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.
- Webinars
Forest Farming: Narrow-Leaf Ramps
Length 1 hour, 30 minutesExplore forest farming of non-timber products like narrow-leaf ramps in this 1.5-hr Penn State webinar. Learn cultivation, ecology, and research insights. - Articles
Be Safe Around Wooden Pallets!
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. - Videos
Understanding Equilibrium Moisture Content
Length 5:47A look at how moisture in the air affects the moisture content of lumber. - Articles
Brown Rot in Wood
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. - 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. - Articles
Air Drying Lumber from Your Own Forest
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. - Articles
What Makes a Good Tonewood for Musical Instruments?
Guitars, clarinets, pipe organs, xylophones – what do they all have in common? Wood, of course! - 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. - Articles
Toxicity of Yew Wood and Roots
A case study of yew toxicity in fresh and aged yew roots and stem. - Articles
Self-organizing Microtubule Networks in Cellulose Science
Have you ever heard of nanotechnology? Better yet, have you ever heard it with respect to wood science, and wondered why? - Articles
Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species
How much does wood weigh? The question is simple enough for dry wood, but more difficult to when freshly cut. - Articles
Forest Products
Forest products may include lumber and its byproducts, medicinal plants, maple syrup, and mushrooms just to name a few. - Videos
Why Does Lumber Need to be Dried?
Length 9:01After 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. - Articles
Lockout/Tagout for the Wood Products Industry
Using the proper lockout/tagout procedures will eliminate the possibility of employees becoming injured and prevent deaths within the wood products industry. - Articles
Hardwood or Hard Wood?
This article explains the difference between a hardwood and a wood that is hard. - Articles
Using Your Own Lumber For Building Projects
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. - Articles
What is Selling Forest Carbon Like? Three Landowners' Experiences
This article describes the experience that three Pennsylvanian forest landowners had selling carbon. - News
Biochar in Riparian Buffers
Date Posted 2/1/2021Penn 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 - Articles
Valuing Standing Timber
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. - Videos
Forestry & Wildlife Program Team Impacts
Length 4:49Penn State Extension's Forestry and Wildlife team boasts a rich history of educating and supporting industry professionals and private landowners in Pennsylvania. - Online Courses
$160.00
Forest Taxation: Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education
Sections 13Length 8 hoursTax 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. - Articles
From the Woods: American Chestnut
Details the features of the American chestnut tree, the history of the blight, and the future prospects of the American chestnut. - Articles
From the Woods: Incredible Wood
Wood is a natural and versatile material. This four-page, full-color publication explores the wide variety of wood products and uses for wood. - Workshops
Kiln Drying of Hardwood Lumber Short Course
Length 7.5This introductory short course is designed to enable participants to dry hardwood lumber to maximize product quality and value. - Workshops
Hardwood Lumber Grading Short Course
This course will cover and explain the NHLA hardwood lumber grades and will offer hands-on grading of hardwood lumber.