Whether you’ve just bought a piece of property or you’ve owned land for years, knowing exactly what you have is essential. When you map your land, you’re not just creating a pretty picture—you’re building a practical tool that helps you manage boundaries, plan improvements, track resources, and make better decisions about your property. The good…
Sawtimber markets surge while pulpwood collapses—the most significant price divergence in recent memory. Current North Carolina timber prices in late 2025 tell a tale of two industries: high-quality sawtimber commanding premium prices while low-grade pulpwood markets crater. This split reflects fundamental shifts in regional demand, Hurricane Helene’s lingering aftermath, and a wave of mill closures…
Connecticut timber prices show instability in Q4 2025. Quality hardwoods remain valuable in Connecticut despite significant headwinds facing the broader timber industry. White oak, sugar maple, and red oak continue to command premium stumpage prices, while the hardwood sawmill sector nationally has contracted by 33% in just two years. Woodland owners selling timber in late…
The following is a chapter from Empty Homes & Silent Saws: Economics, Demographics, Culture, and the Coming Reckoning in America’s Forest Industry, available now. My first job out of college was working as a forester deep in the Maine woods, living three nights a week in a remote camp and spending my days tying ribbons…
Mississippi timber prices entering Q4 2025 reveal a bifurcated landscape where pine sawtimber and hardwood prices remain elevated year-over-year despite quarterly softening, while pulpwood prices have collapsed to their lowest levels in over two decades. The most recent data from Q3 2025 shows pine sawtimber averaging $20.25/ton statewide—down 6.8% from the prior quarter but still…
As Q4 2025 unfolds, West Virginia’s hardwood market faces a pivotal moment. Quality sawtimber prices remain relatively strong while pulpwood markets struggle, reflecting a fundamental shift toward value-driven forestry. Industry consolidation, modest housing recovery, and constrained mill capacity are reshaping the Appalachian timber landscape after years of volatility. This matters because West Virginia landowners and…
Tennessee’s timber markets are proving more resilient than much of the Southeast as Q4 2025 unfolds, with prices holding stable or rising even as regional markets face pressure from weak demand and Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. While current lumber prices have dropped to decade lows and housing starts remain constrained by elevated mortgage rates, Tennessee landowners…
Imagine walking through a forest where trees of all ages grow together—from tiny seedlings to towering giants. Sunlight filters through gaps in the canopy where mature trees were recently harvested, nourishing young saplings below. This is an uneven-aged forest managed through selection harvesting, and it represents one of forestry’s most sophisticated approaches to sustainable timber…
Here’s something that probably didn’t make your newsfeed this morning: America is facing a severe logging labor shortage. And before you think “so what?”—this shortage is quietly reshaping everything from housing prices to the rural economy, with consequences that reach far beyond the forest. We’re not talking about a few job openings here and there….
If you’ve ever analyzed a timberland investment, you’ve probably agonized over the discount rate. Should you use 6%? 8%? 10%? The answer matters enormously—a few percentage points can swing a valuation from attractive to unappealing. But here’s the thing: most investors are using discount rates that are far too high, and in doing so, they’re…