Loblolly returns

Below are a series of tables showing the range of returns (per acre) from planted loblolly pine on site-prepared areas.

Pulpwood rotation at 25 years:

Pulpwood	tons	$5/ton	$10/ton	$15/ton	$20/ton
Low site index (65)	62	$310	$620	$930	$1,240
Medium site index (80)	94	$470	$940	$1,410	$1,880
High site index (95)	139	$695	$1,390	$2,085	$2,780

^{Site index base age:50
Medium and high sites will yield some chip-n-saw.
Pulpwood yield from Field Forester Handbook, USFS}

Sawtimber rotation at 40 years:

Intermediate thinnings

First thinning 15-18 yrs.	tons	$5/ton	$10/ton	$15/ton	$20/ton
Pulpwood	19	$95	$190	$285	$380

Second thinning 25-30 yrs.	tons	$15/ton	$20/ton	$25/ton	$30/ton
Chip-n-saw	10	$500	$650	$800	$810

Harvest cut:

SAWTIMBER	tons	$20/ton	$30/ton	$40/ton	$50/ton
Low site index (65)	51	$1,020	$1,530	$2,040	$2,550
Medium site index (80)	110	$2,200	$3,300	$4,400	$5,500
High site index (95)	175	$3,500	$5,250	$7,000	$8,750

^{Site index base age:50
Sawtimber yield from Publication 50, USFS}

Intermediate thinning – Selective cuts made during the mid-life of a forest stand to remove the weaker, misformed or diseased trees to improve growth of the final crop trees.
Prescribed burning – Burning done under suitable weather conditions for the purposes of wildlife hazard reduction, controlling undergrowth, and wildlife habitat improvement.
Site index – A measure of soil quality as related to tree height of a given species of tree at a specified age (usually 50).
Site preparation – Practices performed to prepare the land for planting trees when competing scrub trees or other vegetation would prevent successful planting. Some common practices are: shear, root rake, disk, chop, burn, chemicals, or a combination of these.
Chip-n-saw – Trees 9 to 12 inches in diameter, suitable for making small dimension lumber.

Contact the project forester for your county for more information.

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