Study: Mountain Pine Beetle Impacts On Montana Sawmills
A new study authored by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research and the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station examines the impact of the mountain pine beetle on costs, operations and timber product value related to harvesting, processing, transporting and sawmilling trees killed by the beetle in Montana. The study authors are BBER’s Dan Loeffler and the research station’s Nate Anderson.
Over the past 15 years, the mountain pine beetle has caused considerable pine tree mortality across Montana, affecting more than 9 million acres of forest. The beetles are widely acknowledged as having negative impacts on wood supply by reducing log quality and recoverable volume, as well as negatively impacting operability in the forest and at the sawmill.
Loeffler and Anderson found that trees in the red or gray stage of mountain pine beetle mortality comprised about one-quarter of Montana sawmill log supply from 2010 to 2014, but dropped to 5.8 percent of sawmill log supply by 2015. Sawmills reported that the majority of their log supply was not composed of trees killed by the mountain pine beetle, but many did process trees in the red or gray stage of mountain pine beetle mortality.
The authors found that for a typical lodgepole pine stand, the volume suitable for lumber declined 15 percent between the green and red stages and declined another 50 percent between the red and gray stages. Cracking in the logs, occurring mostly in the red stage of mortality, has the highest negative impact on log value. Increased mill residue and log breakage during handling impacted sawmilling operations.
Loeffler and Anderson also found that logging, loading, hauling and sawmilling costs increase 15 to 18 percent from green to red stage, and an additional 28 to 31 percent from the red to gray stage. Total average cost increases from green to gray for logging, loading, hauling, and sawmilling were 43 to 46 percent.
From the Belgrade News: belgrade-news.com.
Latest News
Hampton Lumber Names Schillinger New CEO
Hampton Lumber has announced that Randy Schillinger will join Hampton Lumber & Family Forests as its new CEO, effective June 26, 2023, taking over for Steve Zika who has served as CEO of Hampton since 2003 and announced his retirement earlier this year. Schillinger has over 25 years of experience in the Pacific Northwest wood products industry. He began his career with…
Combilift Launches New Product At Ligna
As leading forklift manufacturer Combilift continues its 25 years in business celebrations with the launch of another new model truck, this time at Ligna, the international timber and woodworking show, held in Hanover. The new Combi-CB70E is a further addition to Combilift’s ever growing range of electric models which offers powerful performance, extensive…
Housing Starts Increase In April
Housing starts across the U.S. increased in April 2.2% to 1.4 million according the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New Residential Construction report released May 17. Notably, this is 22.3% lower than April 2022’s 1.8 million. Single-family home construction increased 1.6% to its highest level so far in 2023. Starts of apartment…
Timber Processing Combs The Ligna Fair Aisles
The Timber Processing magazine team reports an active first half of the week for sawmill machinery exhibitors at the week-long Ligna international wood processing fair held in Hannover, Germany. Bandmills were not in short supply, including this EWD bandmill system in the middle of Sawmill Hall. Timber Processing magazines were practically flying off the shelf at the Timber Processing…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.