Note: The figures used in these scenarios were accurate at printing time but may not represent all the variables found in your particular situation.
Case 1: Clearcut for chips at age 40 and allowed to regenerate to trees.
- Yield at 40 years: 50 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $125.00/acre
- Average annual return over 40 years: $3.12/ac/yr
Case 2: First thinning at age 40 and thinned every 10 years thereafter, regenerated at age 90.
| Yields: Tons Board Feet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Tons | Board Feet |
| Age 40 | 6.3 | --- |
| Age 50 | 11.0 | --- |
| Age 60 | 9.9 | --- |
| Age 70 | 10.2 | --- |
| Age 80 | 5.5 | 1,050 |
| Age 90 | 16.5 | 12,340 |
| Total | 59.4 | 13,390 |
- 59.4 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $148.50/acre
- 13,390 board feet @ $0.30/bf = $4,017.00/acre
- Average annual return over 90 years: $46.28/ac/yr
Case 3: Clearcut for chips at age 40 and convert to pasture.
Yield at 40 years: 50 tons of chips @ $2.50/ton = $125.00/acre
Costs of pasture establishment and maintenance (per acre):
- Land clearing $400 Seed bed prep. 45
- Lime and fertilizer 76
- Seed (fescue & lespedeza) 20
- Annual topdressing
- ($16/ac x 20 yrs) 320
- Periodic liming
- (Every 4 yrs @ $20) 100
- Cash rent of improved pasture: $23.00/ac/yr
- Average annual return over 20 years: $29.25/ac/yr
- Average annual expenses over 20 years: $48.05/ac/yr
- Net loss: $18.80/ac/yr
