Green Horizons

Howard County, Mo.
100 acres
966 mixed hardwoods
(60% white oak)

Doyle tree scale
used, 115,100 bd.ft.

Forester valued sale: $32,000
2 bids: $35,500; $17,295
Return: $355/acre

Boone County, Mo.
50 acres
27 walnut trees,
133 mixed hardwoods
(40% white oak)

Doyle tree scale used,
5,650 bd.ft. (walnut) and
41,140 bd.ft. (mixed hardwoods)

Forester valued sale: $22,000
3 bids: $24,720;
$19,000; $14,250
Return: $494/acre

Jason Jensen, Forestry Field Programs Supervisor with the Missouri Department of Conservation, reported in the latest Missouri Timber Price Trends that markets have fluctuated, but still remain strong. Grade lumber markets, particularly grade red oak, have taken a couple of drops in price. Demand for railroad ties, stave quality white oak, and walnut remains very strong. Pallet markets are very good as well. Pine markets exist although they aren't as strong as we'd like to see them. Overall markets are still strong.

If you are a landowner considering a timber sale, now is a good time to contact a professional forester and start the process of initiating a sale. In addition to utilizing a professional forester, take the selection of your logger very seriously. The action of the logger during the harvest will determine the future value of the timber resource on your property. Fortunately, there are over 400 loggers that have completed Professional Timber Harvester training and 13 that have taken the extra step of becoming Certified Master Loggers. A professional forester and a trained logger should be a part of every timber sale in Missouri.

If you have competitively sold your timber in the past few months and would like to share the information with other landowners, we would welcome your input. All sales will be reported at the county level as shown at left and no personal information will be divulged.