Maryland and Delaware Stumpage Price Report
Calendar Year, 2002
The stumpage price report is a cooperative effort among Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Department of
Agriculture, Maryland Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service, Delaware Forest Service, Maryland Tree
Farmers and forest landowners. It is consolidated and distributed every four months by the University of Maryland,
Wye Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 169, Queenstown, MD 21658. Their phone number is 410-8278056.
The prices contained in this publication are collected from consulting and state agency foresters in four pricereporting areas throughout Maryland and Delaware. Reporting is voluntary, so this is not a complete record of sale
activity in Maryland and Delaware. Prices are intended to serve ONLY AS A GUIDE for the marketing of standing
timber. The actual value of a specific stand of timber may be influenced by the following factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Timber quality
Volume to be cut per acre
Logging terrain
Market demand
Distance to market
Season of year
Distance to public roads
Labor costs
Size of the average tree to be cut
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Type of logging equipment
Percentage of timber species in the area
End product
Landowner requirements
Landowner knowledge of market value
Property taxes
Performance bond requirements
Insurance costs
Size of harvest
What is stumpage?
Stumpage refers to the price that a landowner receives for standing trees.
Why four different regions?
The four regions described in this report reflect unique forest product markets in Maryland and Delaware. For
example, the quality and quantity of black cherry and oaks produced in the Western Region usually surpasses that of
the other three regions. Loblolly pine is a timber species that is found mostly on the Eastern Shore and Southern
Region. It is important to note that counties may reflect the trends of the regions they border. Regions
include: Eastern Shore (ES) = Kent-Worchester Counties, MD and Sussex-Kent Counties, DE; Southern (S) = Anne
Arundel/Prince George's – St. Mary's Counties, MD; Central (C) = Cecil-Carroll/Montgomery Counties, MD and
New Castle County, DE; Western (W) = Frederick-Garrett Counties, MD.
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State
laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex and disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Personnel/Human Relations, Office of the
Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.
What are the different products mentioned in the report?
The majority of the prices reported are for sawtimber and veneer products. Sawtimber trees are typically above 12
inches in diameter at breast height (DBH; 4.5 feet from the ground) and have at least one 8-foot log that can be
harvested. Sawtimber trees are used for boards, railroad ties, and other products. Veneer quality timber is typically
of larger diameter, comes from the bottom log of the tree, and has no branches or imperfections. Poles are used for
telephone poles, piling, and related products. Fuelwood refers to timber sold for firewood. Fuelwood includes
poorer quality trees, dead trees, and tree tops. Pulpwood trees are used to produce paper products. Biomass
includes trees that are burned for power generation.
What do the prices mean?
Dramatic fluctuations are common in timber markets and past reports may not accurately reflect the latest market
conditions. Many factors can influence the price of timber on a given tract of land (see list on first page). For
example, the range of prices for one species may vary from $50-$350 per thousand board feet. This wide range
might exist because the lower value reflects poor-quality timber; whereas, the higher value reflects high-quality
timber that could be used for veneer products.
How are the prices reported?
The stumpage prices for each species and/or product category include three pieces of information: 1) the number of
reported sales; 2) the average of all reported values; and 3) the range of values from lowest to highest. Poles,
fuelwood, pulpwood, and biomass are special products that are sold by the linear foot, cord, or the ton. All other
prices are reported as the dollars per thousand board feet of timber ($/MBF). One board foot is 12 inches x 12
inches x 1 inch. The number of board feet in each tree depends on its diameter, number of logs, and defects. A
thousand board feet of timber may be made up of a few large trees or many small trees. The scale used to determine
board feet in standing trees is the International ¼ inch scale, which provides the most accurate measure of board
feet. Stumpage prices reported in a Doyle log scale, another common rule, tend to underestimate the volume of
timber and must be adjusted to be compatible with the International ¼ inch scale.
Where to get help?
The sale of timber products should include three people: 1) the forest landowner selling the timber; 2) a licensed
professional forester who assists the landowner with determining which trees should be harvested and helps the
landowner work with the logger; and 3) the logger who carries out the actual harvesting of the trees.
Maryland - Delaware Stumpage Price Survey Results
January-April 2002
The table below summarizes reported prices paid for standing timber during January-April 2002. Prices for
sawtimber are in $/MBF (1000 board feet) International ¼ inch scale. Pulpwood and fuelwood are reported in
$/cord or $/100 lbs, biomass in $/ton. The Range shows the high and low prices reported. Reporting is voluntary
and this is not a complete record of sale activity in Maryland and Delaware.
Total responses: 22
Total sales: 24
Total sales in acres: >1106
Species/Product
Eastern Shore
# Avg. Range
Southern
# Avg. Range
Central
# Avg.
Red Oak
0
1
400
400
0
White Oak
0
1
180
180
0
Mixed Oaks
0
--
--
--
--
--
Range
Western
#
Avg.
Range
--
1
275
--
275
0
--
--
--
--
--
1
140
140
0
--
--
0
--
--
Oak/mixed Hdwd (high 1
quality)
160
160
1
344
344
0
--
--
3
365
316-402
Ash
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
1
88
88
Cherry
0
--
--
1
400
400
0
--
--
1
664
664
Sugar maple
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
2
274
274
Tulip poplar
2
160
120-200
2
310
300-319
0
--
--
0
--
--
Other Hdwd*
0
--
--
1
400
400
1
500
500
1
97
97
4
60
60
2
101
60-142
0
--
--
2
142
95-188
Loblolly pine
9
240
150-360
3
137
110-163
0
--
--
0
--
--
Virginia Pine
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
White Pine
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
Other sfwd
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
Poles, hdwd ($/linear
ft)
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
--
--
(Black Walnut,
Paulownia, Birch,
Aspen, Basswood,
Beech, Black Locust,
Red Maple)
Mixed Hdwd** (low
quality)
Poles, sfwd ($/linear ft) 0
0
0
0
Fuelwood ($/cord)
0
0
0
0
Pulpwood ($/cord)
2
Biomass ($/ton)
0
6.82
6.59-7.05 1
20.00
20.00
0
0
3
0
0
7.61
3.75-11.00
Values in $/thousand board feet ($/MBF)
*Includes high quality hardwood not listed above and sold as a single species such as Walnut, Paulownia,
Beech, etc.
**Mixed low quality hardwood (pallet type materials). On some sales, a single price may be
paid.
Summary of Sale Characteristics
January-April 2002
Size
<50 MBF
51-100
MBF
> 100 MBF
Unknown
# sales % of sales
Type
# sales % of sales
5
4
21
17
Lump sum
Mill-tally
19
2
79
8
11
4
46
17
No data
3
13
Buyer/seller
Buyer
Seller
No data
# sales
5
16
3
Reported by
#
%
reporting reporting
Consulting forester
10
45
Public lands
3
14
foresters
Industrial foresters
2
9
Independent
0
0
Logger/buyer
0
0
CFM state foresters
3
14
Utility foresters
1
5
Unknown
3
14
% of sales Location of sales
21
Eastern Shore
67
Southern
13
Central
Western
Unknown
# sales
9
7
1
7
% of sales
38
29
4
29
0
0
Maryland - Delaware Stumpage Price Survey Results
May-August 2002
The table below summarizes reported prices paid for standing timber during May-August 2002.
Prices for sawtimber are in $/MBF (1000 board feet) International ¼ inch scale. Pulpwood and
fuelwood are reported in $/cord or $/100 lbs, biomass in $/ton. The Range shows the high and
low prices reported. Reporting is voluntary and this is not a complete record of sale activity in
Maryland and Delaware.
Total responses: 20
Total sales: 25
Species/Product
Eastern Shore
# Avg. Range
Southern
# Avg.
Red Oak
0
--
--
2
340
White Oak
Mixed Oaks
Oak/mixed Hdwd
(high quality)
Ash
Cherry
Sugar maple
Tulip poplar
Mixed Hdwd*
(low quality)
0
1
0
-160
--
-160
--
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
---160
55
---160
50-60
Other Hdwd
--
--
8
208
Virginia Pine
White Pine
Other sfwd
Poles, hdwd
($/linear ft)
Poles, sfwd
($/linear ft)
Fuelwood ($/cord)
Pulpwood ($/cord)
0
0
0
0
Biomass ($/ton)
Total sales in acres: >1623
Range
Central
# Avg.
Range
Western
# Avg.
280-400
0
--
Range
--
1
385
385
100
200
--
100
200
--
0
0
0
----
----
0
1
1
-200
364
-200
364
0
0
0
3
4
---241
73
---200-264
40-100
0
0
0
0
0
-----
------
0
1
0
0
0
-385
----
-385
----
--
2
191
159-223
1
263
263
--
--
--
5
-----
150325
-----
131
110-163
0
--
--
0
--
--
2
0
0
0
103
----
80-125
----
0
1
0
0
-70
---
-70
---
0
0
0
0
-----
-----
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
4
-6.75
-6.007.00
--
0
1
-18.00
-18.00
0
1
-5.00
-5.00
0
1
-5.00
-5.00
0
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
0
--
--
--
(Oak/mixed Hdwd
medium quality)
Loblolly pine
Values in $/thousand board feet ($/MBF)
*Mixed low quality hardwood (pallet type materials). On some sales, a single price may be paid.
Summary of Sale Characteristics
May-August 2002
Size
# sales
<50 MBF
9
% of
sales
36
Type
# sales
Lump sum
18
% of
sales
72
51-100
MBF
> 100
MBF
Unknown
3
12
Mill-tally
6
24
12
48
No data
1
4
1
4
Reported by
Consulting
forester
Public lands
foresters
Industrial
foresters
Independent
Logger/buyer
CFM state
foresters
Utility
foresters
Unknown
Buyer/seller
Buyer
Seller
No data
# sales
2
22
1
% of sales
8
88
4
Location of sales
Eastern Shore
Southern
Central
Western
Unknown
# sales
8
10
2
5
0
#
reporting
5
%
reporting
56
2
22
2
22
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
% of sales
32
40
8
20
0
Maryland and Delaware Stumpage Price Report
September-December 2002
The stumpage price report is a cooperative effort among Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Department of
Agriculture, Maryland Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service, Delaware Forest Service, Maryland Tree
Farmers and forest landowners. It is consolidated and distributed every four months by the University of Maryland,
Wye Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 169, Queenstown, MD 21658. Their phone number is 410-8278056.
The prices contained in this publication are collected from consulting and state agency foresters in four pricereporting areas throughout Maryland and Delaware. Reporting is voluntary, so this is not a complete record of sale
activity in Maryland and Delaware. Prices are intended to serve ONLY AS A GUIDE for the marketing of standing
timber. The actual value of a specific stand of timber may be influenced by the following factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Timber quality
Volume to be cut per acre
Logging terrain
Market demand
Distance to market
Season of year
Distance to public roads
Labor costs
Size of the average tree to be cut
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Type of logging equipment
Percentage of timber species in the area
End product
Landowner requirements
Landowner knowledge of market value
Property taxes
Performance bond requirements
Insurance costs
Size of harvest
What is stumpage?
Stumpage refers to the price that a landowner receives for standing trees.
Why four different regions?
The four regions described in this report reflect unique forest product markets in Maryland and Delaware. For
example, the quality and quantity of black cherry and oaks produced in the Western Region usually surpasses that of
the other three regions. Loblolly pine is a timber species that is found mostly on the Eastern Shore and Southern
Region. It is important to note that counties may reflect the trends of the regions they border. Regions
include: Eastern Shore (ES) = Kent-Worchester Counties, MD and Sussex-Kent Counties, DE; Southern (S) = Anne
Arundel/Prince George's – St. Mary's Counties, MD; Central (C) = Cecil-Carroll/Montgomery Counties, MD and
New Castle County, DE; Western (W) = Frederick-Garrett Counties, MD.
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University’s policies, programs, and activities are in
conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color,
religion, age, national origin, sex and disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of
Personnel/Human Relations, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall,
College Park, MD 20742.
What are the different products mentioned in the report?
The majority of the prices reported are for sawtimber and veneer products. Sawtimber trees are typically above 12
inches in diameter at breast height (DBH; 4.5 feet from the ground) and have at least one 8-foot log that can be
harvested. Sawtimber trees are used for boards, railroad ties, and other products. Veneer quality timber is typically
of larger diameter, comes from the bottom log of the tree, and has no branches or imperfections. Poles are used for
telephone poles, piling, and related products. Fuelwood refers to timber sold for firewood. Fuelwood includes
poorer quality trees, dead trees, and tree tops. Pulpwood trees are used to produce paper products. Biomass
includes trees that are burned for power generation.
What do the prices mean?
Dramatic fluctuations are common in timber markets and past reports may not accurately reflect the latest market
conditions. Many factors can influence the price of timber on a given tract of land (see list on first page). For
example, the range of prices for one species may vary from $50-$350 per thousand board feet. This wide range
might exist because the lower value reflects poor-quality timber; whereas, the higher value reflects high-quality
timber that could be used for veneer products.
How are the prices reported?
The stumpage prices for each species and/or product category include three pieces of information: 1) the number of
reported sales; 2) the average of all reported values; and 3) the range of values from lowest to highest. Poles,
fuelwood, pulpwood, and biomass are special products that are sold by the linear foot, cord, or the ton. All other
prices are reported as the dollars per thousand board feet of timber ($/MBF). One board foot is 12 inches x 12
inches x 1 inch. The number of board feet in each tree depends on its diameter, number of logs, and defects. A
thousand board feet of timber may be made up of a few large trees or many small trees. The scale used to determine
board feet in standing trees is the International ¼ inch scale, which provides the most accurate measure of board
feet. Stumpage prices reported in a Doyle log scale, another common rule, tend to underestimate the volume of
timber and must be adjusted to be compatible with the International ¼ inch scale.
Where to get help?
The sale of timber products should include three people: 1) the forest landowner selling the timber; 2) a licensed
professional forester who assists the landowner with determining which trees should be harvested and helps the
landowner work with the logger; and 3) the logger who carries out the actual harvesting of the trees.
Maryland - Delaware Stumpage Price Survey Results
September-December 2002
The table below summarizes reported prices paid for standing timber during September-December 2002. Prices for
sawtimber are in $/MBF (1000 board feet) International ¼ inch scale. Pulpwood and fuelwood are reported in
$/cord or $/100 lbs, biomass in $/ton. The Range shows the high and low prices reported. Reporting is voluntary
and this is not a complete record of sale activity in Maryland and Delaware.
Total responses: 24
Total sales: 50
Total sales in acres: >1902
Species/Product
Eastern Shore
#
Avg. Range
Southern
#
Avg.
Red Oak
White Oak
1
1
1
0
350
350
2
0
483
Mixed Oaks
0
1
100
100
1
Oak/mixed Hdwd
(high quality)
0
1
171
171
3
Ash
0
0
Cherry
0
0
Sugar Maple
0
0
Tulip Poplar
0
2
Other Hdwd (Chestnut 0
Oak, Black Walnut,
Hickory, Basswood,
Locust, Cucumber
Magnolia, Red Maple)
0
120
180
120
180
70
3
270
Range
240-300
Central
#
Avg.
Western
#
Avg.
Range
435-531
17
9
433
247
317-550
175-350
287
287
8
211
100-321
298
250-333
5
307
225-408
0
3
242
200-275
0
10
628
500-800
0
7
452
280-769
0
4
233
180-315
321-1338 8
217
60-801
0
6
162
100-261
0
1
10.00
10.00
2
76
60-109
830
Range
*Mixed Hdwd
1
(low quality)
Mixed Hdwd ($/cord) 0
70
Loblolly Pine
1
240
2
128
125-130
0
0
Virginia Pine
0
1
125
125
0
0
White Pine
0
0
0
0
Other Sfwd
0
0
0
0
Poles, Hdwd ($/linear 0
ft)
Poles, Sfwd ($/linear 0
ft)
Fuelwood ($/cord)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
10.00
10.00
Pulpwood ($/cord)
0
2
0
7
11.00
5.00-15.00
Pulpwood ($/ton)
0
0
0
1
3.00
3.00
Biomass ($/ton)
0
0
0
0
0
240
15.00
15.00
Values in $/thousand board feet ($/MBF)
*Mixed low quality hardwood (pallet type materials). On some sales, a single price may be paid
Summary of Sale Characteristics
September-December 2002
Size
<50 MBF
51-100
MBF
> 100 MBF
Unknown
# sales % of sales
Type
11
22
Lump sum
13
26
Mill-tally
16
10
32
20
Buyer/seller
Buyer
Seller
No data
No data
# sales
1
24
25
# sales % of sales
Reported by
42
84
Consulting forester
4
8
Public lands foresters
4
8
# reporting
8
2
% reporting
62
15
Industrial foresters
Independent
2
0
15
0
Logger/buyer
0
0
CFM state foresters
1
8
Utility foresters
0
0
Unknown
0
0
% of sales Location of sales
2
Eastern Shore
48
Southern
50
Central
Western
Unknown
# sales
1
5
13
31
% of sales
2
10
26
62
0
0