Forest Products

Wood Products

Forests and forest products are an essential part of Pennsylvania’s economy. In this section, obtain detailed information on forest wood products, including hardwood lumber, paper, veneers, chemicals, and firewood. Tips on estimating lumber prices and calculating the green weight of wood are available as well.

Hardwood and Softwood Lumber

Forests cover almost 60% of Pennsylvania’s 28 million acres of land. These woodlands protect wildlife, provide clean air, and offer numerous recreational opportunities. PA forests are also known for growing some of the finest hardwood timber in the world.

The majority of the state’s forests (approximately 90%) are covered by mixed hardwoods. Some of the more commercially important types of hardwood in the Commonwealth are northern red oak, black cherry, yellow poplar, chestnut oak, and sugar maple. Many of these species are valuable for making lumber and can be recognized by their broad, flat leaves in summer. Pennsylvania’s hardwood lumber is used to produce numerous forest wood products, including furniture, kitchen cabinets, and factory-made wooden buildings.

Softwood trees are often referred to as evergreens or conifers. They have narrow leaves, and most species remain green all year round. Common softwood species include eastern white pine, red pine, and eastern hemlock. Softwood grading is often visual, and the softwood lumber grades are based on strength and appearance.

Estimating Timber Volume and Value

With 17 million acres of forestеd land, Pennsylvania has a significant timber resource. To assess and determine the value of standing timber, it is generally necessary to complete an inventory of the trees’ species, size, and volume.

Landowners considering selling timber are further advised to familiarize themselves with the board foot content – or volume – of the trees intended for harvest. To determine the volume of standing trees, foresters use timber ‘cruise’ assessment and utilize different measuring tools and volume tables. Join the Valuing Standing Timber course for comprehensive information on valuing timber and obtaining fair market pricing.

Information and recommendations on estimating timber value can be obtained through Penn State Extension. In this section, discover more about the grading of hardwood lumber and calculating the green weight of wood. In addition, find current stumpage prices for Pennsylvania in the quarterly Timber Market Report. The report provides prices for common tree species by state region.

Other Forest Wood Products

Along with lumber, forests can produce a wide array of other, non-timber products and services. These include paper products, veneer, and a range of fibers. Also, forests have good potential for producing woody biomass for energy by utilizing biomass harvesting methods for timber stand improvement. The performance of biomass fuel, however, can be affected by several characteristics, including heat value and moisture level.

Access Penn State Extension resources to learn more about non-wood products and the effects of using biomass as an energy source in the forest community. Further, discover how utilizing low-use wood in a sustainable way can create opportunities like using commercial-scale biomass heat and replacing coal with biochar.

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  1. Forest Farming: Narrow-Leaf Ramps
    Webinars

    Free

    Forest Farming: Narrow-Leaf Ramps
    When 03/28/2024
    Length 1 hour, 30 minutes
    Explore forest farming of non-timber products like narrow-leaf ramps in this 1.5-hr Penn State webinar. Learn cultivation, ecology, and research insights.
  2. Be Safe Around Wooden Pallets!
    Articles
    Be Safe Around Wooden Pallets!
    By Judd Michael, Charles David Ray, Ph.D., Dr. Serap Gorucu
    Wood pallets are indispensable components of modern supply chains; without them our system of moving raw materials and finished goods would be much slower, less efficient, and more costly.
  3. Brown Rot in Wood. Photo by Jill Johnson
    Articles
    Brown Rot in Wood
    By Scott Weikert
    Brown rot, sometimes called cubical brown rot, is one type of decay fungi that can attack wood that leaves the wood with a reddish color and small, cube-shaped pieces of wood.
  4. The results of a successful day cutting firewood (photo credit: Calvin Norman)
    Articles
    Heating with Wood: An Introduction
    This article walks through how to begin heating with firewood, including how to safely and cheaply procure firewood. It also discusses some methods for processing, seasoning, and storing firewood.
  5. Lumber on stickers drying. Photo by Scott Weikert
    Articles
    Air Drying Lumber from Your Own Forest
    By Scott Weikert
    Using lumber from trees on your own property is a goal for many landowners. This article will explain if air drying the lumber is the right choice to meet your needs.
  6. Kira Metz, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org
    Articles
    Powderpost Beetles
    Powderpost beetles breed in dead and dried hardwoods. Their presence is overlooked until they are discovered in stored lumber, rafters, joists, floors, and furniture.
  7. Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species
    Articles
    Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species
    By Charles David Ray, Ph.D.
    How much does wood weigh? The question is simple enough for dry wood, but more difficult to when freshly cut.
  8. Photo by Aleksandar Radovanovic
    Articles
    Forest Products
    Forest products may include lumber and its byproducts, medicinal plants, maple syrup, and mushrooms just to name a few.
  9. Why Does Lumber Need to be Dried?
    Videos
    Why Does Lumber Need to be Dried?
    By Scott Weikert
    Length 9:01
    After lumber is sawn from the log it must be dried before it can be put into use. The forest products industry spends a lot of time and money to dry lumber and this video explains the reasons why.
  10. Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Munitions Demilitarization Building (22474531984) by PEO ACWA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
    Articles
    Lockout/Tagout for the Wood Products Industry
    By Judd Michael, Kasey Snell
    Using the proper lockout/tagout procedures will eliminate the possibility of employees becoming injured and prevent deaths within the wood products industry.
  11. Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels
    Articles
    Using Your Own Lumber For Building Projects
    By Scott Weikert
    Using your own lumber for building projects is not as straightforward as it seems. This article will offer some things to consider before starting a project using your own, ungraded lumber.
  12. Some of the first biochar produced in an industrially facility in Pennsylviana (Photo Credit: Calvin Norman)
    News
    Biochar in Riparian Buffers
    Date Posted 2/1/2021
    Penn State, in conjunction with the forest products industry, is working to demonstrate the use of biochar as an addition to improve the function of riparian buffers and stormwater management
  13. Valuing Standing Timber
    Articles
    Valuing Standing Timber
    By Allyson Brownlee Muth, Ed.D., David R. Jackson
    This 24-page publication describes simplified methods for estimating timber volumes and values, and is designed to help landowners/loggers understand how the economic value of timber is determined.
  14. Forestry & Wildlife Program Team Impacts
    Videos
    Forestry & Wildlife Program Team Impacts
    Length 4:49
    Penn State Extension's Forestry and Wildlife team boasts a rich history of educating and supporting industry professionals and private landowners in Pennsylvania.
  15. Forest Taxation: Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education
    Online Courses

    $160.00

    Forest Taxation: Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education
    Sections 13
    Length 8 hours
    Tax professionals and forest landowners learn about finance, taxation, and timber sales and taxation in order to save money on taxes. Earn 8 CFEs or 8 CPEs.
  16. American chestnut. Photo credit: Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org,
    Articles
    From the Woods: American Chestnut
    By Sanford S. Smith, Ph.D.
    Details the features of the American chestnut tree, the history of the blight, and the future prospects of the American chestnut.
  17. From the Woods: Incredible Wood
    Articles
    From the Woods: Incredible Wood
    By Sanford S. Smith, Ph.D., Lee Stover
    Wood is a natural and versatile material. This four-page, full-color publication explores the wide variety of wood products and uses for wood.
  18. Kiln Drying of Hardwood Lumber Short Course
    Workshops

    Kiln Drying of Hardwood Lumber Short Course
    Length 7.5
    This introductory short course is designed to enable participants to dry hardwood lumber to maximize product quality and value.
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