy.

 

[BSK]

Honestly, I don't know what the veneer logs are being used for, but they are being sold to a veneer company, and the prices are always exceptional. But then these are 24+" flawless logs.

 

[landman]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

Is he selling them for whiskey barrels? I know they buy whiteoak veeneer logs for whiskey barrels all year long. Around here its hard to get a whole tractor a trailer load of whiteoak to sell for barrels. So we useally wait till fall to send all species of veeneer logs to the mill in one load. Truth be known they could probably veeneer any log any time of the year but the mills wont pay veeneer price for them. When a load pulls up at the mill the logger and landowner are at there mercy.

One reason I've got more and more customers selling timber to the mill directly, but we watch them cut and sell oak veeneer year round...many times they have sell it on the log job by bid, buyers coming in just to look at them

 

[timberjack86]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

Is he selling them for whiskey barrels? I know they buy whiteoak veeneer logs for whiskey barrels all year long. Around here its hard to get a whole tractor a trailer load of whiteoak to sell for barrels. So we useally wait till fall to send all species of veeneer logs to the mill in one load. Truth be known they could probably veeneer any log any time of the year but the mills wont pay veeneer price for them. When a load pulls up at the mill the logger and landowner are at there mercy.

One reason I've got more and more customers selling timber to the mill directly, but we watch them cut and sell oak veeneer year round...many times they have sell it on the log job by bid, buyers coming in just to look at them

We sold some by bids before and its a great way to sell exceptional logs.

 

[farmin68]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

It used to be (20+ years ago) that most white oak veneer timber was cut when the sap was down. I don't know the real reason why it was that way, but nowadays buyers and veneer mills don't care when it is cut.

 

[Truedouble]

like BSK said, our logger has not choice but to cut late spring through early winter. Dec-March are way too wet to be moving up and down very seep rocky terrain. That being said I've never heard there was an advantage to cutting any particular time of the year.

 

[timberjack86]

Timber prices usally rise in the fall because they can venneer the logs.

That seems strange, as my logger cuts and sells white oak veneer from place all summer long.

It used to be (20+ years ago) that most white oak veneer timber was cut when the sap was down. I don't know the real reason why it was that way, but nowadays buyers and veneer mills don't care when it is cut.

Thats because there was a lot more whiteoak on the market 20 years ago and the mills could be more picky. Now the demand is higher and there are fewer veeneer logs hitting the mills.You can thank human exapnsion for that.

 

[birddoginQ]

Veneer logs to whiskey barrels? Why in the world would you sell veneer quality wood to a stave mill?

 

[timberjack86]

Veneer logs to whiskey barrels? Why in the world would you sell veneer quality wood to a stave mill?

Because they have been paying over a $1 a foot on veeneer quality logs. Hard to beat that without having to send a load up north!