I am in the Process of writing a management plan for my 80 acre property. There is a stand of EWP approx 10 acres, in a two tier canopy and age classes mixed together. The larger stems are in the 70-80cm class and the smaller are in the 20-40cm range. The smaller of the two sizes have extensive weevil damage and need to be cut out, this occured some time ago before I aqquired the property. Besides pulpwood are there any alternative markets for weevil affected white pine and where someone could get ahold of them?
Josh
I have a 5 acre white pine plantation with the same problem,My Forester only wants Me working in there in the winter, I also did not know what I was going to do with the saw logs,till I bought a saw mill. Can't wait till winter 8) 8)
Ranger,welcome to the forum.Update your profile so we know where you live.Might help if we know where you are from.
By the way,are you writing the plan? Did you go to school for this?
Check with your local conservation district forester, dnr service forester, consulting forester, and with local mills to see what the markets and prices are for white pine products in you area.
The larger better formed white pine should produce sawlogs, and the poorly formed and smaller poorly formed trees should produce pulpwood and chipwood if you have local markets for these white pine products.
I'm just guessing, but probably his location is either NB or NS. Since he's using Ranger School in his user name I would guess NB. If so, contact your local Forest Products Marketing Board for markets and specs. If the weeviled trees have enough clear bole, like 8 foot or more than maybe you could call a portable saw miller. You may be able to sell the lumber to a broker or larger mill. The white pine market is quite sticky and the best price demand almost perfect logs. If you have a sizable quantity, maybe you can contact a Mill or marketing board staff to see your timber. Hate for work for nothing, pulp price is barely acceptable even if it's your own wood. Mid fall is about the best time to harvest them and hopefully moved or milled and stickered before spring, before stain and bugs get at it. I was just thumbing through my local marketing board price list and don't see any pulp market for my area.
Check http://www.ysc.nb.ca or http://www.snbwc.ca for southern NB markets.
Not too far from my lot up in Maine there is a Christmas wreath factory. The plant uses Fir tips and EWP tips to turn into Christmas decorations. If your white pine trees have become white pine bushes then your have a great source for tips while you decide what else to do with them. The season starts in October and ends in early December for tips. I've cut down small Firs for spacing and tip it bare. You might do the same with your pines.
So it depends on where your lot is and if you have a factory close enough to make it worth while - unless you start your own.
One of the mills in Maine is now taking pine for pulp. I'm not sure if they are taking soft pine though. Have to call some of the mills, I have the phone numbers.
Thanks all for the posts, and for those who mentioned it I am from NB, the property is in the French Lake area (about 15 minutes outside of Fredericton) I am a Forest Tech by trade and will be writing this plan along with 3 other techs. Besides conventional uses of pine are any of you aware of non conventional uses or specialty markets for EWP?
Cheers and thanks again