Improving Value Recovery Through Optimal Bucking

Objectives for Today Cover Page

•Short paragraph announcing offer of timber sale, location, • Timber Sale Prospectus samples acreage and general volume with species •Day of timber showing •Day of bid opening • Discuss the high stakes world of log •Paragraph detailing bidding deadline and where bids should bucking with presentation from: be sent

• Announcement: – No Class on Wednesday

– No Lab on ThursdayImproving Value Recovery....Through 2 Optimal Bucking

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1 Improving Value Recovery Through Optimal Bucking

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Volume Table Cover •User-friendly table detailing timber sale Page volume by species; should include species DBH class, # of , average volume per ; total by species and grand total •Disclosure statement informing potential buyers that said volumes are only an estimate and that potential are buyers are encouraged to determine individual estimates •Paragraph describing how trees are marked 9 ( logs, , cull) 10

Volume Table Volume Table

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2 Improving Value Recovery Through Optimal Bucking

Stipulations • insurance (general liability Stipulations at $500,000) and workman’s compensation requirements; • Amount of performance bond (i.e., $5,000; 10 - 20% of bid amount) held until successful completion of job • Payment schedule (i.e., 100% up front, 15% up front then remainder before starting the job, payment by working block) • restrictions that may influence amount of bid – timeline, stipulations (roads) • Statement that owner(s) reserve right to reject any bids 13 14

Stipulations Location Map

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Is there more value in your logs?

• Log bucking decisions have a strong influence on the value of the logs that are produced • Applied research has shown that value IMPROVING VALUE RECOVERY FOR recovery in the bucking process often fails HARDWOOD LOG to live up to its potential THROUGH • Straightforward bucking techniques can be used to increase the value of logs produced OPTIMAL BUCKING Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

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As a tree grows, lateral Some General Terminology: branches die

• These branches cause • Slab Section knots in the stem • Clean overlays the branch stubs • Center Section • The branches were smaller when the tree was young, and also have more • Quality Section clear wood over the branch stubs • Degrader: • This results in the best defect in generally being cut quality zone from lower on the stem

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

To be a Heavy and medium bark grading defect distortions are grading defects for sawlogs and veneer on sawlogs, a defect must Light bark distortions are not impact the grading defects in sawlogs , but are quality zone generally defects in veneer logs

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

KNOW YOUR MARKETS KNOW YOUR MARKETS (cont.) • Log grading does not always follow the rules strictly • A defect will sometimes be ignored if the • Size matters. It is much log is otherwise attractive easier to produce quality lumber or veneer from large logs than smaller logs with similar traits. Sometimes the buyer will allow things the rules don’t allow in large logs.

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

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KNOW YOUR MARKETS WARNING:

• Relationships with buyers matter Is it 14” or 16”? Always be aware of the • Know your buyer or buyers lower diameter limit for the target log grade when making bucking cuts. This diameter limit is inside-bark. It is a good idea to check this measurement before cutting each log.

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

TO FURTHER IMPROVE VALUE RULE OF THUMB #1: Place bucking cuts RECOVERY USE RULES-OF-THUMB to minimize sweep and crook.

• There are several rules-of-thumb. Different rules- • Sweep in logs reduces the scale volume of the log . of-thumb apply to different types of stems. If a log has 60 bf of gross scale and had a 10 bf scale deduction for sweep, then the log would have • Different sections within a stem should often be been worth 1/5 more if it had been straight. addressed using different rules-of-thumb.

• Always look over the stem carefully before bucking. If possible, look the stem over while it is still standing for a better view of the valuable butt section and to assess general tree vigor.

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

RULE OF THUMB #1 (cont): Place bucking RULE OF THUMB #2: Look for the Best cuts to minimize sweep and crook. Log that can be Cut from a Stem Section, then Work Around that Log. • Sweep can reduce the grade of the log . A one grade reduction causes a very large loss in value since prices often go up 50% or more for each increase • This rule-of-thumb applies when an increase in in grade. grade of the best available log is possible.

• Because of the very large jump in value with an increase in grade, it is nearly always best to select bucking cuts that preserve that log.

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

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When using sawlog grading rules based on RULE OF THUMB #1: Place bucking cuts clearcuttings on a grading face… to minimize sweep and crook. RULE-OF-THUMB #3 : Place Defects at the • Sweep in logs reduces the scale volume of the log . Ends of Logs to Increase Clearcuttings. If a log has 60 bf of gross scale and had a 10 bf scale deduction for sweep, then the log would have • Longer clearcuttings allow better lumber to be cut been worth 1/5 more if it had been straight. from the log.

• The grading rules for sawlog grades reward logs with more possible clear boards with higher log grades. • Therefore, longer clearcuttings produce higher grade logs on average. Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

When using sawlog grading rules based on RULE OF THUMB #2: Look for the Best clearcuttings on a grading face… Log that can be Cut from a Stem Section, then Work Around that Log. RULE-OF-THUMB #3 : Place Defects at the Ends of Logs to Increase Clearcuttings.

• This rule-of-thumb applies when an increase in • Longer clearcuttings allow better lumber to be cut grade of the best available log is possible. from the log.

• Because of the very large jump in value with an • The grading rules for sawlog grades reward logs increase in grade, it is nearly always best to select with more possible clear boards with higher log bucking cuts that preserve that log. grades. • Therefore, longer clearcuttings produce higher grade logs on average. Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

RULE-OF-THUMB #3 FOR CLEAR FACES WHY RULE-OF-THUMB #3 WORKS GRADING RULES

• If adding more length to a log will increase the • Adding 2 feet to a log adds at most 25% number of faces that are not clear… to gross scale, and less for logs longer • And if the increase in faces that are not clear than 8’ reduces log grade… • Then cut the log to the shorter length • Decreasing a grade reduces value much – Sometimes a cull section should be removed more than 25% , usually closer to 50% – Sometimes the section with the defect can be • The two feet that did not go on this log added to the next log can sometimes go onto the next log

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

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OBSERVATIONS ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE CULL OPTIMAL BUCKING PATTERNS SECTIONS SHOULD BE REMOVED Fairly large holes can occur in high quality sawlogs • If adding the defective section to the next log reduces the grade of that log, then buck out a cull section Often leave a section of cull material on a log to reach the required log length

Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

The Rules: OBSERVATIONS ABOUT OPTIMAL BUCKING PATTERNS RULE OF THUMB #1: Place bucking cuts OftenFairly cull sectionslarge holes can occur in high quality to minimize sweep and crook. are removedsawlogs (generally to RULE OF THUMB #2: Look for the Best Log improve grade by that can be Cut from a Stem Section, then implementing one Work Around that Log. of the rules-of- thumb) Often leave a section of cull material on a log to reach the required log length RULE-OF-THUMB #3 : Place Defects at the Ends of Logs to Increase Clearcuttings. Improving Value Recovery....Through Improving Value Recovery....Through Optimal Bucking Optimal Bucking

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