Sustainability is at the core of modern forestry. Foresters and landowners take great strides to ensure timber harvests are healthy and sustainable. Over the last century, the science of forestry has developed a number of types of timber harvests and silvicultural systems to help accomplish just this. These harvest systems include clearcuts, shelterwood cuts, seed…
Timber is generally divided into three categories, sawtimber, veneer, and pulpwood. Pulpwood is the lowest-grade product among the three, and in most cases it is the most abundant product in the forest, but what exactly is pulpwood, and what is it used for? Pulpwood traditionally refers to wood that is ground and processed into a…
If you have studied forestry or logging, looked into buying a sawmill, or sought to buy lumber in bulk, you’ve almost certainly seen the abbreviation “MBF” as a unit of measurement. MBF means “thousand board feet” and refers to the yield of board feet, in thousands, that can either be found in a quantity of…
Assessing timber values is paramount to successful timberland investment. Unfortunately, timber value is a highly variable and relative measure, so it can be difficult if not impossible to give a definitive answer to how much an acreage is worth. That said, we can make reasonable estimates if we narrow the question down by species. How…
Taking the diameter of a tree, also known as “Diameter at Breast Height” or “DBH,” is one of the most essential skills in forestry. It is at the core of properly measuring timber and wood volume (known as forest mensuration), and landowners often make important decisions about the management of their trees and forests based…
Let’s face it, firewood can be expensive. Luckily, for the enterprising and motivated individual, there are several ways one can find free (or close to it) firewood. Ultimately, it requires resourcefulness and a willingness to put in some time and effort, but even so, there are opportunities abound. If you are one of the select…
In the United States and most of the developed world, when timber harvesting is not deforestation. Today’s forest industry is probably one of the most sustainable industries in the world, as tremendous efforts are taken to maintain healthy forests and a sustainable supply of timber. Toward this end, logging and timber companies often plant trees…
We are all familiar with maple trees and their majesty. We know their regal fiery orange autumnal colors and the rich (in more ways than one) maple syrup their sap produces. But who could forget about their–acorns!? Not so much. Maple trees do not produce acorns. Instead, they produce samaras, which you might know by…
Uh-Oh! You were out cutting firewood out of a fallen tree when you committed the cardinal sin of all sawyers: You let your chainsaw hit the dirt. Don’t worry! Even with advanced operators, it can be easy to accidentally let your bar hit the ground from time to time. Simply turn off the saw, assess…
Is your chainsaw causing the wood you are cutting to smoke or even leaving scorch marks on the face of cut logs? The issue of a chainsaw burning wood is more common than you might think, and it is likely the result of a dull chain, high rakers, a chain put on backward, or a…