Logging Pecan Orchard - Central Texas

[DoorKnob]

I have acquired an abandoned pecan orchard in central Texas and am in the process of bringing it back into production.   This winter we are going to thin some trees out by taking out some rows and by taking some individual trees from rows.  We are going to probably take out about 250 trees.  The trees are close in size, mostly about 12" in diameter.  My question is do I have enough pecan timber to harvest as lumber?  And if so do I contact a mill or a logger?  Thanks

[LeeB]

If your intent is to sell the logs, I don't think you will get many takers. Twelve inches is not an overly big log. Sixteen and more would be better. Orchard trees also tend to be a little short. I think you might have more luck selling the wood as firewood to some of the many wonderful BBQ joints in the area.

[thecfarm]

doorknob,welcome to the forum. Going to take out 250 trees!! How many trees you got?
Did someone mention pie.  ;D

[WDH]

Most orchard trees are not suitable sawlogs for sale to a logger.  You might look for a portable sawmill that might be interested in some of them.  You might do better to market them as cooking wood as Lee suggests.

[Okrafarmer]

Welcome to the Forum, Doorknob!

By the sound of things, I think the others are right-- pecan is a premium smoking wood.

[DoorKnob]

Thanks for the replies.  Our first intention was to cut up for firewood but I thought I would check to see if there was any value for logging.  We have 1300 trees on 65 acres and will probably get down to 1000 or so for spacing and water distribution.  I figured they might be too small to harvest.  Thanks again.