United States 

Department of 

Aariculture - Changes in Output of 

Forest Service 

*"'"'* 

Industrial Timber Products 

@ m,.E= in Virginia, 1987-1989 

Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Cecil C. Hutchins, Jr. 

Resource Bulletin 
The Author 

Cecil C. Hutchins, Jr., is a Resource 

Technician, Forest Inventory and 

Analysis, Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. 

The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agricuiture, is dedicated 

to the principle of multiple use management of the Nation's 

forest resources tor sustained yields of wood, water, forage, 

wildlife, and recreation. Through forestly research, cooperation 

with the States and pr'wate forest owners, and management of 

the National Forests and National Grasslands, it strives-as 

directed by Congress-to provide increasingly greater service 

to a growing Nation. 

USDA policy prohibits discrimination because of race, color, 

national origin, sex, age, religion, or handicapping condiiion. 

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated 

against in any USDA-related activity should immediately contact 

the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington. DC 20250. 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 

P.O. Box 2680 

Asheville, North Carolina 28802 
Foreword 

This report presents the findings of a 1989 canvass 

of all primary wood-using plants in Virginia and 

complemer~ts Forest Inventory and Analysis' periodic 

inventory of volume and removals from southeastern 

tiinberland. The canvass was made to deternline 

the amount and source of wood receipts and anilual 

timber product drain by county for a specific year. In 

addition, interstate and cross-regional movemeilt of 

indostrial roundwood are determined. Only primary 

woorl-using mills are canvassed. Primary mills are 

those tl~at process roundwood in log or bolt form 

or as chipped roundwood. Examples of industrial 

roundwood products are saw logs, pulpwood, veneer 

logs, poles, and logs used for composite panel 

products (oriented strand board/\vaferboard) or 

reconstitilted lumber products (parallel strarld 

lumber, laminated veneer lumber, particleboard) 

ilills producing products fiorrl residues generated 

st primary processors and secondary processors are 

riot canvassed. Volume of whole trees chipped in the 

woods is not included iii the rstinlate of timber drain, 

r~nless delivered to a primary domestic manufacturer. 

A 100-percent canvass of all primary wood-processors 

in Virginia was conducted in 1990. .Out-of-State 

nlills known to be using logs or bolts harvested from 

Virginia timberland were also contacted. Each mill 

was canvassed by mail or t,hrough personal contact 

at plant locations. Telephone contact was made as 

a foliowup to mailed questionnaire responses when 

additional information or clarification of response 

was necessary. In the event of a nonresponse, receipt 

data collected in previous surveys were updated 

based on current data collected for mills of similar 

size, product type, and location. These studies are 

a cooperative project involving the Southeastern 

Forest Experiment Station and the Commonwealth 

of Virginia, Department of Forestry. 

Pulpwood production data are taken from an annual 

canvass of all eastern pulpmills. Medium-density 

fiberboard, insulating board, and hardboard plants 

are included in this survey. The pulpwood production 

survey is conducted annually in cooperation with the 

American Pulpwood Association. Previous surveys 

for other timber products have been conducted 

approximately every 3 years since 1965. 'l'his B~illet~il 

reports the findings of the 1989 primary wood-users 

canvass and pulpwood production study in Virginia 

and presents changes in product output and residue 

use that have occurred since 1987. 

The Southeastern Station gratefully acknowledges 

the cooperation and assistance provided by the 

Virginia Department of Forestry in collectimg l~lill 

data. Appreciation is also expressed to forest industry 

and mill managers for providing timber products 

information 

Statewide Trends . Virginia's total roundwood timber product output was 

435.7 million cubic feet in 1989, a 5.6-percent increase 

over 1987, but 6 percent less than the record output 

of 1984. Both softwood and hardwood volumes have 

increased since 1987, softwoods by 3 percent and 

hardwoods by 9 percent (table 1). Hardwood product 

output surpassed softwood output significantly, as it 

has for a decade. Saw logs account for 51 percent 

of the roundwood production and are the leading 

ronndwood product, as they have been since the 

commodity drain surveys began in 1965. Pulpwood, 

the second leading roundwood product, makes up 

41 percent of total production. Veneer accounts for 

4 percent, composite panels 3 percent, and other 

industrial products 1 percent of the total. Composite 

panels was removed from the "other industrial roundwood" category in 1989, and this change accounts 

for the 50-percent reduction in that category. 

There were 369 primary wood-using plants operating 

in Virginia during 1989 (fig. 1). This was a loss of 25 

mills, or a 6-percent decline since 1987. The number 

of sawmills declined by 32, while the number of 

veneer mills remained at 10, and there were 9 pulp 

mills. There were 3 panel mills, and the number of 

other miscellaueons mills increased by 5 to a total of 

24 (table 2). 

Virginia continues to be a net importer of roundwood, 

as receipts exceeded production by 43.6 million cubic 

feet or 10 perceut. Imports of 27.8 million cubic feet 

of roundwood pulpwood account for 57 percent of 

the roundwood imported into Virginia. Imports of 

roundwood saw logs exceeded in-State production by 

4.7 million cubic feet (table 3). The only industry not 

importing roundwood was other industrial (table 4). 

Imports exceeded exports by a margin of 2-to-1 in 

1989. This was a decrease from the 3-to-1 margin of 

1987 (table 5). 

Plant Byproduct Production and Use 

Primary wood-using mills within the State produced 

159.2 million cubic feet of residues during 1989 

(table 6). Use of residues continues to improve, as 

96 perceht were utilized in 1989 versus 93 percent 

used in 1987. Ninety-seven percent of bark residues 

were used-60 percent for fuel and 37 percent for 

miscellaneous uses. Coarse residues were used mainly 

for fiber products (83 perceut); other uses were 

fuel and particleboard. The proportion of sawdust 

that was not used (8 percent) was greater than the 

proportion of any other residue that went unused but 

amounted to only 3.4 million cubic feet. Sixty-eight 

percent was used for fuel, 12 percent for miscellaneous 

products, and 9 percent for particleboard (table 7). 

Regional Trends 

The Coastal Plain of Virginia (fig. 2) was the leading 

producer of roundwood in 1989, with 40 percent of 

the State's total of 435.7 million cubic feet. The 

Coastal Plain produced 172.9 million cubic feet of 

rouudwood in 1989, a declule of 2 percent since 

1987. Output of all products other than pulpwood 

declined significantly. Production of pulpwood 

increased by almost 29 percent. Saw logs were the 

leading roundwood product in both the softwood 

and hardwood categories. Most products came from 

softwood in this area (table 8). 

Virginia's Southern Piedmont, with 137.4 million 

cubic feet of rouudwood products, was second in 

total output. The leading product for this region is 

pulpwood, which makes up more thau 50 percent 

of the total. More thau half of the pulpwood was 

softwood. Saw logs accounted for 42 percent of 

the total rouudwood production, with hardwoods 

dominating. Regional production increased by 11 

percent since 1987 (table 9). 

The Northeru Piedmont of Virginia produced 10 

percent more rouudwood in 1989 than in 1987. Both 

saw logs and pulpwood production increased, with 

softwoods showing the largest gains. Table 10 shows 

that hardwoods continue to dominate roundwood 

production in this region (59 perceut). 

Industrial roundwood output of the Northern 

Mountains Region decreased 6 percent since the 

previous survey. This region produces less roundwood 

thau does any other in the State. E~ghty-six percent 

of the region's roundwood output is hardwood Pulpwood increased by almost 7 percent to 11.9 m~llion 

cubic feet and is the second leading product of the 

Northeru Mountains (table 11). 

The Southern Mountains Region saw nearly a 

30-percent increase in roundwood production since 

1987. Hardwood saw logs accor~nted for most of the 

increase. Output of all roundwood products other 

than pulpwood increased; ~ulpwood production fell 

nearly 14 percent. This region produced almost 

11 percent of the State's total roundwood output in 

1989 (table 12). 
Northern Piedmont 

Northern Mountains 

Sawmills 

Veneer mills 

Pulpmills 

a Composite-panel mills 

Other miscellaneous mills 

Southern Mountains Southern Piedmont Coastal Plain 

Figure 1-Location of primary wood-using plants in Virginia, 1989. 

Definitions of Terms 

Composite panels. Consists of structural 

panels (oriented strand board/waferhoard), 

particleboard (industrial underlayment, thin 

panelboard), and fiberboard (medium-density 

fiberboard, insulation board). 

Consumption. The quantity of a commodity, 

such as pulpwood, utilized. 

Drain. The volume of roundwood removed 

from any geographic area where timber is 

grown. 

Exports. The volume of roundwood utilized 

by mills outside the geographic area where 

timber was cut. 

Industrial roundwood products. Any 

primary use of the main stem of a tree, 

such as saw logs, poles, pilings, veneer logs, 

pulpwood, posts, or cooperage logs. 

Industrial timber products. All timber 

products manufactured from either roundwood 

or plant byproducts, except firewood. 

Imports. The volume of roundwood delivered 

to a mill or group of mills in a specific 

geographic area but harvested from outside 

that particular area. 

Plant residues. Wood material generated in 

the production of timber products at primary 

manufacturing plants. 

Coarse residues. Suitable for chipping such as 

slabs, edgings, trim, veneer cores, and ends. 

Fine residues. Not suitable for chipping such 

as sawdust, shavings, and veneer clippings. 

Receipts. The quantity or volume of 

industrial roundwood received at a mill or 

by a group of mills in a geographic area, 

regardless of the geographic source. Volume of 

roundwood receipts is equal to the volume of 

roundwood retained in a geographic location 

plus roundwood imported from other locations. 

Roundwood. Logs, bolts, or other round 

sections cut from trees for industrial 

manufacture or consumer use. 

Roundwood chipped. Any timber cut 

primarily for industrial manufacture, delivered 

to non-pulpmills, chipped, and then sold to 

pulpmills for use as fiber. Includes tops, jump 

sections, and whole trees. 

Roundwood product drain. That portion 

of total drain used for a product. 

Saw log. A log meeting minimum standards 

of diameter, length, and defect, including 

logs at least 8 feet long, sound and straight, 

and with a minimum diameter inside bark 

of 6 inches for softwoods and 8 inches for 

hardwoods. 

Timber products output. Roundwood 

production in an area's forests (equals 

roundwood product drain). 

Timber removals. The merchantable volume 

of trees removed from the timberland inventory 

by harvesting, cultural operations such as 

stand improvement, land clearing, or changes 

in land use. 

Veneer log. Logs to be used in the 

production of plywood, finished ~anels, or 

veneer sheets, both rotary cut and sliced. 

Primary wood-using plants. Industries that 

receive roundwood or chips from roundwood 

for the manufacture of products such as 

veneer, pulp, and lumber. 
Tables 
Conversion Factorsa 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Pulpwoodb 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

0.18793 cubic foot = 1 board foot 

5.32 board feet = 1 cubic foot 

0.18594 cubic foot = 1 board foot 

5.38 board feet = 1 cubic foot 

0.16291 cubic foot = 1 board foot 

6.14 board feet = 1 cubic foot 

0.14599 cubic foot = 1 board foot 

6.85 board feet = 1 cubic foot 

73.07 cubic feet/cord 

76.37 cubic feetlcord 

aConversion factors vary with stem size (d.b.11.) and species. The factors 

shown are for the average diameters of trees removed in Virginia during 

the latest survey period. 

bCubic feet of solid wood per cord 
Table l--Roundwood timber products output, by product and species 

group, Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

pulpwooda 

So£ twood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Composite panelg b 

So£ twood 

Hardwood 

Total 0 13,183 NA 

Other industrial 

Softwood 7,329 3,421 -53.3 

Hardwood 5,605 3,002 -46 -4 

Total 12,934 6,423 -50.3 

All-industrial 

Softwood 200,384 205,502 +2.6 

Hardwood 212,132 230,175 +8.5 

Total 412,516 435,677 +5.6 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (11,903,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

12,129,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b~olume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
Table 2--Number of primary wood-using plants, by industry, 

Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Industry 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Number Percent 

Sawmills 35 5 323 -9.0 

Veneer mil 1s 10 10 0 

Pulpmills 9 9 0 

Composite-panel millsa 1 3 +200 .O 

Other 19 24 +26.3 

All plants 394 369 -6.3 

a. Mllls included with other prior to 1989. 
Table 3--Roundwood receipts, by product and species group, 

Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Total 

pulpwooda 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 178,200 205,636 +15.4 

b Composite panels 

Softwood 0 8,326 NA 

Hardwood 0 14,630 NA 

Total 0 22,956 NA 

Other industrial 

Softwood 8,950 3,357 -62.5 

Hardwood 6,420 2,736 -57.4 

Total 15,370 6,093 -60 -4 

All industrial 

Softwood 214,638 211,115 -1.6 

Hardwood 233,019 268,153 +15.1 

Total 447,657 479,268 +7.1 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (15,327,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

14,374,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b~olume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
m 

MP w d 000 

m 400 U 3 3 

o rum 

C uwh 

uom 

zmx 

. . 

h 

u 

m 

SWQ 3 -00 10 000 U 433 

0 U w C kwh 

uom 

gmx 

0 

m mm m 3YI 0 33 - -.. \D 3m 

3- 

NN 

N om 3 ma N PI,. ..- 

r-u 

NYI 

d NO 03 ma m om .. .. m 

m mm 

m3 

-N 

N 00 

r.m 3 4P- 

.... 

N\Om NYI N Or. 

u YI3 - .... \O mo 

om 

NN 

oc 

u 

CI . 0- 

P 

-3 

7 

rr "- 

. N 

OC 

Pi 

r- 

\O 

m 

m 

0 

m 

. 

m 

r. 

PI 

. 

m 

m 

u 
Table 5--Industrial roundwood movement, by year and species group, Virginia, 

1987 and 1989 

Year Production Exports Retained Imports Receipts 

Thousand cubic feet 

SOFTWOOD 

ALL SPECIES 
- 

.. - ION 4 

D w w 00.0 w 00 4 000 100 a 300 

W33 u 3 3 

OUW 0 UUW 3Wh C UWU o a uoa 

3u)m Etmx 

V1 $ 

w w 0 0 woo 

82-5 

z2 2 -V1z a 

a4 

8 

3 

0 .* 

u 

u 

m 

a , -0

moo 

a00 .* 3 3 U w YW * U 0 a 5-3: 

0 

00 

-0 

NO 0 

om 

s-s 

NIO 

m0 

hn 

. - 

mm 

IOom ".. 

N0 

0 

IO 

m 

m 

0 .+ .. 

4 

m 

4 

4 - N 

r. 

01 

Ln 

. 

0 

Table 8--Output of industrial roundwood products, by product and 

species group, Coastal Plain of Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

~ul~wood~ 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 51,795 66,765 +28.9 

Composite panels b 

Softwood 0 3,409 

Hardwood 0 3,116 

Total 0 6,525 NA 

Other industrial 

Softwood 5,085 2,099 -58.7 

Hardwood 3,185 707 -77.8 

Total 8,270 2,806 -66.1 

All industrial 

Softwood 111,639 105,768 -5.3 

Hardwood 65,445 67,147 +2.6 

Total 177,084 172,915 -2.4 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (8,123,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

8,290,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b Volume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
Table 9--Output of industrial roundwood products, by product and 

species group, Southern Piedmont of Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

~ul~wood~ 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

b Composite panels. 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Other industrial 

Sof twood 

Hardwood 

Total 

All industrial 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (2,861,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

2,355,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b Volume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
Table 10--Output of industrial roundwood products, by product and 

species group, Northern Piedmont of Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product Year 

and Change 

species group 1987 1989 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Saw logs 

Softwood 6,926 8,014 +15.7 

Hardwood 18,616 20,833 +11.9 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

~ul~wood~ 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Composite panels b 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Other industrial 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 767 661 -13.8 

All industrial 

Softwood 18,416 21,626 +17.4 

Hardwood 29,050 30,707 +5.7 

Total 47,466 52,333 +10.3 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (553,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

909,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b~olume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
Table 11--Output of industrial roundwood products, by product and 

species group, Northern Mountains of Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

~ulpwood~ 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Composite panels b 

Softwood 0 0 0 

Hardwood 0 0 0 

Total 

Other industrial 

So£ twood 

Hardwood 

Total 19 102 +436.8 

All industrial 

Softwood 4,646 3,792 -18.4 

Hardwood 23,507 22,670 -3.6 

Total 28,153 26,462 -6.0 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (251,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

395,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b~olume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 
Table 12--Output of industrial roundwood products, by product and 

species group, Southern Mountains of Virginia, 1987 and 1989 

Product 

and 

species group 

Year 

Change 

1987 1989 

Saw logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

Veneer logs 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 

pulpwooda 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Thousand cubic feet Percent 

Total 7,942 6,854 -13.7 

Composite panels b 

Sof twood 0 0 

Hardwood 0 3,696 

Total 

Other industrial 

Softwood 

Hardwood 

Total 5 176 +3,420.0 

All industrial 

Sof twood 9,148 8,262 -9.7 

Hardwood 26,784 38,260 +42.8 

Total 35,932 46,522 +29.5 

NA = not applicable. 

a Includes roundwood that was delivered to non-pulpmills and then 

chipped and sold to pulpmills (115,000 cubic feet in 1987 and 

180,000 cubic feet in 1989). 

b Volume included with other industrial prior to 1989. 

Southeastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Established 1921 

The Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, headquartered in Asheville. North 

Carolina, is one of the eight regional Experiment Stations, and the Forest Products 

Laboratory, that make up the Forest Service research organization. 

RESEARCH MISSION: 

To acquire the knowledge, develop the technology, and disseminate the research 

findings required to manage the Southeast's forest resources in ways that satisfy 

demands of goods and services while maintaining a quality environment. 

RESEARCH LOCATIONS: 

Blacksburg, VA 

Research Triangle Park. NC 

Franklin, NC 

Clemson. SC 

Charleston, SC 

Athens, GA 

Macon. GA 

Olustee/Gainesville, FL 

EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS: 

Chipola, Marianna. FL 

Holt Walton, Vienna. GA 

Cowetta, Ono, NC 

Bent Creek. Asheville. NC 

Santee, Moncks Corner, SC 

Scull Shoals. Athens. GA 

Hitchiti. Juliette, GA 

Olustee, Olustee, FL