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About Inland Forest Management, Inc.

As professional consulting foresters we assist landowners in the management of their forest resources. We can assist in forest management planning, implementing a timber sale, marketing forest products, minimizing forestland taxes, estate planning, insect and disease management, and many more services. We work for landowners and protect their best interests throughout the forest management process. Our loyalty is to them, their forests, and their goals.

In addition, our foresters include members of the Society of American Foresters and the Association of Consulting Foresters. We strictly adhere to the Code of Ethics of these respected organizations.

Inland Northwest Log Prices

The log market continues to fluctuate in a narrow range, with most forest products hovering around modest price levels. Currently a few mills are lowing prices due to growing log inventories that have been created by excellent logging weather; however, most mills are hopeful prices will trend upward a little coming out of spring break-up.

Unfortunately, it appears the road toward significantly higher log prices will be long and slow. Extremely low housing starts, widespread mortgage foreclosures, a huge inventory of homes for sale, and high unemployment lead most experts to predict that it will be a long time before we see any significant economic recovery, and consequently, strong lumber markets. Couple this situation with a dramatic reduction in local log purchasers, (in North Idaho alone we have lost 15 major sawmilling facilities within the last 25 years) and the impact is compounded because forest owners now have fewer log markets (i.e. less competition for logs) and the possibility of much longer hauls.

Mike Wolcott, ACF
Certified Forester
Inland Forest Management, Inc.

Log Prices

Note that these figures represent prices paid by competitive domestic facilities in the Inland Northwest, and are based on average-sized logs and standard log lengths—usually 16’6” and 33’.

MBF = Thousand Boardfeet.

*Pole value varies widely depending upon length.

Market information as of January 3, 2012.