Lots of known unknowns ! It seems to me that hardwoods might be the better route as the market for things like cabinet face frames etc likely pay better per bdft and can be usable in much shorter lengths.

Really tough when taxes and equipment etc are ongoing costs.

True, however when the land is paid for and not a primary income source it's overhead is much less. And it doesn't hurt that Alabama's current use ad valorem tax is ridiculously low.

[quote=waggler]^^
You guys are talking apples and pineapples when you're comparing saw logs to pulp.
Pulp prices are down everywhere, in big part due to the huge upswing in lumber production. An increase in trees being harvested for lumber creates an increase in chip production (tops, slabs, etc), this material goes into the pulp supply whether there is a demand for it or not.

Do you guys have any idea what the mills there are paying for softwood logs let's say, 7+" and 32' long?
I would be really surprised if it's not considerably more than it was a year ago.

Here's a list of average log prices in Washington for the month of February, following is a list from last July.
Realistically the prices from the middle column (high) are the prices a logger can expect to receive. Also, most logs are now being quoted at a "camp-run" price, not by various grades. The camp-run quotes being thrown around right now basically are what is shown in the charts as #2 saw prices, 7"+ and 36'long average log length (except cedar 32' lengths).
Notice cedar, it has doubled!



[/quote

You are comparing apple to oranges, big difference between Pacific Northwest softwood and Northeastern softwood prices.

Here in the northeast no one sells spruce fir stud logs 32’ long. Most Canadian stud mills purchase spruce/fir 6” diameter and up, 12’-16’ logs heavy to16 footers. Last I sold it was around $275 - $300 MBF International Rule. 20 years ago the same logs paid $310+ MBF. Red Pine logs around $200MBF, Red Pine poles pay the best depending on length. Local Amish mills pay $275-$300 MBF Doyle for hemlock logs.

^^^^^
Interesting.
When was the last time you sold 12-16 ,foot logs for $275-300?
It would be interesting to know how those short logs would convert to long log volume.
On the west coast you buck logs to a standard length of 40 feet, you try to work the system a little and cut some down as short as 30 feet in order to capture more scalable volume white maintaining a 36 foot average. Under 36 feet and they will ding you on price. This is scribner scale, don't know how that compares to Doyle or international.

In the southeast a log is 16' and half log 8'. Not that they are cut that length in the field but how its called out as in how many logs and half logs in any given tree. Heard more often in relation to hardwood since almost everything is bought and sold by the ton and pine is king.

I just got a flyer from a mill in NW PA. for rough cut hemlock. In Tug Hill NY if I can find anything for less than .80 BDF it's a good deal. I didn't figure his price per board foot out, but his 2x4x8 cost is 2.32 each. I believe he is at .40 or less, on stuff even up to 12" wide, which here would be a premium. I'm going to run down and grab 2000 BF just to sticker and put away.

Last week, I paid $48.97 for ONE sheet of 7/16" CDX plywood, at Home Depot!

Paid $50 each for two treated 12ft 2x12s at Lowe’s yesterday. My wife’s elevated raised bed planter cost me $220 taxes and all! Saw a stack of 8ft 2x4 for $11 each. Blows my mind..

An 8 foot 2x4 for $2.32 is only 44 cents a board foot, that's a steal, better buy a bunch of it before they up the price. Unless there is a catch, like that's the price for economy grade which you can't use for framing.

Wood you believe it.

I agree, here are a couple other prices...1X10X12- $ 4.30...2X4X10- $2.86 It's in Spartanburg, PA if anyone is interested.41957 Glynden Road,16434 I was incorrect on the 2x4x8 price, they are 2.29 and it appears he is at .43 a BF He also has ship lap at some similar prices.

Here in Fla. they're throwing up new 3 story apartment buildings faster than the plumbers and electricians can finish them. I suppose they get a discount on volume but I can't imagine the kind of money they are spending. But then some folks have money to throw away and I suppose some folks need a loss somewhere to balance things out on paper. $1200/month for an apartment is pretty good money though.