Going to be another tough year for timberland owners in some parts of the South. Drought triggered ips beetle and southern pine beetle outbreaks. Loggers are staying busy with salvage cuts but landowners are taking a beating on price. Now there is a a second wave of distressed timber stands in those same areas. Landowners are having to go back and cut even more, but this time even more aggressively with 2nd thinning or clearcutting entire stands ahead of schedule. Stumpage prices continue to drop as the extra volume floods the market. Mills are making better margin but the landowner is in a lose-lose situation. Cut now and you get pinched on price. Wait for the market to improve and you run the risk of losing large tracts to extended drought damage.

Last edited by WildlifeBiologist; 04/21/17 01:31 AM.

Micah 6:8