Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Maine Woodlands

Publisher

Maine Woodland Owners

Publication Date

Winter 1-2018

Publisher location

Augusta, Maine

Issue Number

43

Volume Number

1

Abstract/ Summary

Determining the optimal harvest size for white pine involves balancing modern industrial constraints with silvicultural growth potential. While sawmills often view trees exceeding 30 inches diameter at breast height (dbh) as "oversized" and mechanical harvesters struggle with large stumps, experience at Wicopy Woods Tree Farm and the University of Maine Forests demonstrates that retaining large, high-quality growing stock significantly enhances long-term wealth. By reconstructing the 30-year growth history of harvested logs, the authors found that trees approaching 30 inches dbh often continue to grow vigorously, with butt log values increasing from $21 to $66 over three decades.

A fully stocked stand of these large pines can generate approximately $40 per acre annually, which can rise to nearly $100 if the logs reach "select" grade. Crucially, the current annual growth of $40 per acre more than doubles the long-term mean annual increment of $19, suggesting that harvesting at the traditional 18–20 inch dbh range is economically counterproductive for long-term stewards. Although the percentage rate of return may decline as the tree’s base value rises—dropping from 4.6% to 2.5% in the example—the actual annual dollar increment remains robust. This financial nuance often leads short-term investors to liquidate stands prematurely. In contrast, forward-looking landowners can achieve a stable, inflation-proof real rate of return of 3% by extending rotations, thereby practicing superior land stewardship while securing greater financial returns for future generations.

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