FORESTRY AND THE FIREWOOD INDUSTRY-AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH PROFESSIONAL FORESTERS

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Francis Owens
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North Carolina State University and US Forest Service s

1 FORESTRY AND THE FIREWOOD INDUSTRY-AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH PROFESSIONAL FORESTERS Thursday, July 27th, 2012 Harry Watt North Carolina State University and US Forest Service s Wood Education and Resource Center

2 North Carolina State University Wood Products Extension Since 1950 has supported the wood products industry in North Carolina in the areas of wood education, training, troubleshooting problems, research and overall assistance in making a large variety of wood products. It is the policy of the State of North Carolina to provide equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees. Educational and employment decisions should be based on factors that are germane to academic abilities or job performance. Accordingly, the North Carolina State University ( NC State ) does not practice or condone unlawful discrimination in any form, as defined by this policy. NCSU/WPE Website =

3 Wood Education and Resource Center Is the focus of the US Forest Service effort of support of the hardwood forest industry in the states east of the Great Plains Located in Princeton, West Virginia, Our WERC projects websites = and The work upon which this workshop is based was funded in whole or in part through a grant awarded by the Wood Education and Resource Center, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC or call (202) (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

4 Good Forest Management Practices Serves the needs of the landowner and the land Needs include economic gain, erosion control, water management, scenic beauty, wildlife support, recreation Problem-most landowners don t manage their forests on a continuous basis and lose materials that can be used to make firewood products

5 Role of Foresters Act as the source of knowledge for implementing best management practices Landowners can hire foresters to manage the harvests to find markets that value the materials in the forest Challenge is that rarely are their good paying markets for all the wood in the forest-may break even on firewood logs just to remove to site prep for next forest

6 Scale of Values for Forest Materials Veneer logs Highest Upper grade sawlogs Lower grade sawlogs Chip wood logs Firewood Lowest Foresters find buyers for specific types of log to attain the highest net profit-will shop logs to the highest paying buyer

7 Problem for Foresters is that the Firewood Market is Low Demand in Most Markets Lots more firewood material than buyers want = low prices Lack of firewood log buyers = materials left in forest that hinder regeneration efforts = higher costs for landowner Lack of firewood log buyers = less sales $ for the landowner Result is that we have lots more firewood logs available at timber harvests than the market can take

8 Firewood Industry Wants Cheap Logs Willing to be the bottom feeder on prices May be just over harvesting and transportation costs Higher valued logs make the timber sale possible, firewood logs add far less profit per load Urban logs can be really low cost when tree arborists want to avoid landfill tipping fees = will giveaway

9 When to Remove Firewood Logs? Timber Stand Improvementswhen thin the forest to grow bigger but fewer trees Final Harvests-when remove all trees to start a new forest

10 Forest Harvesting Practices for Firewood Lots of harvesting options-when, how, where Tree length at final harvests Log length at select harvests-smaller equipment for less damage to remaining trees Shorter log lengths-timber Stand Improvement cuttings Firewood material removed depends upon the strength of the market for chips and firewood

11 What do Our Workshop Foresters Say About Firewood Markets?

12 We All Need to Support Growth of the Firewood Industry! Landowners Foresters Loggers Processors Brokers Retailers Equipment Manufacturers and Dealers Universities Non-profits Government

FROM FOREST TO BUYER-SEEING THE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS IN THE US HARDWOOD FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY

FROM FOREST TO BUYER-SEEING THE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS IN THE US HARDWOOD FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 Harry Watt North Carolina State University and US Forest Service s Wood Education