United States Department of Agriculture

Forest 

Service

Resource Bulletin 

NRS-87

Northern 

Research Station February 2014

West Virginia Harvest and 

Utilization Study, 2008

Jan Wiedenbeck

Shawn Grushecky
Abstract

Thirty active harvesting operations were part of a harvest and utilization study conducted 

in West Virginia in 2008. Data were collected on roundwood product and residue yields 

obtained from trees of different sizes, species, and qualities. This study was modeled 

after studies conducted on a regular and frequent basis by the Forest Inventory and 

Analysis unit in the Southern Research Station. Of the total volume harvested during 

this study, 88 percent was utilized and 12 percent was considered unutilized. Of the 

hardwood logging residue measured, 56 percent was from non-growing-stock sections 

of the trees—e.g., tops, limbs, and stumps. The other 44 percent was unutilized growingstock sections including upper stems and saw log-sized material. When the harvest 

utilization factors estimated in this study are applied to Forest Inventory and Analysis 

estimates of total harvest volume for West Virginia in 2008, a statewide hardwood logging 

residue estimate of 35.5 million cubic feet is obtained.

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Manuscript received for publication 4 September 2013

Cover Photos

Logging operations on national forests. Clockwise from top left, U.S. Forest Service 

employee Neal Bennett bucking a log with a chain saw on Allegheny National Forest, 

2005; felled tree showing stump with stump pull, Jefferson National Forest, 2007; log 

loader, Jefferson National Forest, 2007; logged area with harvest residue, Jefferson 

National Forest, 2007. Photos by Jan Wiedenbeck, U.S. Forest Service.
1

INTRODUCTION

Estimates of forest resource utilization have become increasingly important 

in West Virginia. Th ese estimates are typically the fi rst data source sought 

by parties interested in developing new forest products enterprises, 

especially those dealing with bioenergy. Th e U.S. Forest Service has been 

tracking this information in the Southern Region for some time, but very 

little new information is available for other areas in the United States. 

Information provided by the U.S. Forest Service related to the forest and 

timber resources in West Virginia comes from three primary areas: (1) 

forest inventory plots, which quantify change by growth, mortality, and 

removals; (2) mill surveys, which estimate the level of resources being 

consumed by primary wood products facilities (sawmills, pulpmills, 

engineered product mills, etc.); and (3) logging utilization research, which 

is used to quantify the amount of harvested roundwood delivered to 

market versus the amount that is left in the woods.

Th is bulletin details the fi ndings of a 2008 harvest and utilization study in 

West Virginia. Th e objective of this project was to investigate roundwood 

utilization rates on timber harvests in West Virginia.

METHODS

To quantify roundwood utilization in West Virginia, 30 active timber 

harvests were sampled during the summer and early fall of 2008. Th e 

harvest sites to be sampled were obtained from West Virginia Division 

of Forestry logging notifi cation forms. In West Virginia, the notifi cation 

of timber harvesting is mandated under the 1992 Logging Sediment 

Control Act (Grushecky et al. 2006). To reduce variability due to species 

composition, harvest type, and terrain, harvests were stratifi ed based on 

the three U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) units 

(Alderman and Luppold 2005). About 20 harvests from each of the FIA 

units were randomly selected from the overall harvest population. A 

greater number of delineated sites were needed due to harvest completions, 

permission problems, and size constraints, which limited the feasibility 

of completing sampling on some of the harvest sites. Ultimately, 30 

sites were sampled during the study period but despite our best eff orts, 

the distribution of sampling sites among regions was not even, with the 

southern region’s sample being smaller than that of the other two regions 

(Fig. 1).

Th e sampling methodologies used at each site were patterned after the 

techniques used by the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station 

(Bentley and Johnson 2009) and data collection fi eld crews received 

in-woods training by both Bentley and Johnson. It should be noted that 

Th e Authors

JAN WIEDENBECK is a research 

forest products technologist with 

the U.S. Forest Service, Northern 

Research Station, Princeton, WV.

SHAWN GRUSHECKY is a 

research associate and Assistant 

Director, Appalachian Hardwood 

Center, West Virginia University, 

Morgantown, WV.
2

in utilization studies conducted by the former North 

Central Research Station, when residual trees located 

proximal to sample trees were killed by the felling of 

the sample trees, the residual trees killed were tallied as 

logging residue. Using the Southern Research Station’s 

methodology, only trees scheduled for harvest were 

included in the utilization tally in this study. Th erefore, 

the collateral damage component of logging residue/loss 

is not captured here. Th e goal for each of the 30 sites 

was to sample 30 felled trees for utilization. Because of 

weather, equipment, and/or personnel issues, 30 trees 

were not sampled on all sites. Utilization information 

was collected when the tree was felled and subsequently 

merchandised in the woods as well as when the tree was 

bucked and prepared for market at the landing.

Once an active harvest site was chosen, fi eld crews 

met with the logging supervisor before data collection 

commenced. Th e following information was recorded at 

each site: 

• Global position system (GPS) coordinates of 

landing

• Type and specifi cation of all product markets 

(saw logs to 10-inch top, veneer logs to 14-inch 

top, pulpwood to 3-inch top, etc.)

• Number of active loggers on each site

• Number of truckloads leaving site each day

• Location of all product markets

• Forester involvement (timber was/was not 

marked and sold by a forester)

• Type of logger (contractor, independent, 

company)

• Harvest type (“fully mechanized” in which 

a mechanical harvester, grapple skidder, and 

bucking saw are used or “not fully mechanized”)

• Equipment specifi cations

Th e fi eld crew then noted the current location of 

harvesting within the tract and the general direction of 

harvest progression. With this information, the fi eld 

crew members could be positioned a safe distance from 

harvesting while the logging crew could fell several trees 

in a given area. Once the trees were felled, the fi eld 

crew collected the following data for each tree (Fig. 2; 

numbers refer to items in diagram):

1. Species

2. Stump height

3. Stump diameter

4. Diameter at 12-inch stump height

5. Diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), measured at 

4.5 feet above ground

6. Diameter at 16-foot log

7. Diameter and distance to topping point (end of 

utilization determined by logger) in woods

8. Diameter and distance to saw log top for 

sawtimber-size trees (7 inches for softwoods and 

9 inches for hardwoods)

9. Diameter and distance to 4 inches top of main 

stem

10. Cull information (%)

11. Large and small end diameters and length for 

each portion of the felled tree remaining as long 

as they met a 4-inch diameter and 8-inch length 

minimum

12. Utilization (binary) of each measured piece

13. Product class of tree (saw log, peeler, pulpwood, 

etc., based on type of product obtained from the 

butt log)

Figure 1.—Harvest operations, West Virginia, 2008. 

Three FIA units are depicted through shading.
3

With these data, a number of useful metrics were 

calculated, including growing- and non-growing-stock 

volume as well as percent under- and overutilization. 

Growing-stock volume, as defi ned by FIA 

merchantability standards, is the volume in the main 

stem of a 5.0-inch d.b.h. or larger tree from a 1-foot 

stump to a 4-inch top minus deductions for cull. Volume 

merchandised outside of these parameters is considered 

non-growing-stock volume. All volume in: 1) the 1-foot 

stump; 2) the main tree stem above the 4-inch top to the 

growing tip of the tree; and 3) in all limbs 4 inches and 

larger and at least 5 feet long are considered non-growing 

stock according to FIA defi nition (Bentley and Johnson 

2009).

Typically, trees are not cut at a height above the ground 

of exactly 1 foot, nor are they cut off at exactly a 4-inch 

diameter top. Trees cut above a 1-foot stump and below 

a 4-inch top would be considered underutilized, and 

that volume not utilized would be considered growingstock 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. Th e aggregated volume from measured trees 

provides the overutilization and underutilization factors 

that can be applied to statewide inventory results for an 

estimate of growing-stock and non-growing-stock logging 

residues (Bentley and Johnson 2009). Th e top of the 

saw log portion of sawtimber size trees of each stem (7 

inches in softwoods and 9 inches in hardwoods) also was 

recorded so that both saw log and upper stem portions of 

the growing-stock section could be determined.

Figure 2.—Stem sections and measurement locations taken on trees after felling. The numbers 

in parentheses correspond to the numbers on the list of types of data collected by the fi eld crew.

Stump 

Assumed stump height = 12 in; diameter (#4) 

Actual stump height (#2) and diameter (#3) 

Diameter (d.b.h.) 

at 4.5 ft (#5) 

Diameter at 16 ft (#6) 

9 in d.o.b. top of main stem (#8; 7 in d.o.b. for softwood stems) 

Topping point (#7) set by logger 

4 in d.o.b. top of main stem (#9) 

Minor limb 

Top of fork 

Upper stem of

fork 

Saw log portion 

of fork 

Saw log portion 

of main stem 

Top of main stem 

Upper stem of main stem 

Top of major limb 

Major limb 
4

HIGHLIGHTS

Characteristics of Harvested Trees in 

West Virginia in 2008

Research results provide reliable estimates of the species 

mix, tree size (as defi ned by average d.b.h. and bole 

length to merchantable tops), product markets, and 

overall utilization rates on current harvest sites in West 

Virginia. In this study, 816 trees were sampled at 30 

harvest sites. Yellow-poplar was the most commonly 

sampled tree, followed by red maple and red oak. Black 

walnut, in comparison, represented only 0.1 percent of 

the sample (Table 1).

To aid in data interpretation, individual species were 

grouped by species group based on physical attributes 

and forest products markets (Table 2). Th e yellow-poplar 

species group was most prevalent, followed by the white 

oak, soft maple, and red oak species groups. Th e cherry 

and soft-hardwood species groups were least prevalent, 

representing only 3.4 and 2.0 percent of the samples, 

respectively.

Th e average d.b.h. of trees sampled in 2008 in West 

Virginia was 16.9 inches (± 4.5 inches). On average, 

the red oak species group had the largest d.b.h. at 18.9 

inches, followed by the hard maple (18.3 inches), and 

cherry species groups (18.1 inches) (Table 3). Stumps, 

by FIA standards, are measured from the ground to 

the top of the stump on the uphill side of the bole. 

In certain circumstances, loggers try to maximize the 

volume harvested by cutting trees as close to the ground 

as possible. However, in species that tend to have 

substantial butt fl are, such as red oak, short stumps can 

Table 1.—Trees sampled on 30 active timber harvests in West Virginia by 

species and percent of total in 2008

Species

Common name Scientifi c name Number Percent

Yellow-poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 208 25.5

Red maple Acer rubrum 114 14.0

Black/red oak Quercus velutina

Quercus rubra

78 9.5

Chestnut oak Quercus prinus 76 9.3

White oak Quercus alba 73 8.9

Sugar maple Acer saccharum 52 6.4

Eastern white pine Pinus strobus 39 4.8

Hickory spp. Carya spp. 39 4.8

American beech Fagus grandifolia 34 4.1

Black cherry Prunus serotina 28 3.4

Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis 17 2.1

White ash Fraxinus americana 16 2.0

Cucumber Magnolia acuminata 9 1.1

Black birch Betula lenta 7 0.9

Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia 5 0.6

American basswood Tilia americana 4 0.5

Black gum Nyssa sylvatica 4 0.5

Sassafras Sassafras albidum 4 0.5

Bigtooth aspen Populous grandidentata 3 0.4

Paper birch Betula papyrifera 3 0.4

Pine spp. Pinus spp. 2 0.2

Black walnut Juglans nigra 1 0.1

 Total trees sampled 816 100
5

cause problems as the logs are processed up the supply 

chain. Th e average stump height for all species was 9.8 

inches (± 7 inches). On average, the white oak species 

group had the highest stumps at 11 inches (± 10.1 

inches). Th e softwood and hickory species groups had the 

lowest average stump diameter measured at 7.3 inches. 

Th e overall average stump diameter was 20.6 inches (± 

5.6 inches). Th e red oak species group had the largest 

average stump diameter, followed by the white oak and 

hard maple species groups. Th e soft-maple species group 

had the smallest average stump diameter (Table 3).

Th e merchantable bole length is the distance between 

a 1-foot stump and a 4-inch top (diameter outside 

bark or d.o.b.). For hardwood trees, bole length can be 

infl uenced as much by tree growth form as it can be by 

product market. For the trees sampled in this study, the 

average bole length to a 9-inch d.o.b. saw log top (the 

minimum top diameter for a hardwood saw log) was 

49.8 feet (±24.2 feet). Yellow-poplar had the highest 

average bole length to a 9-inch top, followed by the red 

and white oak species groups. Th e average bole length 

to at least a 4-inch merchantable top was 69.4 feet (±4.5 

feet). Again, yellow-poplar stems had the largest bole 

length to a 4-inch top followed by the red oak and soft 

hardwoods species groups. Th e mixed hardwoods species 

group had the shortest overall length to a 9-inch and 

4-inch top (Table 4).

Th e end of utilization, or bucking point, represents 

the diameter at which the loggers severed the main 

stem from the top in the woods before transport to the 

landing. Th e average bucking diameter for all of the 

stems measured was 9.4 inches (±3.9 inches). Th e red 

oak species group had the largest diameter at the end of 

utilization at 11.5 inches, followed by hard maple at 11.3 

inches. Th e softwood group had the smallest diameter at 

the end of utilization point at 5.9 inches (Table 5).

Table 2.—Trees sampled on 30 active timber harvest 

in West Virginia by species group and percent of total, 

2008

Species groupa Number Percent

Yellow-poplar 208 25.5

White oak 149 18.2

Soft maple 114 14.0

Red oak 78 9.5

Mixed hardwoods 74 9.1

Softwoods 58 7.1

Hard maple 52 6.4

Hickory spp. 39 4.8

Cherry 28 3.4

Soft hardwoods 16 2.0

 Total trees samples 816

a Defi nition of species groups: yellow-poplar includes only yellowpoplar; white oak includes white and chestnut oak; soft maple 

includes only red maple; red oak includes red and black oaks; 

mixed hardwoods includes American beech, white ash, black birch, 

black locust, black gum, sassafras, paper birch, and black walnut; 

softwoods includes hemlock and various members of the Pinus

genera; hard maple includes only sugar maple; hickory spp. includes 

all hickories; cherry includes only black cherry; and soft hardwoods 

includes cucumber, American basswood, and bigtooth aspen.

Table 3.—Average diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), stump height, and stump diameter of trees 

sampled on 30 active timber harvests in West Virginia, 2008 (standard deviation in parentheses).

Bold font is used to highlight the largest and smallest averages for each attribute.

Species group D.b.h.

(inches)

Stump height

(inches)

Stump diameter

(inches)

Cherry 18.1 (±2.9) 9.7 (±2.2) 20.9 (±4.7)

Hickory spp. 15.6 (±3.0) 7.3 (±5.7) 20.8 (±4.1)

Hard maple 18.3 (±4.5) 10.7 (±5.0) 21.8 (±6.3)

Mixed hardwoods 15.4 (±3.5) 10.4 (±5.5) 18.4 (±4.1)

Softwoods 15.1 (±5.5) 7.3 (±4.5) 18.8 (±7.0)

Red oak 18.9 (±4.1) 9.8 (±7.3) 24.7 (±5.8)

Soft hardwoods 16.7 (±3.3) 10.6 (±5.1) 19.5 (±4.8)

Soft maple 14.8 (±4.1) 9.1 (±3.3) 17.4 (±4.9)

White oak 17.7 (±5.0) 11.0 (±10.1) 22.0 (±4.8)

Yellow-poplar 17.5 (±4.2) 10.0 (±7.6) 20.8 (±5.5)
6

Of the 816 harvested trees sampled for utilization in this 

study, only 58 were softwoods (7.1 percent). Softwoods 

composed 6.4 percent of the harvested tree volume 

(Table A2) and 7.0 percent of the utilized volume. Th e 

softwood proportion of the tree sample in this study is 

similar to that noted in Widmann et al. (2007) based on 

2000 forest inventory data with only 6 percent of West 

Virginia’s sawtimber resource in softwood species. Th e 

softwood component of the utilized roundwood volume 

captured in this study was, however, 4 percent higher 

than the proportional softwood volume of industrial 

roundwood processed by primary processors in the state 

in 2007 (Piva and Cook 2011).

Due to the small size of the softwood sample, “saw logs” 

was the only class for which utilization factors could be 

independently evaluated. For hardwoods, three product 

classes are evaluated: saw logs, peelers (for veneer), and 

pulpwood (Table 6). In distinguishing these product 

classes, logs that were being sold to a scragg sawmill 

and those to be manufactured into posts and rails were 

included in the saw log category.

As expected, the average d.b.h. of hardwood trees 

classifi ed as saw log trees was larger than that of peeler 

trees which was larger than that of pulpwood trees 

(Table 6). Th e actual or residual stump height of peeler 

Table 4.—Average bole lengths to a 9-inch saw log top and 

4-inch merchantable top by species group, of trees sampled 

on 30 active timber harvests in West Virginia, 2008 (standard 

deviation in parentheses). Bold font is used to highlight the 

largest and smallest averages for each attribute.

Species group Bole length to 9 inch

saw log top

(feet)

Bole length to 4 inch

merchantable top

(feet)

Cherry 49.7 (±11.2) 65.9 (±11.4)

Hickory spp. 46.2 (±13.6) 69.1 (±10.6)

Hard maple 48.8 (±15.3) 68.2 (±13.6)

Mixed hardwoods 37.6 (±15.9) 57.3 (±15.1)

Softwoods 41.4 (±27.3) 64.6 (±21.1)

Red oak 53.7 (±15.5) 74.4 (±13.8)

Soft hardwoods 50.9 (±16.2) 69.4 (±13.8)

Soft maple 38.7 (±15.4) 58.6 (±13.9)

White oak 51.8 (±39.8) 68.7 (±12.3)

Yellow-poplar 60.3 (±16.0) 80.3 (±15.1)

Table 5.—Average end-of-utilization diameter 

(standard deviation) by species group of trees 

sampled on 30 active timber harvests in West 

Virginia, 2008. Bold font is used to highlight the 

largest and smallest averages.

Species group End of utilization diameter

(inches)

Cherry 9.4 (±3.2)

Hickory spp. 9.4 (±3.3)

Hard maple 11.3 (±4.6)

Mixed hardwoods 8.7 (±3.3)

Softwoods 5.9 (±3.3)

Red oak 11.5 (±3.9)

Soft hardwoods 10.7 (±2.6)

Soft maple 8.3 (±3.4)

White oak 10.2 (±4.3)

Yellow-poplar 9.4 (±3.6)

Table 6.—Average diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), stump height, and bole length to 4-inch top, by species 

group and product, of trees sampled on 30 active timber harvests in West Virginia, 2008

Species 

group

Saw logs Peelers Pulpwood

Average

d.b.h.

(inches)

Average

stump 

height

(inches)

Average 

bole 

length

(feet)

Average

d.b.h.

(inches)

Average

stump 

height

(inches)

Average

bole 

length

(feet)

Average

d.b.h.

(inches)

Average

stump 

height

(inches)

Average

bole 

length

(feet)

Hardwood

18.1 10.2 71.8 16 8.2 79.8 13.3 9.9 55.9

n=538 trees n=65 trees n=137 trees

Softwooda 15.8 7.8 66.3 -- -- -- -- -- -- n=56 trees

a Total number of trees shown does not sum to 816 because softwood peeler and pulpwood logs are not included in these 

calculations due to insufficient sample sizes.
7

trees was slightly lower than that of pulpwood and saw 

log trees (Table 6). Peeler logs in West Virginia are 

yellow-poplar—a species that grows very straight and 

has minimal butt flare, thus is more easily felled with a 

low stump than are trees with form irregularities. The 

average bole length of the trees classed as peeler trees was 

longer than the bole length measured for saw log trees, 

which was longer than the bole length of pulpwood trees. 

Again, the straight form of yellow-poplar peeler logs 

leads to longer, unbranched bole sections for this product 

class. 

Total Removals

A total of 73,478 cubic feet was sampled during this 

project. About 66,160 cubic feet (90 percent) was 

considered growing-stock volume (volume of tree 

found in main stem from 1-foot stump to 4.0-inch 

top diameter d.o.b.). Of the total volume harvested, 

88 percent was utilized and 12 percent was considered 

unutilized (Fig. 3).

Of the 12 percent of the harvested tree volume that was 

unutilized, 55 percent was non-growing stock and 45 

percent was considered growing-stock volume (Fig. 3). 

Of the unutilized growing-stock volume, 53 percent met 

saw log specifications (making up 24 percent of the total 

unutilized volume) and 47 percent were upper stems 

(21 percent of total unutilized volume) (Fig. 3). Of the 

unutilized non-growing-stock volume, 95 percent was 

found in tops with the remaining 5 percent (2 percent of 

total unutilized volume) in stumps. When considering 

only growing-stock volume, or the volume in the main 

stem between a 1-foot stump and 4-inch top, 94 percent 

of the harvested volume was utilized (Fig. 4). These 

relationships are further detailed in tables found in the 

Appendix.

Hardwood Removals

Since the hardwood volume (71,198 cubic feet) for the 

West Virginia utilization study was 93 percent of the 

total sample volume, the utilization percentages for the 

hardwood component are very similar to the overall 

percentages. As noted in Figure 2, 87 percent of the 

hardwood volume harvested as part of this study was 

utilized leaving 13 percent of the harvested volume as 

logging residue. Of the 63,608 cubic feet of hardwood 

growing stock volume, 93.5 percent was utilized.

Of the 9,214 cubic feet of hardwood logging residue 

measured at these 30 harvest operations, 56 percent was 

from non-growing stock sections of the trees—e.g., tops, 

limbs, and stumps. The other 44 percent was unutilized 

growing stock sections including upper stems and saw 

log sized material. By comparison, Bentley and Johnson 

88%

12% Utilized

Not utilized

Figure 3.—Disposition of total harvest volume, West 

Virginia, 2008. Total volume of all trees was 73,500 ft3

. 

For hardwood species, the volume utilization was 87 

percent while for softwoods it was 96 percent.

Figure 4.—Unutilized volume (residue) in growing- and 

non-growing-stock segments of harvested trees, West 

Virginia, 2008.

Growing stock Non-growing stock

Tops/limbs

Stumps 

21% 

24% 

Upper stem

Saw log
8

(2009, 2010) determined that 68 percent and 61 percent, 

respectively, of the woody harvest residue left in harvest 

operations in Virginia and North Carolina in 2007 was 

from non-growing stock sources. Similar to the North 

Carolina 2007 results, the proportionally higher growingstock component of harvest residues found in this study 

for West Virginia is attributable to a greater volume of 

saw log material that was not utilized (54 percent saw 

logs and 46 percent tops and limbs).

For West Virginia in 2008, FIA reports that annual 

hardwood removals of all live trees was 334 million 

cubic feet of which 282 million cubic feet (84 percent) 

was growing stock removals (U.S. Forest Service 2013). 

Using FIA’s EVALIDator tool (U.S. Forest Service 2013) 

we can estimate that 81.76 percent of total hardwood 

removals of live trees were harvest removals (as opposed 

to trees killed but not utilized and trees associated with 

land-use reclassifi cations). Th e statewide estimate of 

hardwood logging residues for 2008 is obtained by 

multiplying 334 million cubic feet by the harvest removal 

factor from EVALIDator and then by this study’s 

hardwood residue factor of 0.13 (unutilized portion 

of harvested hardwood trees) (Fig. 2). Th is approach 

provides an estimate of 35.5 million cubic feet of 

hardwood logging residue for West Virginia in 2008. 

Removal Factors for West Virginia, 2008

Tables A1 through A7 in the Appendix provide 

utilization volumes and percentages by wood type, 

source, and species group. Utilization factors calculated 

from these numbers can be used to predict the amount 

of woody material of diff erent types that will need to be 

harvested to obtain 1,000 cubic feet of product (before 

shrinkage). Th ese factors can be applied to timber 

products output data that is collected periodically for 

diff erent states to estimate harvest-based removals from 

forest inventory, or to estimate the amount of harvest 

residue generated. Table 7 shows two utilization factors 

derived from this study (bold font) alongside those 

from other studies in the eastern region. By using data 

from other tables found in the Appendix, more specifi c 

utilization factors for various species, products (saw logs 

vs. peelers vs. pulpwood), and tree classes (sawtimber vs. 

poletimber) can be calculated.

Table 7 should be interpreted as follows:

Table 7.—Comparison of factors for estimating total tree volumes and growing-stock volumes that must 

be harvested to produce a unit (e.g., 1,000 ft3

) of green roundwood product and a factor for estimating 

the amount of harvest residue generated for each unit of roundwood produced. Bold font is used to 

highlight the factors obtained in this study for West Virginia.

Reference study

Roundwood 

delivered to primary 

processor

Total tree volume 

removal factor

Growing stock 

removal factor

Harvest

residue factor

ALL SPECIES

Virginia 2007a 1.0 1.22 1.04 0.22

North Carolina 2007b 1.0 1.22 1.05 0.22

West Virginia 2008c 1.0 1.14 1.03 0.14

Michigan 1998d 1.0 1.28 0.94 0.28

Minnesota 1975-1976e 1.0 1.19 0.96 0.19

HARDWOODS

Virginia 2007a 1.0 1.27 1.06 0.27

North Carolina 2007b 1.0 1.31 1.10 0.31

West Virginia 2008c 1.0 1.15 1.03 0.15

Michigan 1998d 1.0 1.26 0.93 0.26

Minnesota 1975-1976e 1.0 1.22 0.95 0.22

a

Bentley and Johnson 2009

b

Bentley and Johnson 2010

c

This study...factors are based on calculations using numbers from Table A1.

d

Haugen and Weatherspoon 2003

e

Blyth and Smith 1979
9

• For every unit (e.g., cubic foot) of green 

roundwood delivered to a primary processor, 

multiply by the total tree volume removal factor 

to determine total tree volume required to 

produce that unit of roundwood product.

• For every unit of green roundwood delivered 

to a primary processor, the amount of growing 

stock that is removed to obtain the roundwood 

product is estimated by multiplying by the 

growing stock removal factor.

• For every unit of green roundwood delivered 

to a primary processor, the amount of residue 

generated in producing that roundwood product 

is estimated by multiplying by the residue 

generation factor.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

James Bentley, resource analyst with the U.S. Forest 

Service’s Southern Research Station in Knoxville, 

TN, provided training, reference material, answers to 

questions, and a review of the manuscript—we are most 

appreciative of his helpfulness throughout this study. In 

addition, very helpful reviews were provided by Ron Piva 

and Richard Widmann with the U.S. Forest Service’s 

Northern Research Station.

LITERATURE CITED

Alderman, D.; Luppold, W. 2005. Examination of 

regional hardwood roundwood markets in West 

Virginia. Forest Products Journal. 55(12): 153-157.

Bentley, J.W.; Johnson, T.G. 2009. Virginia harvest 

and utilization study, 2007. Resour. Bull. SRS-163. 

Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Southern Research Station. 27 p.

Bentley, J.W.; Johnson, T.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.

Blyth, J.E.; Smith, W.B. 1979. Minnesota logging 

utilization factors, 1975-1976—development, use, 

implications. Resour. Bull. NC-48, St. Paul, MN: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North 

Central Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.

Grushecky, S.T.; McGill, D.W.; Anderson, R.B. 2006. 

Inventory of wood residues in Southern West 

Virginia. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 

23(1): 47-52.

Haugen, D.E.; Weatherspoon, A. 2003. Michigan 

timber industry—an assessment of timber product 

output and use, 1998. Resour. Bull. NC-212. St. 

Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, North Central Research Station. 83 p.

Piva, R.J.; Cook, G.W. 2011. West Virginia timber 

industry: an assessment of timber product output 

and use, 2007. Resour. Bull. NRS-46. Newtown 

Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northern Research Station. 58 p.

U.S. Forest Service. 2013. Evalidator version 1.5.1.05.

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service. Available at http://apps.fs.fed.us/

Evalidator/evalidator.jsp

Widmann, R.H.; Dye, C.R.; Cook, G.W. 2007. Forests 

of the Mountain State. Resour. Bull. NRS-17. 

Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 28 p.
10

GLOSSARY1

Growing-stock removals. Th e 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 classifi ed 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). 

Th e 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. Th e 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 

specifi c gravity of 0.50 or less, such as gums, 

yellow-poplar, cottonwoods, red maple, basswoods, 

and willows.

Hard hardwoods. Hardwood species with an average 

specifi c gravity greater than 0.50, such as oaks, hard 

maples, hickories, and beech.

Log. A primary forest product harvested in long, 

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

Logging residues. Th e unused portion(s) of live trees cut 

or destroyed during logging operations.

Merchantable portion (bole length). Th at 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. Th at 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 

merchantable portion of live trees.

Non-growing-stock sources. Th e net volume removed 

from the non-growing-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 removals. Th e 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.

Peeler log. A roundwood product either rotary cut, 

sliced, stamped, or sawn into a variety of veneer products 

such as plywood, fi nished panels, veneer sheets, or 

sheathing. Also called veneer log.

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.

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

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

Pulpwood. A roundwood product that will be reduced 

to individual wood fi bers by chemical or mechanical 

means. Th e fi bers are used to make a broad generic group 

of pulp products that includes paper products, as well as 

chipboard, fi berboard, insulating board, and paperboard.

Rotten trees. Live trees of commercial species not 

containing 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 boardfoot tree volume in sound material.

1 Th is glossary was provided to us for use by James W. Bentley, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern 

Research Station, Knoxville, TN.
11

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

round sections cut from trees for industrial manufacture 

or consumer uses.

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.

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. Th e part of the bole of sawtimber trees 

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

Saw log top. Th e point on the bole of sawtimber trees 

above which a conventional saw log cannot be produced. 

Th e minimum 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. Growingstock volume in the 

saw log portion of sawtimber-sized trees in board feet 

(International 1⁄4-inch rule).

Softwoods. Coniferous trees, usually evergreen, having 

leaves that are needles or scalelike.

Timberland. Forest land capable of producing 20 

cubic feet of industrial wood per acre per year and not 

withdrawn from timber utilization.

Timber products. Roundwood products and 

byproducts.

Timber products output. Th e total volume of 

roundwood products from all sources plus the volume 

of byproducts recovered from mill residues (equals 

roundwood product drain).

Timber removals. Th e 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 defi nitely 

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

(at maturity).

Upper-stem portion. Th e part of the main stem of 

sawtimber 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 

growing-stock trees and non-growing-stock trees.
12

APPENDIX

Index of Tables

Table A1.—Harvest and utilization volume by source and volume type, West Virginia, 2008

Table A2.—Harvest and utilization volume by species group and volume type, West Virginia, 2008

Table A3.—Harvest and utilization volume by product and volume type, West Virginia, 2008. 

Data includes sawtimber and poletimber trees.

Table A4.—Overutilization and underutilization of growing stock by product, as a percent of total 

product, West Virginia, 2008. Data includes sawtimber and poletimber trees.

Table A5.—Harvest and utilization volume by product and volume type, West Virginia, 2008. 

Data includes sawtimber trees.

Table A6.—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product and utilization, West Virginia, 2008. 

Data includes sawtimber trees.

Table A7.—Overutilization and underutilization of hardwood growing stock by product for 

sawtimber trees, as a percent of total product, West Virginia, 2008
13

Table A1.—Harvest and utilization volume by source and volume type, West Virginia, 2008

Source

Total tree 

volume

Growing stock Non-growing stock

Total 

growing 

stock 

volume

Saw log Upper stem Total nongrowing 

stock 

volume

Stumps Tops/limbs

Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cubic feet ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sawtimber 72,207 64,950 58,681 2,219 2,221 1,829 7,257 526 234 1,680 4,817Poletimber 1,271 1,210 694 2 460 54 61 19 3 26 13

Total 73,478 66,160 59,375 2,221 2,681 1,883 7,318 545 237 1,706 4,830

Table A2.—Harvest and utilization volume by species group and volume type, West Virginia, 2008

Species group

Total tree 

volume

Growing stock Non-growing stock

Total 

growing 

stock 

volume

Saw log Upper stem Total nongrowing 

stock 

volume

Stumps Tops/limbs

Utilized Not utilized Utilized Not utilized Utilized Not utilized Utilized Not utilized

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cubic feet ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cherry 2,536 2,252 2,087 52 72 42 284 13 - 117 152Hickory 3,148 2,786 2,496 106 104 81 362 41 8 93 220Sugar maple 5,389 4,470 4,177 126 87 81 919 23 9 218 670Mixed hardwood 4,468 3,922 3,344 185 227 165 545 30 20 139 356Red oak 9,453 8,531 7,782 404 119 229 921 64 29 105 725Soft hardwood 1,124 1,030 868 96 10 56 94 6 6 - 82Soft maple 6,780 5,932 5,189 131 382 228 848 48 3 323 472White oak 14,390 12,515 11,329 479 397 312 1,875 125 100 261 1,393Yellow-poplar 21,511 20,185 18,200 591 799 595 1,326 149 57 381 737

Total hardwoodsa 68,796 61,622 55,472 2,169 2,195 1,789 7,174 498 231 1,637 4,808

Pine 4,682 4,538 3,903 52 486 94 144 47 6 69 22

Total 73,478 66,160 59,375 2,221 2,681 1,883 7,318 545 237 1,706 4,830

a Individual species volumes may not add to total hardwood volumes due to rounding.
14

Table A3.—Harvest and utilization volume by product and volume type, West Virginia, 2008. Data includes sawtimber and poletimber trees.Product

Total tree 

volume

Growing stock Non-growing stock

Total 

growing 

stock 

volume

Saw log Upper stem

Total nongrowing 

stock 

volume

Stumps Tops/limbs

Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cubic feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw log 53,074 47,395 43,193 1,699 1,245 1,257 53,074 380 176 1,079 4,045 Peeler 5,649 5,380 4,699 237 219 225 5,649 44 5 53 168 Pulpwood 14,755 13,385 11,483 286 1,217 400 14,755 121 56 575 618 

Total 73,478 66,160 59,375 2,222 2,681 1,882 73,478 545 237 1,707 4,831 

Table A4.—Overutilization and underutilization of growing stock by product, as a percent of total product, West Virginia, 2008. Data includes sawtimber and poletimber trees.

Product

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

volume utilized

Non-growing 

stock utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/total 

growing stock 

volume

Saw log utilized/

total saw log 

volume

Saw log not 

utilized/total saw 

log volume

Cull utilized/

total saw log 

volume

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------percent--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw log 96.8 3.2 93.8 6.2 96.2 3.8 0.5Peeler 98.1 1.9 91.4 8.6 95.2 4.8 0.1Pulpwood 94.8 5.2 94.9 5.1 97.6 2.4 1.2All products 96.5 3.5 93.8 6.2 96.4 3.6 0.6
15

Table A5.—Harvest and utilization volume by product and volume type, West Virginia, 2008. Data includes sawtimber trees.

Growing Stock Non-growing stock

Saw log Upper stem Stumps Tops/limbs

Product

Total tree 

volume Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized Total Utilized

Not 

utilized Utilized

Not 

utilized

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cubic feet ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw log 52,771 47,111 43,027 1,698 1,153 1,234 5,659 374 175 1,070 4,040Peeler 5,613 5,345 4,679 237 209 221 268 44 4 53 168Pulpwood 13,823 12,494 10,976 284 859 375 1,330 108 55 557 610

Total 72,207 64,950 58,682 2,219 2,221 1,830 7,257 526 234 1,680 4,818

Table A6.—Volume of hardwood growing stock by product and utilization, West Virginia, 2008. Data includes sawtimber trees.

Product

Growing Stock Saw log portion of growing stocka

Non-growing 

stock utilized

(C)

Total Volume 

(gs+ngs)b

Utilized

(A)+(C)

Total

(A)+(B)

Utilized

(A)

Not 

utilized

(B)

Total Utilized Not utilized Cull utilized

------------------------------------------------------------------------------cubic feet ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw log 47,111 44,180 2,932 45,625 43,027 1,698 216 1,444 45,625Peeler 5,345 4,887 458 4,984 4,679 237 5 97 4,984Pulpwood 12,494 11,835 659 12,500 10,976 284 130 665 12,500Total 64,950 60,902 4,049 63,109 58,682 2,219 351 2,206 63,109

a Saw log portions of growing stock obtained from sawtimber trees.b gs=growing stock, ngs=non-growing stock
16

Table A7.—Overutilization and underutilization of hardwood growing stock by product for sawtimber trees, as a percent of total product, West Virginia, 2008Product

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

volume utilized

Non-growing 

stock utilized/

total volume 

utilized

Growing stock 

utilized/total 

growing stock 

volume

Growing stock 

not utilized/total 

growing stock 

volume

Saw log utilized/

total saw log 

volume

Cull utilized/

total saw log 

volume

Saw log not 

utilized/total saw 

log volume

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------percent-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saw log 96.8 3.2 93.8 6.2 96.2 0.5 3.8Peeler 98.1 1.9 91.4 8.6 95.2 0.1 4.8Pulpwood 94.7 5.3 94.7 5.3 97.5 1.2 2.5All products 96.5 3.5 93.8 6.2 96.4 0.6 3.6
Printed on Recycled Paper

Wiedenbeck, Jan; Grushecky, Shawn. 2014. West Virginia harvest and utilization 

study, 2008. Resour. Bull. NRS-87. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 16 p.

Thirty active harvesting operations were part of a harvest and utilization study 

conducted in West Virginia in 2008. Data were collected on roundwood product and 

residue yields obtained from trees of different sizes, species, and qualities. This study 

was modeled after studies conducted on a regular and frequent basis by the Forest 

Inventory and Analysis unit in the Southern Research Station. Of the total volume 

harvested during this study, 88 percent was utilized and 12 percent was considered 

unutilized. Of the hardwood logging residue measured, 56 percent was from nongrowing-stock sections of the trees—e.g., tops, limbs, and stumps. The other 44 

percent was unutilized growing-stock sections including upper stems and saw logsized material. When the harvest utilization factors estimated in this study are applied 

to Forest Inventory and Analysis estimates of total harvest volume for West Virginia 

in 2008, a statewide hardwood logging residue estimate of 35.5 million cubic feet is 

obtained.

KEY WORDS: residue, logging, removal factors, overutilization, underutilization

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Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800)795-3272 

(voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 
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