Loblolly returns

Planted pines pay…

Slash pine stand at SHSF

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:

Pulpwoodtons$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
Pulpwood19$95$190$285$380
Second thinning 25-30 yrs.tons$15/ton$20/ton$25/ton$30/ton
Chip-n-saw10$500$650$800$810

Harvest cut:

SAWTIMBERtons$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


Definitions of terms

  • 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.

Additional resources