Missouri Timber Price Trends October - December, 2011 MDC Compares Forest Management Options Comparisons of Three Management Options For a 40-year old upland oak stand Note: The figures used in these scenarios were accurate at printing time but may not represent all the variables found in your particular situation. Case 1: Clearcut for chips at age 40 and allowed to regenerate to trees. Yield at 40 years: 50 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $125.00/acre Average annual return over 40 years: $3.12/ac/yr Case 2: First thinning at age 40 and thinned every 10 years thereafter, regenerated at age 90. 59.4 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $148.50/acre 13,390 board feet @ $0.30/bf = $4,017.00/acre Average annual return over 90 years: $46.28/ac/yr Case 3: Clearcut for chips at age 40 and convert to pasture. Yield at 40 years: 50 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $125.00/acre Costs of pasture establishment and maintenance (per acre): Land clearing: $400 Seed bed prep: $45 Lime and fertilizer: $76 Seed (fescue & lespedeza): $20 Annual topdressing ($16/ac x 20 yrs): $320 Periodic liming (Every 4 yrs @ $20): $100 Cash rent of improved pasture: $23.00/ac/yr Average annual return over 20 years: $29.25/ac/yr Average annual expenses over 20 years: $48.05/ac/yr Net loss: $18.80/ac/yr Yields: Tons Board Feet    Age         Tons     Board Feet Age 40 6.3 --- Age 50 11.0 --- Age 60 9.9 --- Age 70 10.2 --- Age 80 5.5 1,050 Age 90 16.5 12,340 Total 59.4 13,390 [Back to Timber News Index ]