Purdue News

June 2, 1995 Hardwood Demand Creates Opportunity for Hoosier Landowners WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.–Environmental concerns in the Northwest and an increasing consumer preference for real wood products are creating an opportunity for Midwest landowners to produce a high-value timber crop. But, according to William L. Hoover, Purdue University Extension specialist and professor of forest economics, forestlands must be well-managed or the timber resource base could be lost. "It will pay landowners to take care of timberlands because of rapid escalation in timber prices," Hoover said. "The higher the quality and the bigger the size, the more valuable the timber." Hoover suggested harvesting only mature trees' leaving quality growing stock for the next crop, and weeding out damaged and less-valuable trees to provide adequate growing space for quality trees. The most valuable species grown in Indiana are the red and white oaks, ash' black walnut and black cherry. Yellow poplar, the Indiana state tree, also is increasing in value, Hoover said, because of the demand for hardwoods in general. He explained that environmental concerns in the Northwest have caused a decrease in timber production there, causing the forest-products industry to look elsewhere for sources of building material. In addition, hardwoods such as oak are being substituted for softwoods such as pine in wood products, such as millwork and moldings, to satisfy consumer preferences. According to Hoover, Indiana's 4.4 million acres of forestland continue to support the expanding forest products industry. But, he said, there's concern in the industry that demand soon will outgrow supply, both for sawlogs and veneer logs. Robert W. Mayer, forest products marketing and utilization specialist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, estimated that in 1994 Indiana imported 97 million board feet of sawlogs from other states, while 497 million board feet were harvested in the Hoosier state. That is a 42 percent increase over the harvest level in 1970. Mayer estimated that 18 million to 20 million board feet of veneer logs were harvested from Indiana forests in 1994, while more than 30 million board feet were imported. Forests go through cycles, Hoover said, explaining that Indiana forestland was cleared for farmland in the late 1 800s. Since then there's been some regrowth, and by the early 1 980s the state boasted a significant increase in volume of timber. Hoover said that timber now is being harvested. "This coincides with an increase in demand for hardwoods that's due to the average consumer's liking of real wood furniture and other products, especially oak," he said. "A lot of new businesses now use oak woodwork for their decor. "There's also an increase in overseas demand, so we're exporting more." Hoover has conducted an annual survey of Indiana sawmills and veneer mills since 1957 to keep track of trends. Data collected includes prices paid for sawlogs and veneer logs by species and grade. His 1995 survey results will be available at the end of July. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page