In this series of videos, Grant Massie's resident forest experts share information about timber and how to maximize timber as an investment.
Transcript of part 1 of 10:
Ned : Hi, I'm Ned Massie, president of Grant Massie land company. I'm here today with my partners, Bill Grant and Jeff Huff. We're accredited land consultants that have formed Grant Massie Land Network in order to educate you about land issues. Today we're here to talk about timber as an asset and timberland as an important part of an investment portfolio. Bill, tell us about the difference between trees and timber.
Bill: I think as we drive down the road and we see people's yards and we see their trees there, you might consider that a tree but from a timber standpoint it's very limited in what you can do as far as actually getting lumber out of it. When we get into a more wooded situation, a lot of areas have been cut over and naturally regrown and size limits what you can do with it. You can't make lumber out of it but you can chip it up as far as to get fiber with today's advanced technology. The trees are a little bit different than lumber or trees that you're going to produce lumber from.
Ned : Is it species, size?
Bill: Not necessarily. Your species, you can have different types of species with timber as long as it's got the proper diameter, the proper height, if it's straight, if it's got a lot of knots in it and a lot of low branches. Those type of trees are not really good for good quality saw timber.
Ned : Is there a preference like the difference between Loblolly pine versus Virginia pine? There's a preference there in the marketplace.
Bill: Yes, it is. Usually the Loblolly pine, and it depends on what regions you're in, as to the best pines or the best soft woods for that area. In our area the Loblolly pine usually is the best quality pine. Virginia pine tends to be very limby and is in most cases used for pulpwood rather than saw timber.
Ned : Is there a preference in hardwood?
Bill: The hardwood that we find in our area that's probably the best quality are oaks. Poplars are also fairly popular. It's a little bit softer wood. Oaks probably bring a little bit of a higher price. All hardwoods can be used, depending on what you're usage is.
END OF PART 1
