Woodland Roots

By Lauren Grand, OSU Extension Forestry & Natural Resources Extension, Lane County

Our log prices have never been predictable. However, one could argue that they could predict the best time of year or even month to sell their logs based on historical trends. This is because our log prices tend to have seasonal rises and falls with micro corrections based on circumstances such as weather, fire, foreign policy, and the lumber markets. When looking at a graph of the average prices of Douglas-fir logs over the last 25 years, you should be able to predict that the best time to sell should be the in the early spring, March and April, when prices have been the highest. The worst time to sell is the summer when the market is flooded and the prices are the lowest.

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Lane County

I’m sure you all remember the huge snowstorm we had in March. Of course you do! How could anyone forget being stuck in their home for days or even weeks without electricity? (Strike 1) The beautiful winter wonderland lasted a few weeks, but eventually melted to reveal a huge mess of fallen trees and broken tops (Strike 2). Now summer is here, and you are trying your best to clean up some of that mess. This might include trying to salvage some value from the fallen and damaged trees. So, you call the local log buyers and …STRIKE 3!!!

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Lane County

Spring is here, but where are our log prices?  Time for everyone to start wondering what logs are going to do this year. Typically prices start to rise after the new year and peak in the Late March early April before starting their decent into the summer prices. A little over a year ago, the domestic Douglas-fir market went crazy and anyone who was prepared with a management or harvest plan was able to capitalize early and rode that ship into financial felicity. Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Lane County

None of the mills are too excited about purchasing a lot of logs with lumber prices staying low, but the good news is most of you are on dirt roads and can do a little more waiting to see if prices bounce back up a bit. Now don’t get me wrong, $650 is a great price for 8 inch plus Douglas-fir long logs. Especially if you are remembering back to the recession where prices dipped well below $500. But if you’re like me the sweet taste of the $900 + prices will take a while to dissipate. But, we will all have to reset our expectations because it is looking like those prices were more likely a fluke and less likely the new normal.   Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent – Lane County

Usually I get to say that I have good news and bad news for you, but today I only have the unpleasant. Our two years on the cloud 9 of Douglas-fir prices are culminating in a free-fall ride back to earth. The lumber market has finally readjusted and log buyers don’t need to pay a premium for logs anymore. In addition Inventories and log availability are high, so demand is low which means prices are low.

Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent – Lane County

For those of you who’ve been following the logs market for a while know that the last 2 years have been somewhat out of the ordinary. Log prices have mostly been on the rise since March 2016, but we all knew it couldn’t last forever. Summer is the time when most small landowners can access and sell their logs.  This increase in supply also means somewhat lower prices than what you see in the winter and spring.

Fire season has been kind to the Willamette valley and surrounding forestlands (knock on wood). No active fires have shut down production and fire weather has stayed below extreme, which means that harvesting operations can still occur early in the morning. Increased supply in the form of sellers and log access has kept mill inventory up and that pushes prices down. While prices have started their decent, these are still GREAT prices. Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Lane County

Well, I’ve got good news and I have bad news. Let’s get the bad out of the way.  Doug-fir log values have finally started to level off and dip a bit since there high reign over the last year and a half. The good news is values are still in the mid-$900/MBF range.  Log buyers are in the market, but their inventories are starting to fill up fast as we wait in anticipation to see what fire season will do. If fire season restricts log deliveries, the log market might take another climb.  This is great news for log sellers if you’re operating in a less restricted area and can find a truck to get your logs to the mill or sort yard.  If we have a mild fire season, we may continue to see log prices dip. Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Lane County

For those of you who may have sold logs or timber the past year, must be smiling all the way to the bank. Actually, the past couple years have been awfully good with Douglas-fir prices as good as they’ve been in a long time. As a matter of fact, this is the first year that a lot of people can remember that prices continued to rise through the summer. It is still a great market if you are selling trees! Continue reading →

By Lauren Grand, OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent – Lane County

Well this is my first log prices and trends report of hopefully many. In our last newsletter Treeman reported:

“the spring report is my favorite because of the old “hope springs eternal:” this is the year we’re gonna make-it. This will be the summer when prices are at their zenith versus nadir … come-on-baby let the good times roll!” Then he went on to say “Bad news: while things are looking pretty good at the moment, nothing lasts through the summer.”

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By Steve Bowers, OSU Extension – Timber Harvesting Specialist

The spring “Log Prices & Trends” has always been my favorite report. It’s the old “hope springs eternal” thing: this is the year we’re gonna make-it. This will be the summer when prices are at their zenith versus nadir … come-on-baby let the good times roll!

Well, I got good news and I got bad news. Bad news: while things are looking pretty good at the moment, nothing lasts through the summer. Good news: this is the last Treeman Log Prices & Trends and more capable hands will be guiding you from here-on-out. Such sentimentality, so we best proceed. Continue reading →