In this example, waiting 7 years provides a return of 5 percent; waiting 14.

USDA Forest Service data shows the net growth in board feet per acre per year for different age classes and different site productivity classes averaged across all timberland in Pennsylvania Table 2.

Third, the value of timber depends heavily on how much timber is sold in one timber sale and what kind of harvesting is done. Often, the larger the sale, the higher the price per unit of wood that can be offered.

It can be more costly per unit of wood removed to cut only a few, selected trees, rather than cut most or all trees in the stand. Jan 15, Timber harvest income is an important tool to help sustain the economics of owning private forestland. It is ok to cut trees where the land regenerates as young forests of seedlings and saplings following logging.

If the time value of money and interest rates are not considered in calculating timber values, you would cut timber when the volume growth over time produces the maximum MAI.

Forest is preferable to asphalt. Periodic timber revenue is exactly how cutting trees can save forests.