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Hi CEUMN, Welcome to the real world. Lots of fantasy out there. In our area the big winners are paulownia trees. But then only if the annual rings are very tight, which almost never happens due to them not being forest trees. Veneer buyers exist, but I've never known of any land owner meeting one. The one local veneer plant closed 20 yrs ago. I routinely get offered well over a dollar/ft for tulip poplar on the stump. This is when I can buy it, kiln dried, for $1.30. The only way those numbers work is with funny measuring. You got paid per tree, no need for funny measuring. Also your logger didn't take a portion (generally half) of what the log brought at the mill, which is the custom here. To compare, you need to double your log prices. Had the state forester out here to discuss my wood lot. After he gave his usual recommendations, I asked about continuous yield. He'd never heard of the idea. Then he pointed out that loggers wouldn't be interested in occasionally taking only a few trees. We got to talking about the price of lumber and what happens between tree harvesting and board sales. I more than quadruple what I could get per tree by sawing, drying, and selling boards. For instance, one decent oak might bring $225, split with the logger. When I sell boards, that same tree will bring at least $925. This requires a sawing investment, about $125, and some handling. Roughly $575 for my time, plus getting the logger's half ($112.50). I'm happy with this. State forester left, scratching his head. Walnut, I don't know what the mills are paying, but with the same ratios to dried lumber, should be about $1-2/bd ft (yield) on the stump, split with the logger. These prices vary greatly and are locale specific.
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