Lumber price hikes

Lumber price hikes

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
There’s a good deal of sticker shock at the sawmill, as lumber prices have soared by at least 30 percent compared to last year. Extension forestry specialist Hank Stelzer says while wood, particularly products made from spruce pine fir, has also felt the impact of COVID, the pandemic is not the only factor 

Stelzer says when Covid entered pandemic status, several mills slowed down believing demand would slow, but didn't anticipate the extended time spent at home creating demand for improvement projects.

Issues with pests, as well as lumbermills finding sales opportunities overseas, have also impacted supply.

 

Stelzer says he believes prices will remain high until the end of next year, as supply levels respond to increased demand. However, he suggests a combination of factors may lead to wood arriving from European forests.

 

Stelzer says farmers and property owners might be tempted to sell standing timber from their own land.  He adds that two types of trees remain valuable.

 

However, Stelzer cautions farmers who think they could fashion lumber from their own trees that there's more than just cutting them down.

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