North Carolina Harvest 

and Utilization

Study, 2007

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Southern 

Research Station

Resource Bulletin

SRS–167

James W. Bentley and

Tony G. Johnson
The Authors:

James W. Bentley, Resource Forester, U.S. Forest Service, 

Southern Research Station, Knoxville, TN 37919; and 

Tony G. Johnson, Resource Analyst, U.S. Forest Service, 

Southern Research Station, Asheville, NC 28802.

November 2010

Southern Research Station

200 W.T. Weaver Blvd.

Asheville, NC 28802
i

Foreword

This resource bulletin describes the principal findings of a 

harvest and utilization study conducted during the eighth 

inventory of North Carolina’s forest resources. Survey 

crews sampled and measured trees harvested in a variety of 

logging operations, and analysts calculated wood volume 

and percent of wood utilization. Harvest volume data and 

factors for growing-stock and nongrowing-stock logging 

residue are described and interpreted.

Annual surveys of America’s forest resources are mandated 

by the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 

Reform Act of 1998 (1998 Farm Bill). Surveys and 

utilization studies are part of a continuing, nationwide 

undertaking by regional experiment stations of the Forest 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Inventories and 

utilization studies of the 13 Southern States (Alabama, 

Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, 

Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) and the Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico are conducted by the Southern Research 

Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Research Work 

Unit. Unit headquarters is in Knoxville, TN, and FIA has 

operational offices in Asheville, NC, and Starkville, MS. 

The primary objective of these appraisals is to develop and 

maintain resource information needed to formulate sound 

forest policies and programs. More information about Forest 

Service resource inventories is available in “The Enhanced 

Forest Inventory and Analysis Program—National Sampling 

Design and Estimation Procedures” (Bechtold and Patterson 

2005).

Tabular data included in FIA resource bulletins present 

a comprehensive array of forest resource statistics, but 

additional information is available to those who require 

more specific information. Access to data for the Southern 

States can be found at: http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us/data/index.

shtml.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Barry New and Don Roach for their 

review and comments; Anne Jenkins, Janet Griffin, Carolyn 

Steppleton, and Sharon Johnson for the map, tables, graphs, 

and statistical checking; and the Southern Research Station 

(SRS) Technical Publications Team for editorial review and 

publication of this report. 

The SRS gratefully acknowledges the cooperation and 

assistance of the North Carolina Forest Service in collecting 

harvest and utilization data. Appreciation is also extended to 

forest industry and loggers for allowing access to their land 

and logging operations.

iii

Contents

Page

Introduction .............................................................................. 1

Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Site Stratification and Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

 Characteristics of Harvested Trees in North Carolina ............................................ 4

 Softwood Removals ...................................................................... 6

 Hardwood Removals ..................................................................... 7

North Carolina’s Potential Biomass Availability ................................................. 9

Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Index of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Tables A.1–A.17a

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

a All tables in this report are available in Microsoft® Excel workbook files. Upon request, these files will be supplied on compact disc.

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture of any product or service.

Figure 1—Harvest operations, North Carolina, 2007.

Richmond

Scotland

Moore

Lee

Hoke

Harnett

Johnston

Cumberland

Wayne

Sampson

Greene

Lenoir

Duplin

Jones

Robeson Bladen

Columbus

Brunswick

New Hanover

Pender

Onslow

Transylvania

Cherokee

Clay

Macon

Graham

Swain

Jackson

Haywood

Madison

Buncombe

Henderson

McDowell

Yancey

Mitchell

Burke

Caldwell

Avery

Watauga Wilkes

Ashe Alleghany

Polk

Rutherford

ClevelandGaston

Lincoln

Catawba

Alexander

Iredell

Mecklenburg

Union

Cabarrus

Rowan

Stanly

Anson

Surry

Yadkin

Davie

Stokes

Forsyth

Davidson

Rockingham

Guilford

Randolph

Montgomery

Chatham

Alamance

Caswell

Orange

Durham

Person Granville

VanceWarren

Franklin

Wake

Carteret

Craven Pamlico

Beaufort Hyde Pitt

Wilson

Nash

Edgecombe

Halifax

Northampton

Hertford

Bertie

Martin Washington

Tyrrell Dare

Chowan GatesPerquimans

Pasquotank

Camden

Currituck

Types of operations Number

Softwood saw log

Hardwood saw log

Softwood pulpwood

Hardwood pulpwood

Softwood composite

Hardwood composite

Softwood veneer

Hardwood fuelwood

30

11

16

10

5

4

4

3

North Carolina Harvest and 

Utilization Study, 2007

James W. Bentley and Tony G. Johnson

Introduction

Forest planners and managers have a continuing need for 

information about the timber resource, and the public is 

expressing increasing interest in the effects of logging. 

Therefore, up-to-date data on the Nation’s forests—and how 

the forests are changing—are essential to well informed 

decisionmaking. Information about the condition of and 

changes in the timber resource of North Carolina comes 

from three primary sources: (1) inventory plots, which 

describe current conditions and quantify changes due to 

mortality, growth, removals, and land use; (2) mill surveys, 

which quantify timber volume harvested and delivered to 

primary wood products facilities, i.e., sawmills, pulpmills, 

veneer mills, composite panel mills, and pole mills; and 

(3) logging utilization studies, which characterize harvest 

operations and quantify the timber volume that is cut and 

utilized, and that portion that is left in the forest. 

This bulletin presents the findings of a 2007 harvest and 

utilization study in North Carolina. The study’s main goal 

was to provide an estimate of softwood and hardwood 

volume used, and of volume left in the woods as logging 

residue. Survey crews randomly selected and measured 

felled trees on 83 active harvest operations throughout 

North Carolina (fig. 1). This bulletin also provides some 

general characteristics of trees harvested for various 

products, examples of which are average diameter at breast 

height (d.b.h.) by product, average bole length by product, 

average heights of residual stumps, and average diameter 

outside bark (d.o.b.) at the end of utilization.

Some standard Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) terms 

are used in this study. Two of particular importance for 

understanding and interpreting study results are growing 

stock and nongrowing stock. A growing-stock tree is a live 

tree of commercial species that either contains or is capable 

of producing at least one 12-foot or two 8-foot logs in the 

saw-log portion of the bole. A nongrowing-stock tree is one 

that does not meet the requirements of growing stock due 

to poor form or rot. For growing-stock trees, the growingstock portion of a tree (5-inches d.b.h. or larger) includes 

the volume of sound wood between a 1-foot stump and a 

4-inch top, d.o.b. Volume in the 1-foot stump, volume in the 

main stem from 4 inches to the growing top of the tree, and 

the volume of any limbs 4 inches or larger with at least one 

5-foot section are considered nongrowing-stock volume by 

FIA standards. Rough or rotten trees were also sampled and 

make up another piece of nongrowing stock (cull) volume. 

Figure 2 illustrates a poletimber tree, a sawtimber tree, and 

the growing-stock section of each.
2

1-foot stump 

Growing-stock 

volume (cubic feet) 

Growing-stock 

volume (cubic feet) 4.0 inches d.o.b. 

Top 

Top 

4.0 inches d.o.b. 

Softwood = 7.0 inches d.o.b.

Hardwood = 9.0 inches d.o.b.

Sawtimber 

volume (cubic feet) 

Poletimber tree 

Softwood = 5.0–8.9 inches d.b.h.

Hardwood = 5.0–10.9 inches d.b.h.

Sawtimber tree 

Softwood = at least 9.0 inches d.b.h. 

Hardwood = at least 11.0 inches d.b.h. 

Figure 2—Stem sections of poletimber and sawtimber trees.

Methods

Site Stratification and Selection

Producing a complete list of timber-harvesting operations 

and ownerships in a State such as North Carolina is 

problematic. Because of the complexity of the timber 

industry, it is impossible to list the names and locations of 

all during the timeframe considered in this resource bulletin. 

Many uncontrollable factors affect how, when, and where 

harvesting operations take place, but the most common 

events that affect harvesting operations are weather and 

timber markets. A random sample provides a reasonably 

accurate estimate of utilization.

The sites selected for study were stratified by species group 

and product using the most recent data available for countylevel output of timber products harvested in North Carolina 

by species group (Cooper and Mann 2009). Using those 

proportions, 55 of the 83 selected sites were designated as 

softwood operations and the remaining 28 as hardwood 

operations. The same guidelines were used to designate 

harvest operations by product but allow for more flexibility 

because of the difficulty in locating harvesting operations 

for some products. Table 1 shows the final breakdown 

number of harvest operations, total trees, trees planted, and 

percentage of trees planted by product and species group.

After the harvest operations were stratified by major species 

group and product, the operations were placed in the 

appropriate region and county in the State. Using countylevel product output data (Cooper and Mann 2009) and a 

map showing current mill locations, prospective utilization 

sites were selected based on a high probability of locating a 

harvesting operation for the particular product and species 

group assigned. Figure 1 shows where the final harvest 

operations considered in this bulletin were located.
3

Table 1—Number of operations, total trees, planted trees, 

and percent planted by product and species group, North 

Carolina, 2007

Product and 

species group Operations

Trees

Total Planted

- - - - - - - - number - - - - - - - - percent

Saw logs

Softwood 30 672 265 39

Hardwood 11 256 4 2

Total 41 928 269 29

Veneer logs

Softwood 4 84 29 35

Hardwood 0 40—

Total 4 88 29 33

Composite panels

Softwood 5 118 71 60

Hardwood 4 92 6 6

Total 9 210 77 37

Pulpwood

Softwood 16 449 162 36

Hardwood 10 370 42 11

Total 26 819 204 25

Fuelwood

Softwood 0 0 0 —

Hardwood 3 74 0 —

Total 3 74 0 —

All products

Softwood 55 1,323 527 40

Hardwood 28 796 52 7

Total 83 2,119 579 27

— = no sample for the cell.

Data Collection

During the eighth survey, field crews were trained to collect 

data on felled trees at harvest locations. Using the list of 

operations and a map of sites, they began collecting data 

by county for the particular species group and designated 

product(s). Data collection was from September 2007 to 

November 2008 on active harvest operations. To locate 

active harvest sites, field crews visited local mills and 

consulted county personnel.

At each harvest operation site, field crews talked to the 

logger or person in charge of operations. These contacts 

provided vital information about product(s) utilized, specific 

diameters, and log lengths the receiving mill(s) would 

accept, along with minimum diameters at the cutoff points 

for specific products. Field crews also noted the type of 

logging equipment used. This information was used to 

determine the level of mechanization for each harvesting 

operation.

The goal of the field crew at each harvest operation site was 

to measure 25 to 30 trees for each product. This number 

ensured an adequate representation of overutilization and 

underutilization for a given type of harvest operation. Trees 

were randomly selected and had to be at least 5 inches 

d.b.h. and alive prior to harvest. Although often bucked, 

limbed, and topped, the main bole of each tree selected for 

measurement had to be intact to be measured for utilization. 

The State, unit, county, and location number were recorded 

for each site. Each tree was assigned a number and 

identified by species, d.b.h., tree class, product, bole length, 

and percentage of cull (if rot was detected). Each tree 

was measured from the top of the cut stump to the end of 

utilization. Measurements were made along the main stem 

in sections no longer than 16 feet until the end of utilization. 

The sawyer, according to particular specifications set by 

the receiving mill, usually determines the end of utilization. 

FIA merchantability standards for growing-stock volume 

are defined as the volume in the main stem of the tree from 

a 1-foot stump to a 4-inch top. However, most trees are not 

cut exactly at a 1-foot stump, nor are they cut off at exactly 

4 inches. For example, trees cut off above a 1-foot stump 

and below 4 inches would be considered underutilized, and 

that volume not utilized would be considered growing-stock 

residue. On the other hand, by FIA standards, trees cut 

below a 1-foot stump and above a 4-inch top are considered 

100 percent utilized, and those portions below and above 

are considered overutilization. A myriad of combinations 

actually occur on active harvest operations. The aggregated 

volume from measured trees has provided overutilization 

and underutilization factors that can be applied to statewide 

inventory results for an estimate of growing-stock and 

nongrowing-stock logging residues. Other required 

measurements, besides d.b.h. and end of utilization, are 

the top of the sawtimber portion (7.0 inches in softwoods 

and 9.0 inches in hardwoods). Those measurements allow 

calculation of the sawtimber and poletimber portion of the 

growing-stock section.
4

Table 2—Average diameter at breast height by species group, stand 

origin, and product, North Carolina, 2007

Species group 

and stand origin

Product

Saw 

logs

Veneer 

logs

Composite 

panels

PulpwoodFuelwood

inches

Softwood

Natural 12.61 16.23 7.15 6.82 —

Planted 11.70 16.70 6.78 6.87 —

Total 12.25 16.39 6.93 6.84 —

Hardwood

Natural 15.50 18.30 8.35 7.85 6.94

Planted 13.73 — 5.28 6.48 —

Total 15.47 18.30 8.18 7.67 6.94

— = no sample for the cell.

Highlights

Characteristics of Harvested Trees in North 

Carolina

Results of this study identify several key characteristics 

of trees harvested. Such findings cannot be obtained from 

a typical field inventory or a forest industry study that 

supplies product output data only. Characteristics such as 

average d.b.h. by product, average bole length by product, 

average residual stump height, and average d.o.b. at the end 

of utilization is vital information for a full understanding 

of the complex nature of removals. Averages discussed 

in this section are based on the measurement of 2,119 

trees, of which 1,323 (62 percent) were softwood and 796 

(38 percent) hardwood.

According to Cooper and Mann (2009), softwood and hardwood saw-log volume together accounted for 44 percent of 

the total product output for the State. The study classified 

672 trees as having softwood saw logs averaging 12.3 inches 

d.b.h. Thirty-nine percent, or 265 trees, were classified as 

planted softwood saw logs averaging 11.7 inches d.b.h., 

nearly 1 inch smaller than natural softwood saw logs 

averaging 12.6 inches d.b.h. It classified 256 hardwood 

trees as having saw logs averaging 15.5 inches d.b.h. Veneer 

and plywood constitute another component of the product 

mix for North Carolina. Based on 84 trees measured for 

soft wood veneer, the average d.b.h. was 16.4 inches. As 

expected, the d.b.h. of trees measured for pulpwood and 

composite panels was significantly smaller. Of the 449 

softwood pulpwood trees measured, the average d.b.h. was 

6.8 inches, while the 370 trees measured for hardwood 

pulpwood averaged 7.7 inches d.b.h. Thirty-six percent, or 

162 trees, of the softwood pulpwood trees were planted, 

averaging 6.9 inches d.b.h., little difference in d.b.h. 

when compared to trees that come from natural stands. 

One hundred-eighteen trees were measured for softwood 

composite panels averaging 6.9 inches d.b.h. Table 2 shows 

the average d.b.h. for each product by species group.

Bole length is the distance between a 1-foot stump and a 

4-inch top. As expected, trees harvested for solid wood 

products tended to have longer average bole lengths than 

trees harvested for pulpwood or composite panel products. 

The average bole length for softwood trees measured for 

saw logs was 59 feet, while trees measured for hardwood 

saw logs had an average bole length of 64 feet. In comparison, trees measured for pulpwood had average bole lengths 

of 30 feet for both softwoods and hardwoods. Softwood 

veneer trees had an average bole length of 74 feet. Planted 

sites constituted a subset of all trees measured. Trees 

measured in planted stands tended to have shorter bole 

lengths than those measured in the natural stands. Table 3 

shows the average bole length by species group.

Residual stump height is a key component in determining 

utilization rates for harvested trees. By FIA standards, the 

stump is that portion of the tree measured at ground level 

from the uphill side of the tree to 1 foot up the bole. Loggers 

try to maximize volume harvested by cutting the tree as 

close to the ground as possible. Residual stump heights 

across the products ranged from 0.44 to 1.00 foot; however, 
5

Table 3—Average bole length by species group, stand origin, and 

product, North Carolina, 2007

Species group 

and stand origin

Product

Saw 

logs

Veneer 

logs

Composite 

panels

PulpwoodFuelwood

feet

Softwood

Natural 62.43 72.22 38.30 29.83 —

Planted 52.68 77.48 25.25 29.85 —

Total 58.59 74.04 30.45 29.84 —

Hardwood

Natural 64.51 73.50 31.02 30.58 27.04

Planted 63.50 — 16.00 23.50 —

Total 64.49 73.50 30.20 29.65 27.04

— = no sample for the cell.

Table 4—Average residual stump height by species group, stand 

origin, and product, North Carolina, 2007

Species group 

and stand origin

Product

Saw 

logs

Veneer 

logs

Composite 

panels

PulpwoodFuelwood

feet

Softwood

Natural 0.66 0.68 0.66 0.62 —

Planted 0.55 1.00 0.44 0.59 —

Total 0.62 0.79 0.53 0.60 —

Hardwood

Natural 0.76 0.95 0.61 0.71 0.79

Planted 0.65 — 0.66 0.62 —

Total 0.76 0.95 0.62 0.69 0.79

— = no sample for the cell.

most softwood trees harvested had an average residual 

stump height of about a 0.60 foot, while harvested hardwood 

trees averaged slightly higher residual stumps. In softwoods 

and across all products, this accounted for about 28 percent 

of the stump volume being utilized. In hardwoods and across 

all products, about 18 percent of stump volume was used. 

Stump volume for both hardwood and softwood contributed 

to utilization of the nongrowing-stock portion of trees, i.e., 

overutilization. Residual stump heights for trees coming 

from natural stands appear slightly higher than residual 

stump heights in planted stands. Table 4 shows the average 

residual stump heights for each product by species group.

The final component we used to determine use rates was 

d.o.b. at the end of utilization. Tops and limbs constitute 

most of the nongrowing-stock volume; they accounted 

for 50 percent of the nongrowing-stock portion that was 

utilized. The average end of utilization for softwood saw 

logs was 4.5 inches, and for hardwood saw logs 6.3 inches. 

The average end of utilization for softwood and hardwood 

pulpwood was 3.3 and 3.9 inches, respectively. Trees 

coming from natural and planted stands showed almost 

no difference in the end of utilization. Table 5 shows the 

average end of utilization by the different products and 

species group.
6

Table 5—Average end of utilization by species group, stand origin, 

and product, North Carolina, 2007

Species group 

and stand origin

Product

Saw 

logs

Veneer 

logs

Composite 

panels

PulpwoodFuelwood

inches

Softwood

Natural 4.74 5.73 3.63 3.40 —

Planted 4.04 8.57 2.91 3.06 —

Total 4.47 6.71 3.29 3.27 —

Hardwood

Natural 6.31 4.95 4.67 3.94 3.98

Planted 5.95 — 3.32 3.22 —

Total 6.31 4.95 4.59 3.85 3.98

— = no sample for the cell.

Softwood Removals

Results from this study document 30,117 cubic feet of 

softwood volume, of which 25,694 cubic feet, or 85 percent, 

was used for product(s). Fifteen percent, or 4,423 cubic feet, 

was left onsite as logging residue (fig. 3). Thirty-one percent 

of the residue volume came from the growing-stock portion 

of the tree, while 69 percent came from the nongrowingstock portion (stumps, tops, and limbs) (fig. 4) (table A.1).

The total softwood growing-stock volume measured 

was 26,396 cubic feet, of which 95 percent was utilized 

Figure 3—Disposition of total softwood harvest volume, 

North Carolina, 2007.

Total 30.1 thousand cubic feet

Not utilized

(residue)

15%

Utilized

85%

and 5 percent was logging residue (fig. 5). By FIA 

merchantability standards, the logging residue portion 

of growing-stock trees is underutilized volume. Of the 

total utilized volume, 663 cubic feet, or 2.6 percent, was 

from the nongrowing-stock portion of trees. By the same 

merchantability standards, that volume is considered 

overutilization (tables A.2 and A.3).

Softwood volumes and percentages are broken down further 

by poletimber and sawtimber, and by the various products 

measured (tables A.2 through A.9). By product, trees 

harvested for pulpwood and composite panels had average 

rates of utilization for the merchantable portion of the tree 

(89 percent) and the highest rates of overutilization (10.1 

and 10.5 percent, respectively), meaning that more of the 

nongrowing-stock portion of the tree was used for product(s) 

and less was left as logging residue.

Softwood percentages and volumes presented in these tables 

represent only trees measured in this study of 55 active 

harvest operations. These percentages were used to refine 

the inventory estimate of softwood logging residues reported 

in the North Carolina’s Forests State report.1

 The annual 

merchantable softwood removal from all-live trees was 

607.7 million cubic feet (table 6). Softwood growing-stock 

1

Brown, Mark J., North Carolina’s Forests, 2007. Manuscript in 

preparation. Author can be reached at U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis, 

4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.
7

Figure 4—Softwood residue by volume type, North Carolina, 2007.

Growing

stock

31%

Total 4.4 thousand cubic feet

Nongrowing

stock

69%

1.4 thousand cubic feet

Growing stock

Upper

stems

40%

Saw

logs

60%

3.0 thousand cubic feet

Nongrowing stock

Stumps

28%

Tops/

limbs

72%

Figure 5—Disposition of softwood growing-stock volume, 

North Carolina, 2007.

Total 26.4 thousand cubic feet

Not utilized

(residue)

5%

Utilized

95%

removals were 595.7 million cubic feet, or 98 percent of 

the total. Using the factors from this study to refine total 

softwood removals for all-live trees tallied in the State 

survey provides an estimate of 150.3 million cubic feet total 

annual softwood residue. Of the total residue for all-live 

trees, 41.6 million cubic feet, or 28 percent, was considered 

residue from the merchantable portion. The remaining 

72 percent, or 108.7 million cubic feet, was residue from the 

nonmerchantable portion (stumps, tops, and limbs, and cull 

trees).

Hardwood Removals

Results from this study document 17,564 cubic feet of 

hardwood volume, of which 13,444 cubic feet, or 

77 percent, was utilized for product(s). Twenty-three 

percent, or 4,120 cubic feet, was left onsite as logging 

residue (fig. 6). Thirty-nine percent of residue volume came 

from the growing-stock portion of trees, and 61 percent 

came from the nongrowing-stock portion (stumps, tops, and 

limbs) (fig. 7) (table A.1).

The total hardwood growing-stock volume measured 

was 14,766 cubic feet, of which 89 percent was used 

and 11 percent was logging residue (fig. 8). By FIA 

merchantability standards, the logging residue portion 

is underutilized volume. Of the total utilized volume, 

284 cubic feet, or 2.1 percent, was from the nongrowingstock portion of trees. By the same merchantability 

standards, that volume is considered overutilization (tables 

A.10 and A.11).

Hardwood volumes and percentages also were measured 

for poletimber and sawtimber, and differentiated by the 

various products they provided (tables A.10 through A.17). 

At 94 percent, however, those trees measured for pulpwood 

were more fully utilized, and more of the nongrowingstock portion was used for pulpwood. Trees measured for 

hardwood saw logs and veneer were the least utilized of all, 

although they have the most nongrowing-stock material.
8

Figure 6—Disposition of total hardwood harvest volume, 

North Carolina, 2007.

Total 17.6 thousand cubic feet

Not utilized

(residue)

23%

Utilized

77%

Table 6—Volume of all-live timber removals by removals class, 

species group, and source, North Carolina, 2002–07

Removals class

and species group

All

sources

Source

Merchantable

Nonmerchantable

thousand cubic feet

Timber products

Softwood 514,790 501,539 13,251

Hardwood 312,911 306,277 6,634

Total 827,701 807,816 19,885

Logging residues

Softwood 150,284 41,554 108,730

Hardwood 151,938 66,752 85,186

Total 302,222 108,306 193,916

Land use removals

Softwood 79,125 64,613 14,512

Hardwood 196,118 157,379 38,739

Total 275,243 221,992 53,251

Total removals

Softwood 744,199 607,706 136,493

Hardwood 660,967 530,408 130,559

Total 1,405,166 1,138,114 267,052

Hardwood percentages and volumes presented in the tables 

represent only trees measured in this study of 28 active 

harvest operations. These percentages are used to refine the 

inventory estimate of hardwood logging residues reported 

in the North Carolina’s Forests State report (see footnote 1). 

The annual merchantable hardwood removals from all-live 

trees totaled 530.4 million cubic feet (table 6). Hardwood 

growing-stock removals totaled 472.9 million cubic feet, 

or 89 percent of that total. Using the factors from this 

study to refine total hardwood removals from all-live trees 

tallied in the State survey provided an estimate of 151.9 

million cubic feet total annual hardwood residue. Of that 

total, 66.8 million cubic feet, or 44 percent, was considered 

residue from the merchantable portion. The remaining 

56 percent, or 85.2 million cubic feet, was residue from the 

nonmerchantable portion (stumps, tops, and limbs, and cull 

trees).
9

Figure 7—Hardwood residue by volume type, North Carolina, 2007.

Total 4.1 thousand cubic feet

Nongrowing

stock

61%

Growing

stock

39%

1.6 thousand cubic feet

Growing stock

Saw

logs

54%

Upper

stems

46%

2.5 thousand cubic feet

Nongrowing stock

Stumps

27%

Tops/

limbs

73%

Figure 8—Disposition of hardwood growing-stock volume, 

North Carolina, 2007.

Total 14.8 thousand cubic feet

Not utilized

(residue)

11%

Utilized

89%

North Carolina’s Potential Biomass 

Availability

Logging residue has long been viewed as a possible 

source for bioenergy and other timber products, although 

traditionally it has not had any merchantable value. 

Retrieval of logging residue is a matter of economics, 

based on markets and demand. If markets are available 

and a willingness to pay a reasonable price exists, then 

more total tree volume is utilized for products. With this 

in mind, logging residue volume in North Carolina for 

2002–07, or the eighth survey, amounted to 302.2 million 

cubic feet, or 10.8 million green tons. Softwoods accounted 

for 50 percent, or 150.3 million cubic feet (5.2 million 

tons), of the logging residues, while 151.9 million cubic 

feet (5.7 million tons) came from hardwood species. 

Logging residue from the merchantable portion of all-live 

tree removals totaled 108.3 million cubic feet (3.9 million 

tons), or 36 percent of the total logging residue. Other 

sources accounted for 193.9 million cubic feet (6.9 million 

tons), or 64 percent of the total logging residue. Trees 

< 5 inches d.b.h. contributed another 2.4 million tons of 

possible logging residue. Tables 6 and 7 express the volume 

of timber removals by removals class, species group, and 

source in million cubic feet and green tons.
10

Table 7—Weight of all-live timber removals by removals class, 

species group, and source, North Carolina, 2002–07

Removals class

and species group

All

sources

Source

Merchantable

Nonmerchantable

green tons

Timber products

Softwood 17,655,379 17,200,919 454,460

Hardwood 11,699,918 11,451,869 248,049

Total 29,355,297 28,652,788 702,509

Logging residues

Softwood 5,154,182 1,425,147 3,729,035

Hardwood 5,681,053 2,495,895 3,185,158

Total 10,835,235 3,921,042 6,914,193

Land use removals

Softwood 2,713,693 2,215,985 497,708

Hardwood 7,332,965 5,884,489 1,448,476

Total 10,046,658 8,100,474 1,946,184

Total removals

Softwood 25,523,254 20,842,051 4,681,203

Hardwood 24,713,936 19,832,253 4,881,683

Total 50,237,190 40,674,304 9,562,886

Over the same period, the area of timber harvested 

annually in North Carolina amounted to 424,200 acres. 

The removals volume attributed to timber products and 

logging residues are directly related to these treated acres. 

Based on these estimates, we can say that 94.7 tons per 

acre in the merchantable and nonmerchantable portion 

of trees > 5 inches d.b.h. were removed annually from 

North Carolina’s timberland. Of the nearly 95 tons 

removed, 69.2 tons per acre were utilized for products, 

while 22.2 tons per acre were left as logging residue, 

excluding the residual stump. Assuming a 20-percent 

recovery rate for trees < 5 inches d.b.h., an additional 

1.1 tons per acre was added, bringing the total logging 

residue to 23.3 tons per acre. This volume of logging 

residue is equivalent to about a tree-length trailer load 

of wood for every acre treated in North Carolina.

Most loggers are very well equipped to handle the main 

bole or merchantable portion of the tree and even long, 

straight sections of forks or major limbs. However, a more 

effective way to handle rough trees with crooked boles, tops, 

and limbs is to chip this material at the site and transport 

the material in chip vans. Whole trees and portions of trees 

chipped onsite have a very limited use for industrial timber 

products. About the only use for this material is as mulch or 

boiler fuel. Bioenergy and mulch markets are available and 

are a particularly cost-efficient means of dealing with small 

trees < 5 inches d.b.h., as well as with rough and rotten trees 

and the nonmerchantable portions of growing-stock trees. 

Current literature suggests that, with conventional logging 

equipment, a 60-percent recovery rate is a realistic goal for 

possible extraction of formerly unutilized material (Perlack 

and others 2005). At this recovery rate, an additional 14.0 

tons per acre of material once classified as logging residue 

could be added to the volume going for timber products.

Literature Cited

Bechtold, W.A.; Patterson, P.L., eds. 2005. The enhanced forest inventory 

and analysis program—national sampling design and estimation 

procedures. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–80. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 85 p.

Cooper, J.A.; Mann, M.C. 2009. North Carolina’s timber industry—an 

assessment of timber product output and use, 2007. Resour. Bull. 

SRS–133. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 

Southern Research Station. 31 p.

Perlack, R.D.; Wright, L.L.; Turhollow, A. [and others]. 2005. Biomass 

as feedstock for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry: the technical 

feasibility of a billion-ton annual supply. ORNL/TM–2005/66. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Forest Service. 73 p.
11

Glossary

Board foot. Unit of measure applied to roundwood. It 

relates to lumber that is 1-foot long, 1-foot wide, and 1-inch 

thick (or its equivalent).

Composite products. Roundwood products manufactured 

into chips, wafers, strands, flakes, shavings, or sawdust and 

then reconstituted into a variety of panel and engineered 

lumber products.

Drain. The volume of roundwood removed from any 

geographic area where timber is grown.

Growing-stock removals. The growing-stock volume 

removed from poletimber and sawtimber trees in the 

timberland inventory. (Note: Includes volume removed for 

roundwood products, logging residues, and other removals.)

Growing-stock trees. Living trees of commercial species 

classified as sawtimber, poletimber, saplings, and seedlings. 

Growing-stock trees must contain at least one 12-foot or two 

8-foot logs in the saw-log portion, currently or potentially (if 

too small to qualify). The log(s) must meet dimension and 

merchantability standards and have, currently or potentially, 

one-third of the gross board-foot volume in sound wood.

Growing-stock volume. The cubic-foot volume of sound 

wood in growing-stock trees at least 5.0 inches d.b.h. from a 

1-foot stump to a minimum 4.0-inch top d.o.b. of the central 

stem.

Hardwoods. Dicotyledonous trees, usually broadleaf and 

deciduous.

Soft hardwoods. Hardwood species with an average 

specific gravity of 0.50 or less, such as gums, yellowpoplar, cottonwoods, red maple, basswoods, and 

willows. 

Hard hardwoods. Hardwood species with an average 

specific gravity > 0.50, such as oaks, hard maples, 

hickories, and beech.

Industrial roundwood products. Any primary use of the 

main stem of a tree, such as saw logs, pulpwood, and veneer 

logs, intended to be processed into primary wood products, 

such as lumber, wood pulp, and sheathing, at primary woodusing mills.

International 1⁄4-inch rule. A log rule or formula for 

estimating the board-foot volume of logs, allowing 1⁄2-inch 

of taper for each 4-foot length. The rule appears in a number 

of forms that allow for kerf. In the form used by FIA, a 

1⁄4-inch of kerf is assumed. This rule is used as the USDA 

Forest Service standard log rule in the Eastern United States.

Log. A primary forest product harvested in long, primarily 

8-, 12-, and 16-foot lengths.

Logging residues. The unused portion of trees cut or 

destroyed during logging operations.

Merchantable portion. That portion of live trees 5.0 inches 

d.b.h. and larger between a 1-foot stump and a minimum 

4.0-inch top d.o.b. on the central stem. That portion of 

primary forks from the point of occurrence to a minimum 

4.0-inch top d.o.b. is included.

Merchantable volume. Solid-wood volume in the 

mer chant able portion of live trees. 

Noncommercial species. Tree species of typically small 

size, poor form, or inferior quality that normally do not 

develop into trees suitable for industrial wood products.

Nonforest land. Land that has never supported forests and 

land formerly forested where timber production is precluded 

by development for other uses.

Nongrowing-stock sources. The net volume removed from 

the nongrowing-stock portions of poletimber and sawtimber 

trees (stumps, tops, limbs, cull sections of central stem) 

and from any portion of a rough, rotten, sapling, dead, or 

nonforest tree. 

Other forest land. Forest land other than timberland and 

productive reserved forest land. It includes available and 

reserved forest land that is incapable of producing annually 

20 cubic feet per acre of industrial wood under natural 

conditions because of adverse site conditions such as sterile 

soils, dry climate, poor drainage, high elevation, steepness, 

or rockiness.

Other products. A miscellaneous category of roundwood 

products, e.g., cooperage, excelsior, shingles, and mill 

residue byproducts (charcoal, bedding, mulch, etc.).

Other removals. The growing-stock volume of trees 

removed from the inventory by cultural operations such as 

timber stand improvement, land clearing, and other changes 

in land use, resulting in the removal of the trees from 

timberland.
12

Other sources. (See: Nongrowing-stock sources.)

Poletimber-size trees. Softwoods 5.0 to 8.9 inches d.b.h. 

and hardwoods 5.0 to 10.9 inches d.b.h. 

Posts, poles, and pilings. Roundwood products milled (cut 

or peeled) into standard sizes (lengths and circumferences) 

to be put in the ground to provide vertical and lateral support 

in buildings, foundations, utility lines, and fences. May also 

include nonindustrial (unmilled) products.

Primary wood-using plants. Industries that convert roundwood products (saw logs, veneer logs, pulpwood, etc.) into 

primary wood products, such as lumber, veneer or sheathing, 

and wood pulp.

Pulpwood. A roundwood product that will be reduced to 

individual wood fibers by chemical or mechanical means. 

The fibers are used to make a broad generic group of pulp 

products that includes paper products, as well as chipboard, 

fiberboard, insulating board, and paperboard.

Rotten trees. Live trees of commercial species not 

contain ing at least one 12-foot saw log, or two 

noncontiguous saw logs, each 8 feet or longer, now or 

prospectively, primarily because of rot or missing sections, 

and with less than one-third of the gross board-foot tree 

volume in sound material.

Rough trees. Live trees of commercial species 

not contain ing at least one 12-foot saw log, or two 

noncontiguous saw logs, each 8 feet or longer, now or 

prospectively, primarily because of roughness, poor form, 

splits, and cracks, and with less than one-third of the gross 

board-foot tree volume in sound material; and live trees of 

noncommercial species.

Roundwood (roundwood logs). Logs, bolts, or other 

round sections cut from trees for industrial manufacture or 

consumer uses.

Roundwood chipped. Any timber cut primarily for industrial manufacture, delivered to nonpulpmills, chipped, and 

then sold to pulpmills for use as fiber. Includes tops, jump 

sections, whole trees, and pulpwood sticks. 

Roundwood product drain. That portion of total drain used 

for a product.

Roundwood products. Any primary product, such as 

lumber, poles, pilings, pulp, or fuelwood that is produced 

from roundwood.

Salvable dead trees. Standing or downed dead trees that 

were formerly growing stock and considered merchantable. 

Trees must be at least 5.0 inches d.b.h. to qualify.

Saplings. Live trees 1.0 to 5.0 inches d.b.h.

Saw log. A roundwood product, usually 8 feet in length or 

longer, processed into a variety of sawn products such as 

lumber, cants, pallets, railroad ties, and timbers.

Saw-log portion. The part of the bole of sawtimber trees 

between a 1-foot stump and the saw-log top. 

Saw-log top. The point on the bole of sawtimber trees above 

which a conventional saw log cannot be produced. The 

mini mum saw-log top is 7.0 inches d.o.b. for softwoods and 

9.0 inches d.o.b. for hardwoods.

Sawtimber-size trees. Softwoods 9.0 inches d.b.h. and 

larger and hardwoods 11.0 inches d.b.h. and larger.

Sawtimber volume. Growing-stock volume in the saw-log 

portion of sawtimber-sized trees in board feet (International 

1⁄4-inch rule).

Seedlings. Trees <1.0 inch d.b.h. and >1 foot tall for 

hardwoods, > 6 inches tall for softwood, and > 0.5 inch in 

diameter at ground level for longleaf pine.

Softwoods. Coniferous trees, usually evergreen, having 

leaves that are needles or scalelike.

Standard cord. A unit of measure applied to roundwood, 

usually bolts or split wood. It is a stack of wood 4 feet 

high, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet long encompassing 128 cubic 

feet of wood, bark, and air space. This usually translates 

to approximately 75.0 to 81.0 cubic feet of solid wood for 

pulpwood, because pulpwood is more uniform.

Standard unit. A unit measure applied to roundwood 

timber products. Board feet (International 1⁄4-inch rule) is 

the standard unit used for saw logs and veneer; cords are 

used for pulpwood, composite panel, and fuelwood; hundred 

pieces for poles; thousand pieces for posts; and thousand 

cubic feet for all other miscellaneous forest products.

Timberland. Forest land capable of producing 20 cubic feet 

of industrial wood per acre per year and not withdrawn from 

timber utilization.
13

Timber product output. The total volume of roundwood 

products from all sources plus the volume of byproducts 

recovered from mill residues (equals roundwood product 

drain).

Timber products. Roundwood products and byproducts.

Timber removals. The total volume of trees removed from 

the timberland inventory by harvesting, cultural operations 

such as stand improvement, land clearing, or changes in land 

use. (Note: Includes roundwood products, logging residues, 

and other removals.)

Tree. Woody plant having one erect perennial stem or 

trunk at least 3 inches d.b.h., a more or less definitely 

formed crown of foliage, and a height of at least 13 feet 

(at maturity).

Upper-stem portion. The part of the main stem of 

saw timber trees above the saw-log top and the minimum top 

diameter of 4.0 inches outside bark, or to the point where 

the main stem breaks into limbs. 

Utilization studies. Studies conducted on active logging 

operations to develop factors for merchantable portions of 

trees left in the woods (logging residues), logging damage, 

and utilization of the unmerchantable portion of growingstock trees and nongrowing-stock trees.

Veneer log. A roundwood product either rotary cut, sliced, 

stamped, or sawn into a variety of veneer products such as 

plywood, finished panels, veneer sheets, or sheathing.

Weight. A unit of measure for mill residues, expressed as 

oven-dry tons (2,000 oven-dry pounds).

Appendix

17

Index of Tables

Table A.1—Harvest and utilization volume by species 

group, source, and volume type, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.2—Volume of softwood growing stock by product 

and utilization for sawtimber and poletimber, North 

Carolina, 2007

Table A.3—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for softwood growing stock by product for sawtimber and 

poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.4—Volume of softwood growing stock by product 

and utilization for sawtimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.5—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for softwood growing stock by product for sawtimber, North 

Carolina, 2007

Table A.6—Volume of softwood growing stock by product 

and utilization for poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.7—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for softwood growing stock by product for poletimber, 

North Carolina, 2007

Table A.8—Volume of softwood cull by product and 

utilization, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.9—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for softwood cull by product, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.10—Volume of hardwood growing stock by 

product and utilization for sawtimber and poletimber, North 

Carolina, 2007

Table A.11—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for hardwood growing stock by product for sawtimber and 

poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.12—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product 

and utilization for sawtimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.13—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for hardwood growing stock by product for sawtimber, 

North Carolina, 2007. 

Table A.14—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product 

and utilization for poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.15—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for hardwood growing stock by product for poletimber, 

North Carolina, 2007

Table A.16—Volume of hardwood cull by product and 

utilization, North Carolina, 2007

Table A.17—Percent of overutilization and underutilization 

for hardwood cull by product, North Carolina, 2007

19

Table A.1—Harvest and utilization volume by species group, source, and volume type, North Carolina, 2007

Species group 

and source

Total tree 

volume

Growing stock Nongrowing stock

Total

Saw log Upper stem

Total

Stumps Tops/limbs

Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Softwood

Sawtimber 26,661.76 23,577.89 21,037.32 823.32 1,204.67 512.58 3,083.87 261.71 740.44 95.06 1,986.66

Poletimber 3,455.48 2,818.28 — — 2,789.30 28.98 637.20 68.08 123.16 238.14 207.82

Total 30,117.24 26,396.17 21,037.32 823.32 3,993.97 541.56 3,721.07 329.79 863.60 333.20 2,194.48

Hardwood

Sawtimber 14,557.98 12,359.99 9,864.12 862.36 982.95 650.56 2,197.99 96.15 528.20 22.61 1,551.03

Poletimber 3,006.22 2,406.43 — — 2,312.31 94.12 599.79 50.44 143.78 115.22 290.35

Total 17,564.20 14,766.42 9,864.12 862.36 3,295.26 744.68 2,797.78 146.59 671.98 137.83 1,841.38

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.2—Volume of softwood growing stock by product and utilization for sawtimber and poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

utilized

Saw-log portion

Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Total Utilized

Cull 

utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 18,214.08 18,998.35 17,870.52 1,127.83 343.56 16,952.66 16,179.51 667.76 105.39

Veneer logs 4,740.13 4,884.18 4,706.63 177.55 33.50 4,680.58 4,655.03 18.41 7.14

Composite panels 613.98 568.96 551.97 16.99 62.01 77.19 69.81 7.37 —

Pulpwood 2,126.09 1,944.67 1,902.16 42.51 223.93 150.21 132.96 17.25 —

Fuelwood — — — — — — ———

Total 25,694.28 26,396.17 25,031.29 1,364.88 662.99 21,860.64 21,037.31 710.79 112.53

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
20

Table A.3—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for softwood growing stock by product for sawtimber and poletimber, 

North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization Saw-log portion

Growing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/ 

total growingstock volume

Saw log 

utilized/ 

total sawlog volume

Cull utilized/ 

total saw-log 

volume

Saw log 

not utilized/ 

total saw-log 

volume

percent

Saw logs 98.11 1.89 94.06 5.94 95.44 3.94 0.62

Veneer logs 99.29 0.71 96.36 3.64 99.45 0.39 0.15

Composite panels 89.90 10.10 97.02 2.98 90.44 9.55 —

Pulpwood 89.47 10.53 97.81 2.19 88.52 11.48 —

Fuelwood — — — — — — —

All products 97.42 2.58 94.83 5.17 96.23 3.25 0.51

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.4—Volume of softwood growing stock by product and utilization for sawtimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

utilized

Saw-log portion

Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Total Utilized

Cull 

utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 17,570.42 18,374.76 17,257.31 1,117.45 313.11 16,952.66 16,179.51 667.76 105.39

Veneer logs 4,740.13 4,884.18 4,706.63 177.55 33.50 4,680.58 4,655.03 18.41 7.14

Composite panels 98.65 108.78 94.56 14.22 4.09 77.19 69.81 7.37 —

Pulpwood 189.56 210.16 183.48 26.68 6.08 150.21 132.96 17.25 —

Fuelwood — — — — — — —— —

Total 22,598.76 23,577.88 22,241.98 1,335.90 356.78 21,860.64 21,037.31 710.79 112.53

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
21

Table A.5—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for softwood growing stock by product for sawtimber, North Carolina, 

2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization Saw-log portion

Growing stock 

utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/ 

total growingstock volume

Saw log 

utilized/ 

total sawlog volume

Cull utilized/ 

total saw-log 

volume

Saw log 

not utilized/ 

total saw-log 

volume

percent

Saw logs 98.22 1.78 93.92 6.08 95.44 3.94 0.62

Veneer logs 99.29 0.71 96.36 3.64 99.45 0.39 0.15

Composite panels 95.85 4.15 86.93 13.07 90.44 9.55 —

Pulpwood 96.79 3.21 87.30 12.70 88.52 11.48 —

Fuelwood — — — — — — —

All products 98.42 1.58 94.33 5.67 96.23 3.25 0.51

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.6—Volume of softwood growing stock by product and utilization for 

poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

Total Utilized utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 643.66 623.59 613.21 10.38 30.45

Veneer logs — — — — —

Composite panels 515.33 460.18 457.41 2.77 57.92

Pulpwood 1,936.53 1,734.51 1,718.68 15.83 217.85

Fuelwood — — —— —

Total 3,095.52 2,818.28 2,789.30 28.98 306.22

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
22

Table A.7—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for softwood growing stock by 

product for poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization

Growing stock 

utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/ 

total growingstock volume

percent

Saw logs 95.27 4.73 98.34 1.66

Veneer logs — — — —

Composite panels 88.76 11.24 99.40 0.60

Pulpwood 88.75 11.25 99.09 0.91

Fuelwood — — — —

All products 90.11 9.89 98.97 1.03

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.8—Volume of softwood cull by product and utilization, North Carolina, 

2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Nongrowing stock

Merchantable

Unmerchantable 

Total Utilized utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 42.23 41.65 41.65 — 0.58

Veneer logs — — — — —

Composite panels 74.43 71.06 70.75 0.31 3.68

Pulpwood 440.18 424.75 422.53 2.22 17.65

Fuelwood — — —— —

Total 556.84 537.46 534.93 2.53 21.91

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
23

Table A.9—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for softwood cull by product, 

North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization

Merchantable 

utilized/total 

volume 

utilized

Unmerchantable 

utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Merchantable 

utilized/total 

merchantable 

volume

Merchantable 

not utilized/total 

merchantable 

volume

percent

Saw logs 98.63 1.37 100.00 —

Veneer logs — — — —

Composite panels 95.06 4.94 99.56 0.44

Pulpwood 95.99 4.01 99.48 0.52

Fuelwood — — — —

All products 96.07 3.93 99.53 0.47

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.10—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product and utilization for sawtimber and poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

utilized

Saw-log portion

Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Total Utilized

Cull 

utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 10,597.24 11,849.21 10,486.13 1,363.08 111.11 10,082.83 9,336.33 699.25 47.25

Veneer logs 219.18 280.42 217.60 62.82 1.58 255.04 203.39 51.65 —

Composite panels 528.83 565.52 505.35 60.17 23.48 168.47 143.83 24.65 —

Pulpwood 1,833.02 1,826.30 1,715.74 110.56 117.28 174.97 135.41 38.62 0.94

Fuelwood 265.55 244.97 234.56 10.41 30.99 45.17 45.17 — —

Total 13,443.80 14,766.42 13,159.38 1,607.04 284.42 10,726.48 9,864.13 814.17 48.19

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
24

Table A.11—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for hardwood growing stock by product for sawtimber and poletimber, 

North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization Saw-log portion

Growing 

stock utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/

total growingstock volume

Saw log 

utilized/

total sawlog volume

Cull utilized/

total saw-log 

volume

Saw log not 

utilized/

total sawlog volume

percent

Saw logs 98.95 1.05 88.50 11.50 92.60 6.94 0.47

Veneer logs 99.28 0.72 77.60 22.40 79.75 20.25 —

Composite panels 95.56 4.44 89.36 10.64 85.37 14.63 —

Pulpwood 93.60 6.40 93.95 6.05 77.39 22.07 0.54

Fuelwood 88.33 11.67 95.75 4.25 100.00 — —

All products 97.88 2.12 89.12 10.88 91.96 7.59 0.45

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.12—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product and utilization for sawtimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

utilized

Saw-log portion

Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Total Utilized

Cull 

utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 10,282.86 11,530.18 10,178.27 1,351.91 104.59 10,082.83 9,336.33 699.25 47.25

Veneer logs 219.18 280.42 217.60 62.82 1.58 255.04 203.39 51.65 —

Composite panels 184.20 227.01 182.71 44.30 1.49 168.47 143.83 24.65 —

Pulpwood 204.93 253.52 199.63 53.89 5.30 174.97 135.41 38.62 0.94

Fuelwood 74.66 68.86 68.86 — 5.80 45.17 45.17 — —

Total 10,965.83 12,359.99 10,847.07 1,512.92 118.76 10,726.48 9,864.13 814.17 48.19

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
25

Table A.13—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for hardwood growing stock by product for sawtimber, North 

Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization Saw-log portion

Growing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/ 

total growingstock volume

Saw log 

utilized/

total sawlog volume

Cull utilized/ 

total saw-log 

volume

Saw log 

not utilized/

total sawlog volume

percent

Saw logs 98.98 1.02 88.28 11.72 92.60 6.94 0.47

Veneer logs 99.28 0.72 77.60 22.40 79.75 20.25 —

Composite panels 99.19 0.81 80.49 19.51 85.37 14.63 —

Pulpwood 97.41 2.59 78.74 21.26 77.39 22.07 0.54

Fuelwood 92.23 7.77 100.00 — 100.00 — —

All products 98.92 1.08 87.76 12.24 91.96 7.59 0.45

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.14—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product and utilization for 

poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Growing stock

Nongrowing 

stock 

Total Utilized utilized

Not 

utilized

cubic feet

Saw logs 314.38 319.03 307.86 11.17 6.52

Veneer logs — — — — —

Composite panels 344.63 338.51 322.64 15.87 21.99

Pulpwood 1,628.09 1,572.78 1,516.11 56.67 111.98

Fuelwood 190.89 176.11 165.70 10.41 25.19

Total 2,477.99 2,406.43 2,312.31 94.12 165.68

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
26

Table A.15—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for hardwood growing stock 

by product for poletimber, North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization

Growing stock 

utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Nongrowing 

stock utilized/ 

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing-stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/ 

total growingstock volume

percent

Saw logs 97.93 2.07 96.50 3.50

Veneer logs — — — —

Composite panels 93.62 6.38 95.31 4.69

Pulpwood 93.12 6.88 96.40 3.60

Fuelwood 86.80 13.20 94.09 5.91

All products 93.31 6.69 96.09 3.91

— = no sample for the cell.

Table A.16—Volume of hardwood cull by product and utilization, North Carolina, 

2007

Product

Total 

volume 

utilized

Nongrowing stock

Merchantable

Unmerchantable 

Total Utilized utilized

Not 

utilized

 cubic feet

Saw logs 85.86 85.33 85.33 — 0.53

Veneer logs — — — — —

Composite panels 217.31 212.66 209.36 3.30 7.95

Pulpwood 649.89 644.42 618.87 25.55 31.02

Fuelwood 229.54 200.87 200.87 — 28.67

Total 1,182.60 1,143.28 1,114.43 28.85 68.17

Numbers in rows and columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

— = no sample for the cell.
27

Table A.17—Percent of overutilization and underutilization for hardwood cull by product, 

North Carolina, 2007

Product

Overutilization Underutilization

Merchantable 

utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Unmerchantable 

utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Merchantable 

utilized/total 

merchantable 

volume

Merchantable 

not utilized/ 

total merchantable 

volume

percent

Saw logs 99.38 0.62 100.00 —

Veneer logs — — — —

Composite panels 96.34 3.66 98.45 1.55

Pulpwood 95.23 4.77 96.04 3.96

Fuelwood 87.51 12.49 100.00 —

All products 94.24 5.76 97.48 2.52

— = no sample for the cell.

Bentley, James W.; Johnson, Tony G. 2010. North Carolina harvest and 

utilization study, 2007. Resour. Bull. SRS–167. Asheville, NC: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 27 p.

In 2007, a harvest and utilization study was conducted on 83 operations 

throughout North Carolina. There were 2,119 total trees measured: 1,323 or 

62 percent were softwood, while 796 or 38 percent were hardwood. Results 

from this study showed that 85 percent of the total softwood volume measured 

was utilized for a product, and 15 percent was left as logging residue. 

Seventy-seven percent of the total hardwood volume measured was utilized 

for a product, while 23 percent was left as logging residue.

Keywords: FIA, growing stock, logging residue, nongrowing stock, 

overutilization, product, removals, underutilization.
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of the 

Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, 

forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with 

the States and private 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.

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(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

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Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 

or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer.