Markets are getting bad!!!

[killamplanes]

My mill does tie but all side lumber goes into the pallet business another one of my entitys

[BurkettvilleBob]

There are still many miles of rail left in Maine, I don't know where the ties come from though. I'd assume if they were locally sourced they'd be red oak. I can't speak to statewide conditions, but I thought the general consensus was that things have picked up over previous years. The midcoast area is in a bit of a bubble though, so may not be able to apply those conditions everywhere. I know much of the state is hurting pretty bad and has been for a while.

[lopet]

it's not just forestry and logging, the construction and steel fabricating industries on the east coast are about as slow as I have ever seen it.

if the stock market takes a big hit in the coming months, it will get very ugly, that seems to be the only thing that is supporting the economy at all

That's right. I have all kinds of self-employed buddy's and they're all slow on work this year. Carpenters, plumbers, excavating, tree work, landscaping, you name it. Everyone says work is slower then normal, and everyone's bids for work are very competitive right now.

Unfortunately that's the way things are going right now, but like I said in the past, that we borrowed way too much from the future and it will be just a matter of time  when it comes back to haunt us.
People starting to wake up and realize that our corrupt government ( btw Canada isn't much different than the US ) is making us to slaves and we are getting squeezed more and more.

A little while back I started a new thread about economics and what's related to this topic.  Actually I just posted a you tube link about how our system works and how we are captived in it. I also thought some of you guys might be interested or can even learn something of it.
Anyhow, long story short, somebody on this board thought that we don't want such topic on this forum and moved it into some " restricted topics " where it can't be found anymore.  Ok , maybe it does not belong here, but by removing the whole thread without any notification the dear mods overreacted a little.
I started thinking a bit and came to the conclusion that we probably have as many people on the other side who like the system keep going as we have slaves who works their butts off. Think about, most everyone of us knows somebody who works in the public sector, like government, health care, teaching , inspectors, PUC etc. Or most everyone of us knows somebody who relies on a monthly payment from the government.  All these folks don't want to change anything in the system, or asking even for more, while on the other side  farmers , loggers or  any self employed individuals are getting taxed and regulated right to the getco.
Maybe my words didn't come across the way I wanted to, but maybe you guys understand what I am trying to say. It's just sad to see our society getting torn apart, it will destroy friendships and families.

Sorry for my rant , but I had to.   oh yeah and I am a big fan of Ron Paul, he could have things tuned around way back, if anyone would have ever listened to him.

You can call me a pessimist, like some of my buddies do , but I am not getting tired arguing. 

[timberlinetree]

The chip mill in ct is still full. When in Arkansas I saw full yard of pine and Tennessee a chip pile stacked all the way to the conveyer.
We are real busy,real busy but after all the bills are paid there's not much left. Not sure if we have the same story as the guy at the auto parts store. He said he couldn't keep up with work as he walked out with worn out boots and got into his falling apart truck. Your right lopet something is out of wack and I m getting real tired of busting but for everyone else( except family, work my hands to bone for them)!

[dustintheblood]

About 20 years ago I tried to figure out (on paper) how to make a small beef operation work.  Couldn't put down the red pen, so didn't even try it out.  Glad I didn't since the economics just don't work in these days and times for a small farm.

So after about 25 years in the wood business, I found that the same principles are in play.  No matter how sharp the pencil, the red ink comes out.  That's why I got out.

Everything's increasingly complex in a global economy, and trends are not in the favour of the solid wood products markets (or paper for that matter).  People don't buy quality, they buy cheap.  They don't think 30 years out, only 30 minutes.

I know a few wood mfr'ing companies that started up to feed the IKEA "machine" and made out great for two years.  Then after a couple of years, the big guys came knocking and said "mind if you lower your price a bit?".  All tooled up and ramped up for big production, they didn't have a choice but lower their price.  So they slimmed down, got more efficient and managed to lose money in a far more efficient way.  Then the IKEA guys came a-knockin' again and said "great work, but do you mind if you shave that price a bit more".

Poor buggers; one customer; one product; one big loss.

I don't know folks, other than the woods are mighty quiet here and have been for a very long time.  My timber's growing and the forest is healthy.  The boys can figure out the markets when they get older.  In the meantime, the basal area increases every year no matter who's in office, which party is screaming the loudest or what the headlines are saying about who's killing whom.

[Peter Drouin]

I would have trouble with someone telling me what I can charge. 

[BurkettvilleBob]

Ironically there has been a resurgence in small farms around here, good food cost money though, and you can't complain about paying 6 bucks a pound for hamburg.
Relative to the wood business, supporting local mills is key, but that probably isn't going to make anyone rich. I obviously don't have the answer.