F&W Managers Report Tree Planting Up During 2015-16 Planting Season

A survey of F&W managers across the Southern pine belt finds tree planting up in most regions during the recent 2015-16 planting season.

Landowners appear to have accepted that timber markets will not return to the pre-2008 levels any time soon and are proceeding with harvest plans, several managers reported in the survey.  In regions where pulpwood prices are strong, managers said that some landowners are moving to a pulpwood rotation to take advantage of the narrowing gap between pulpwood and sawtimber prices.

The trend of increased reforestation is in-line with a recent report from the U.S. Forest Service that estimates that tree planting across the 13 state Southern wood basket rose five percent to 1.8 million acres in the 2013-14 planting season, the latest data available.

The F&W survey was based on data and observations of 14 managers in nine states.

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