United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Northeastern

Research Station

Resource Bulletin NE-155

Survey of Primary Processors

in New York, 1999

Bruce Hansen

Sloane Crawford

Iris Baker

Melody Akers
Published by: For additional copies:

USDA FOREST SERVICE USDA Forest Service

11 CAMPUS BLVD SUITE 200 Publications Distribution

NEWTOWN SQUARE PA 19073-3294 359 Main Road

Delaware, OH 43015-8640

November 2002 Fax: (740)368-0152

Visit our homepage at: http://www.fs.fed.us/ne

The Authors

BRUCE HANSEN is an economist and Project Leader with the USDA Forest Service,

Northeastern Research Station in Princeton, WV. He received a B.S. in economics

from Concord College, Athens, WV; and an M.B.A.; and Ph.D. in wood science and

forest products marketing, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at

Blacksburg, VA. He began his career with the Forest Service in 1968.

SLOANE CRAWFORD is a forest products utilization specialist with the New York

State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY. He holds a B.S. in

forest resource management and an M.S. in forestry economics from the State

University of New York College of Environmental Science, Syracuse. He has been

with the Department of Environmental Conservation since 1998.

IRIS BAKER is a research forester with the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern

Research Station in Princeton, WV. She received a B.S. degree in forestry

management and an M.B.A. from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University,

Normal, AL. She joined the USDA Forest Service as an 1890 honor scholar in 1995.

MELODY AKERS is a computer specialist with the USDA Forest Service,

Northeastern Research Station in Princeton, WV. She received a B.S. degree in

secondary education with a specialization in mathematics from Bluefield State

College, Bluefield, WV in 1989. She also holds an A.S. in computer science from the

same institution. She joined the Forest Service in 2001.

Abstract

This report presents the results of a survey of primary wood processors in New York

and surrounding states and Canada that relied on New York’s forests for at least a

portion or their roundwood receipts in 1999. The previous survey of wood use and

production in New York was conducted in 1993. At that time, New York was a net

importer of roundwood. The latest study found that New York is now a net exporter of

roundwood with Canada receiving about two-thirds of all exports. Both sawlog and

total roundwood production in New York were at levels not seen since the early 1900s.

Hardwoods account for just under two-thirds of the total roundwood production.
Survey of Primary Processors in New York, 1999

Bruce Hansen, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Princeton, WV.

Sloane Crawford, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.

Iris Baker, USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Princeton, WV.

Melody, Akers USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, Princeton, WV.

Acknowledgment

The authors would very much like to thank all those who responded to our questionnaire

or otherwise participated in this effort.
1

Highlights

 About 189 million cubic feet (MMft3) of industrial roundwood was produced from New

York’s forests in 1999. About 893 million board feet (MMbf) of sawlogs and veneer logs are

included in this total. These figures reflect what is likely the largest reported harvest since the

early 1900s.

 1999 Pulpwood production was 851,000 cords of roundwood, some of which was converted

to pulpwood chips.

 New York produced more, but consumed less roundwood in 1999 than in 1993, thus

shifting from a net importer to a net exporter. Increased exports to Canada, were likely the

primary cause of this change.

 Hard maple was the No. 1 sawlog/veneer log species harvested followed by red maple and

black cherry.

 250 fixed-location sawmills were estimated to be operating in 1999; however one-half of

these mills processed more than 90 percent of the total sawlog receipts.

 About 29 percent of all industrial roundwood production was exported from the state —

with more than three-quarters of sawlog/veneer log exports sent to Canada. More than 55

percent of nonsawlog/veneer logs exports went to other states.

 Respondent New York sawmills resold more than 12 MMbf of veneer-quality logs without

further processing. These logs consisted mostly of sugar maple, northern red oak, black

cherry, white ash, and birch, and were exported to other states, Canada, and overseas.

 Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of the known New York roundwood and roundwood chip

exports were hardwood.

 Sawlog/veneer log exports were about evenly divided between hardwoods (52.2 percent) and

softwoods (47.8 percent).

 Non-sawlog/veneer log exports were predominately hardwoods (88.9 percent).

 At least 1300 portable mills were believed to be operating in New York in 1999, however

most operated on a very limited or seasonal basis.

 An average of 12.3 ft3

 of wood per acre of timberland was harvested in 1999 in New York.
2

Introduction and Background

This report presents results of a survey of primary wood

processors in New York and surrounding states and

Canada that relied on New York’s forests for at least a

portion of their roundwood receipts in 1999. The

primary goal of the survey was to determine the level of

industrial roundwood production from New York’s forests

and to determine both the level of roundwood

consumption by New York mills and New York’s position

as either a net wood importer or exporter. This study, a

cooperative effort between the U.S. Forest Service’s

Northeastern Research Station and the New York State

Department of Environmental Conservation, was initially

planned as an interim investigation of wood use. It was

intended to supplement a larger effort by the

Northeastern Research Station’s Forest Inventory and

Analysis (FIA) staff that included both forest inventory

and timber product output activities. In the past, these

larger investigations were conducted about every 10 to 12

years. However, between surveys little was known about

wood production and consumption or about the changes

taking place within the forest and industry. These

knowledge gaps due to the time between surveys have

now been addressed in response to Congressional edict.

Beginning in 2002, 14 to 20 percent of FIA survey plots

are sampled each year in all 13 northeastern states. Survey

crews measure growth, removals, composition, structure,

and other attributes of the forest, repeating the cycle every

5 to 7 years. Timber product output (TPO) surveys are

scheduled to be conducted every 3 years beginning in

2003, with four states being surveyed in most years. The

next TPO survey for New York is scheduled for 2003 and

will assess mill receipts for 2002.

Because this survey was intended as a partial investigation

focusing on industrial roundwood and roundwood chip

receipts only, other components of wood removals

contained in previous publications (e.g. — residential

fuelwood, wood removals due to cultural operations, and

land clearing) relating to New York’s forest resource

(Nevel et al. 1982; Wharton et al. 1998) are not included

in this report.

Methods

The Directory of Primary Wood-Using Industries in New

York State (New York State Department of

Environmental Conservation 2001) was used to develop a

list of primary processors thought to exist in New York

during 1999. A list of 384 sawmills and other processors

was identified and each was sent a four-page

questionnaire asking for roundwood receipts by type

(sawlog, veneer, other) and species, and whether the wood

came from New York or from surrounding states or

provinces. After several mailings, follow-up phone calls,

and mill visits, 182 useable responses were received from

sawmills. In addition, 111 sawmill responses were

returned indicating one of three things: (1) the mill did

not operate in 1999, (2) the mill was permanently closed,

or (3) the mill was not a primary processor. Questionnaires

for 14 small mills were undeliverable; these mills were

assumed closed. Receipts from 71 nonrespondent

sawmills were estimated from directory information and

other sources. Receipts of pulpwood or roundwood chips

had to be estimated for one facility in New York. Table 1

lists the estimated number of active sawmills by

predominate species group and size. We estimate there

were 253 fixed sawmills operating in New York in 1999.

In addition, the table lists four pulpmills, one plywood

mill, and a veneer mill, all of which buy roundwood.

Table 2 shows the size or capacity differences between

respondents and nonrespondents. While more than 58

percent of the respondents reported receipts of 1 MMbf

or more, less than 24 percent of the nonrespondents were

estimated to have receipts that large.

To obtain a full accounting of industrial roundwood

production in New York, several means were used to

estimate receipts of New York wood by processing

facilities located outside the state. First, states and/or

provinces that, through experience, were known to receive

New York wood in significant volumes were identified.

These included: Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maryland, and

Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Then, available receipt

data from secondary sources were obtained and

investigated. The Vermont Forest Resource Harvest

Report (Vermont Agency of Natural Resources 2000) was

used. For Canada, a combination of border-crossing data

and data collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources

was used. Mill reporting data for Quebec was used in

conjunction with border-crossing data, while bordercrossing data was the only available source for Ontario. In

Pennsylvania, where published data were unavailable, a

survey similar to the one used for New York mills was

conducted. To determine receipts for pulpmills and

energy plants outside New York, personal phone calls

were used. These yielded a 100 percent response.

It is evident that wood harvested from New York also is

received in other states and also is exported overseas.1

However, analysis of data taken from ship manifests in

the above report suggests that overseas exports from New

York are a very small part of the state production.

1

Irland, Lloyd C.; Rice, Robert, 2001. Hardwood log exports

from selected northeastern states to Canada. Concord, N.H.:

Irland Group. 108 p. Report on file with: USDA Forest

Service, Northeastern Research Station, Princeton, WV

24740.
3

Table 2.—Number of active sawmills by response and size, 1999.

Production Number of mills

capacity1

Respondents ≥ 1 MMbf 107

< 1 MMbf 75

Total 182

Non-respondents ≥ 1 MMbf 17

< 1 MMbf 54

Total 71

Overall ≥ 1 MMbf 124

< 1 MMbf 129

Total 253

1

Thirty-six sawmills had receipts in excess of 5MMbf.

Table 1.—Number of active primary mills receiving roundwood, 1999.1

Type of mill Species group2 Production3 Number

Sawmill Hardwood ≥ 1 MMbf 102

< 1 MMbf 15

Total 117

Softwood ≥ 1 MMbf 17

< 1 MMbf 29

Total 46

Hardwood/Softwood ≥ 1 MMbf 5

< 1 MMbf 85

Total 90

Total ≥ 1 MMbf 124

< 1 MMbf 129

Total 253

Pulpmill 4

Plywood mill 1

Veneer mill 1

All mills 259

1

Excludes portable sawmills.

2

A mill was considered to be a hardwood mill if it sawed more than 1 MMbf of

hardwood but less than 1 MMbf of softwood. Likewise, a mill was considered to be a

softwood mill if it produced more than 1 MMbf of softwood but less than 1 MMbf of

hardwood. If a mill received more than 1 MMbf of both hardwood and softwood it

was considered to a mixed hardwood/softwood mill.

3

Thirty-six mills had log receipts greater than of 5 MMbf.
4

In addition to the number of fixed-site mills in New York,

we estimate there were more than 1,300 portable sawmills

in the state in 1999. While some might argue that

portable mills do not qualify as “industrial”, these mills

virtually have taken the place of the small circle sawmill

that historically would come into operation during

periods of high demand and quickly cease operation in

times of economic slow down. As with the small circle

mill, today’s portable mill has a major role in filling

custom orders locally for barn construction, fence

material, and other products. Estimates of the number of

portable sawmills and their combined log receipts in 1999

were developed from information provided by the sales

representatives of a number of manufacturers of portable

sawmills.

Production

The combined reported and estimated New York harvest

of roundwood for industrial uses, including sawlogs,

veneer logs, pulpwood and other products, was 189.3

MMft3

 in 1999 (Fig. 1, Table 3). This is likely the largest

reported harvest since the early 1900s. The harvest

averaged 12.3 ft3

 of wood per acre of timberland. Most of

the wood was delivered to sawmills and veneer mills.

Figure 2 indicates that 62 percent of the harvest volume

was in sawlogs and veneer logs and 38 percent was in

pulpwood or roundwood used for pulp and whole tree

chip production. We were unable to successfully separate

the volumes of sawlogs and veneer logs since reporting by

certain out-of-state sources did not provide a breakout of

these products.

veneer logs since the early 1900s (Bones and Mayer 1969,

Nevel et al. 1982). Several factors, including relatively

high lumber prices, demand for logs from out-of-state

mills, and an increase in capacity by a number of

hardwood sawmills in New York, accounted for most, if

not all, of the increased harvest.

Receipt data from respondent mills indicates two-thirds

of the sawlog/veneer log consumption by New York mills

was comprised of five tree species: sugar maple, red oak,

red maple, black cherry, and white pine (Fig. 3, Tables 4

and 6). These respondent mills represent about 56 percent

of the statewide receipts. Sugar maple accounted for 22

percent of respondent receipts. All other species with the

exception of white ash (6 percent) and red pine (5

percent) accounted for 2 percent or less. Anecdotal and

other evidence suggests species composition of

Figure 1.—Industrial roundwood production all uses,

1999.

Pulpwood, 

etc.

38%

Sawlog, 

etc.

62%

Figure 2.—Sawlog/veneer log and pulpwood/roundwood

chip components of the New York roundwood

production, 1999.

Figure 3.—Major species consumed by responding New

York sawmills, 1999.

Sawlog/Veneer log Production

Total New York sawlog production was about 893.2

MMbf based on the International 1⁄4 inch rule (Table 3).

This also may be the largest harvest for sawlogs and

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Sawlogs, etc Pulpwood, etc.

MMft3

Softwood

Hardwood

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Sugar maple

Red maple

Northern red oak

Black cherry

White ash

Other hdwds

White pine

Red pine

Other softwds

MMbf
5

nonrespondent and Canadian mills was similar to that of

the respondent mills.

In general, the extent to which individual species or

species groups are harvested is related to the level in

which they exist in the resource base. Notable exceptions

include red oak, black cherry, and sugar maple. The

percentage of the harvest these species represent exceeds

their position in percentage of total resource. This

difference is likely due to the relatively high price these

species demand in the marketplace.

Table 3.—Estimated industrial roundwood and roundwood chip production, 1999.

Species Sawlogs and veneer logs Pulpwood and

Destination Source group roundwood chips Total

MMbf MMft3 M Cords MMft3 MMft3

New York

Respondents

Hardwood 365.3 48.2 314.8 26.8 75.0

Softwood 79.1 10.2 335.5 28.5 38.7

Total 444.41 58.4 650.4 55.3 113.7

Nonrespondents

Hardwood 81.2 10.7 na2 na 10.7

Softwood 22.3 2.9 na na 2.9

Total 103.5 13.6 na na 13.6

Portable

Hardwood 30.0 3.9 na na 3.9

Softwood 30.0 3.9 na na 3.9

Total 60.0 7.8 na na 7.8

New York total3

Hardwood 476.5 62.9 314.8 26.8 89.7

Softwood 131.4 17.0 335.5 28.5 45.5

Total 607.9 79.8 650.4 55.3 135.1

Exported

Canada

Hardwood 97.1 12.8 90.8 7.7 20.5

Softwood 121.3 15.6 0.0 0.0 15.6

Total 218.4 28.4 90.8 7.7 36.1

Other states or

overseas

Hardwood 55.9 7.4 87.6 7.4 14.8

Softwood 11.1 1.4 22.5 1.9 3.3

Total 67.0 8.8 110.1 9.4 18.1

Export total

Hardwood 153.0 20.2 178.4 15.2 35.4

Softwood 132.4 17.0 22.5 1.9 19.0

Total 285.4 37.2 200.9 17.1 54.2

Grand Total Hardwood 629.5 83.1 493.2 42.0 125.1

Softwood 263.8 34.0 358.0 30.4 64.5

Total 893.2 117.0 851.3 72.4 189.4

1

Excludes 12.2 MMbf of veneer-quality logs resold without further processing.

2

na = not applicable.

Pulpwood and Roundwood Chip Production

Pulpwood and roundwood chip production in 1999

totaled 851,300 cords (Fig. 4, Table 3). This was

equivalent to 72.4 MMft3 (Table 5). This material is used

in pulpmills, energy and other plants in and outside New

York State that utilize pulpwood-quality roundwood,

roundwood chips, or whole-tree chips. Ninety-four

percent of this volume was delivered to pulpmills, mostly

in roundwood form. In addition, some mills, mostly

Canadian, received small volumes of roundwood chips.
6

Table 4—Sawlog production by species and destination, 1999.

Species Retained in Exported to: Total exports1 Total removals

New York Pennsylvania Vermont

Mbf 2

Aspen 3,229 65 271 336 3,565

Basswood 9,004 296 127 423 6,426

Beech 8,863 329 659 988 9,851

Black cherry 50,752 3,267 4,897 8,164 58,917

Black walnut 453 13 0 13 466

Butternut 193 7 5 12 205

Chestnut oak 3,284 23 0 23 3,307

Cottonwood 63 0 0 0 63

Cucumbertree 69 65 0 65 134

Elm 175 13 2 15 190

Hickory 1,684 65 0 65 1,749

Locust 1 0 0 0 1

Red oak 49,180 5,630 7,528 13,158 62,338

Other red oak 2,830 23 0 23 2,853

Red maple 53,433 2,073 4,575 6,648 60,081

Sugar maple 97,729 2,418 4,388 6,806 104,535

Sweet birch 791 26 0 26 817

Tulip poplar 4,291 1,125 0 1,125 5,417

White ash 24,888 2,089 1,501 3,590 28,478

White birch 1,010 0 1,320 1,320 2,330

White oak 6,974 1,622 79 1,701 8,675

Willow 0 0 0 0 0

Yellow birch 6,450 112 1,979 2,091 8,541

Other hdwd 39,998 12 452 464 40,461

Total hdwd 365,345 19,272 27,783 47,055 412,400

Cedar 289 0 0 0 289

Fir 12 0 1,021 1,021 1,033

Hemlock 8,923 279 233 512 9,434

Larch 207 0 116 116 323

Red pine 22,229 70 3,539 3,609 25,838

Scotch pine 1 0 0 0 1

Spruce 955 0 1,022 1,022 1,977

White pine 44,293 0 4,780 4,780 49,073

Yellow pine 246 0 0 0 246

Other softwd 1,906 0 0 0 1,906

Total softwd 79,060 349 10,711 11,060 90,121

Total all species 444,405 19,621 38,494 58,116 502,520

1

Excludes exports to other states or Canada for which species information was unavailable.

2

Thousand board feet.
7

Small quantities of whole-tree, roundwood chips, also

were delivered to energy plants in and outside New York.

When considering the production destined for pulpmills

only (800,000 cords), the volume in 1999 is just slightly

higher than the amount of pulpwood and roundwood

chip production reported in 1997 (Widmann and

Griffith 1999).

Sawmill Consumption

Of the 182 sawmill respondents in New York, 75

reported a production capacity of less than 1 MMbf in

1999 (Table 2). The remaining 107 mills had a

production capacity of a million or more board feet; 36

mills were capable of producing more than 5 MMbf.

Because of the high rate of response by the larger mills

(86 percent), the need for us to estimate consumption for

the larger mills was minimized. Total log receipts from

New York respondent mills was 488.3 MMbf based on

the International 1⁄4 rule (Table 6). Of this total, about

43.9 MMbf came from out of state. In addition, these

mills received 12.2 MMbf of veneer and export-quality

logs that were resold without further processing. While

the resold logs came from both in-state and out-of-state

sources, nearly all were sold either to domestic veneer

manufacturers or to manufacturers overseas.

Median consumption of respondents was 1.5 MMbf.

Consumption by respondent sawmills was highly

concentrated, with 18 mills (10 percent) accounting for

about 42 percent of total consumption, and one-half of

the mills accounting for more than 90 percent of

consumption (Fig. 5).

Table 5.—Pulpwood and chipwood production by major species group and destination, 1999.

Species group Retained Exported to: Total exports Total

in New York Other states1 Canada production

MMft3

Hardwood 26.8 7.4 7.7 15.1 41.9

Softwood 28.5 1.9 0.0 1.9 30.4

Total all species 55.3 9.3 7.7 17.0 72.3

1

Other states include Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Maryland.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Retained in state Exported

MMft3

Softwood

Hardwood

Figure 4.—Pulpwood and roundwood chip production,

1999.

Figure 5.—Respondent sawmills production

concentration curves, 1999.

Consumption by the 71 nonrespondent mills known to

be in operation was estimated at 103.5 MMbf using

capacity information published in the New York primary

directory along with supplemental information. Fifty-four

mills (76 percent) were estimated to consume

considerably less than a million board feet, while 17 had

receipts estimated in excess of a million board feet (Table

2). In addition to fixed sawmills, a large number of

portable mills were known to have come in and out of

operation during the year. Overall, we estimated their

receipts at 60 MMbf. Combined consumption of all

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percent of mills

Percent of production 
8

sawmills — respondents, nonrespondents, and portable

— was 651.8 MMbf in 1999 (Table 7).

The species distribution of sawmill log receipts reflects

only the sawlog portion of receipts reported by New

York respondent sawmills (Table 6). These receipts

include both sawlogs harvested within the state as well as

those obtained from out-of-state sources.

Out-of-state purchases made up about 10 percent of the

roundwood receipts reported by respondents. However

their species distribution varied little from those

purchased in New York. The only notable differences

were that imports contained a larger portion of northern

red oak and white ash and less pine than did receipts

from in-state sources.

About 10 percent of total log receipts reported by

respondent mills were identified as “other hardwoods”.

After looking more closely at individual responses and

considering that the questionnaire listed all likely

commercial species existing in New York and

surrounding states, we concluded that some respondents

would list just the top six or so valuable or common

species by name while lumping all remaining species into

an “other hardwoods” category. In fact, it is likely that

their own records list all the lesser species in that manner.

Because of this, it was not possible to precisely identify

all species. Consequently, it would seem reasonable to

ask “What affect might this have on the true species

distribution?” We believe that the percentages derived for

the more common species are reasonably accurate and

that any distortion likely will occur among the less

valuable and/or less utilized species.

Other Primary Processors’ Consumption

In addition to the active sawmills, there were four pulp

mills in operation, one plywood mill whose receipts were

included in sawlog and veneer log volumes, and a small

veneer mill, all of which used roundwood in one form or

another. There also was a second small veneer operation

that existed in conjunction with a sawmill. All receipts

for this operation were included as sawmill receipts.

Finally, there was one panel plant using only residues and

two wood energy plants. The pulpmill operations and, to

a minor extent, the wood energy plants, received a total

of 65.2 MMft3

 of roundwood and/or roundwood chips

(Table 8). This was equal to about 43 percent of the

industrial roundwood receipts attributed to all primary

processors. A small percentage of receipts by the

pulpmills and energy plants (15 percent) were procured

from out-of-state sources. While nearly 80 percent of the

Table 6.—Sawlog consumption by species, all sources, 1999.

Species New York Imported Total

Mbf

Aspen 3,229 193 3,422

Basswood 9,004 845 9,849

Beech 8,863 879 9,742

Black cherry 50,752 4,396 55,148

Black walnut 453 50 503

Butternut 193 21 214

Chestnut 3,284 2,139 5,423

Cottonwood 63 0 63

Cucumber 69 54 123

Elm 175 5 180

Hickory 1,684 204 1,888

Locust 1 0 1

Northern red oak 49,180 8,757 57,937

Other red oak 2,830 222 3,052

Red maple 53,433 5,248 58,681

Sugar maple 97,729 9,694 107,423

Sweet birch 791 187 978

Tulip poplar 4,291 760 5,051

White ash 24,888 3,926 28,814

White birch 1,010 1,085 2,095

White oak 6,974 1,473 8,447

Yellow birch 6,450 526 6,976

Other hardwoods 39,998 734 40,732

Total hardwood 365,344 41,398 406,742

Cedar 289 0 289

Fir 12 0 12

Hemlock 8,923 706 9,629

Larch 207 0 207

Red pine 22,229 369 22,598

Scotch pine 1 0 1

Spruce 955 46 1,001

White pine 44,293 1,304 45,597

Yellow pine 246 11 257

Other softwoods 1,906 25 1,931

Total softwood 79,061 2,461 81,522

Total all species 444,405 43,859 488,264
9

sawmill log receipts were hardwood, pulp operations used

more softwood than hardwood (55.5 percent softwood vs.

44.5 percent hardwood). Pulpmills, energy plants, and

other facilities also use sawmill manufacturing residues,

however, we did not compile data to facilitate

quantification.

No species distribution is available for pulpwood or

pulpwood chips since mills typically indicated receipts as

either hardwood or softwood. However, the hardwood

species distribution for these mills likely parallels the

predominant sawlog harvest in eastern and central New

York. White pine, hemlock, red and Norway spruce

account for most of softwood delivered to the pulp mills.

Roundwood and Roundwood Chip Exports

In addition to in-state consumption, published

information, available reporting from Canadian

provinces, and questionnaires sent to mills in

Table 7.—Sawlog and pulpwood consumption by New York operations, 1999.

Sawlogs and Pulpwood and Total

Veneer logs roundwood chips

Source MMbf MMft3 M Cords MMft3 MMft3

Respondents

New York

Hardwood 365.3 48.2 314.8 26.8 75.0

Softwood 79.1 10.2 335.5 28.5 38.7

Total 444.41 58.4 650.4 55.3 113.7

Imports

Hardwood 41.4 5.5 26.1 2.2 7.7

Softwood 2.5 0.3 90.3 7.7 8.0

Total 43.9 5.8 116.4 9.9 15.7

Nonrespondents

Hardwood 81.2 10.7 na2 na 10.7

Softwood 22.3 2.9 na na 2.9

Total 103.5 13.6 na na 13.6

Portable

Hardwood 30.0 3.9 na na 3.9

Softwood 30.0 3.9 na na 3.9

Total 60.0 7.8 na na 7.8

Total receipts 651.8 85.6 766.8 65.2 150.8

1

Excludes 12.2 MMbf resold without further processing.

2

na = not applicable.

Table 8—Pulpwood and roundwood chip consumption by major species group

and source, 1999.

Species group Harvested in Imported from Total

New York other states consumption

 MMft3

Hardwood 26.8 2.2 29.0

Softwood 28.5 7.7 36.2

All species 55.3 9.9 65.2
10

Pennsylvania indicate that New York exported the

equivalent of 54.3 MMft3

 of roundwood or roundwood

chips, or about 29 percent of total production in 1999

(Table 3), making New York a net exporter of roundwood

products (Fig. 6). Two-thirds of exports went to Canada

and the remainder to other states and overseas. In terms

of sawlogs and veneer logs only, New York exported more

than 285 MMbf, or about 32 percent of total sawlog/

veneer log production. This figure is probably on the

conservative side since the response rate from the

Pennsylvania survey was poor; several large sawmills in

the northern part of the state known to import New York

logs failed to respond. Canada was the destination for 77

percent of the sawlog exports.

 Available reports also indicate that, with few exceptions,

the top species of logs exported to Canada, Pennsylvania,

and Vermont closely paralleled those received by

responding sawmills in New York. Sugar maple, red

maple, black cherry, red oak, and white pine are the most

utilized in New York and in the export markets, although

the individual ranking of these species did vary some

between states and provinces. Pennsylvania, for example,

imported no white pine. On the other hand, information

published on Quebec indicated that the percentage of

spruce among imports greatly exceeded (percentage-wise)

spruce receipts in New York, Pennsylvania, and to a lesser

extent, Vermont. As stated previously, New York sawmills

reported reselling more than 12 MMbf of veneer and

export-quality logs without further processing in 1999.

These exports consisted mostly of sugar maple, northern

red oak, cherry, white ash, and birch. Additional exports

of veneer logs to distant states and overseas likely

originated from concentration yards or private sales,

however volumes were not reported.

About 64 percent of the roundwood and roundwood chip

exports were hardwood (Table 3). While sawlog and

veneer log exports were about evenly divided between

hardwoods and softwoods (52.2 vs. 47.8 percent), nonsawlog/non-veneer log exports were predominately

hardwood (88.8 percent). Likewise, most of the sawlog/

veneer log exports were destined for Canada (76.5

percent), but more than half (55.0 percent) of the nonsawlog/non-veneer log exports went to other states in the

region.

Residue Use

Respondents were asked two questions about residues:

1. How much did they generate by species group

and type?

2. To what uses were they put?

Response to the first inquiry was poor. Even for those that

did respond, estimates varied dramatically among firms

and appeared to be uncorrelated with production.

Because of this, we elected to apply existing conversion

factors used in the Southern Research Station to the New

York production data. These factors have evolved over

time and are provided under the section Conversion

Factors. These conversion factors allowed us to estimate

tonnage of residue based on receipts, measured in

thousand board feet (Mbf). The resulting residue

estimates are listed below:

Figure 6.—Comparison of roundwood

production, consumption, and trade,

1993 and 1999.

Residue type Sawmills Pulpmills

Green tons

Hardwood bark 286,658 117,966

Coarse hardwood 903,994 na

Fine hardwood 556,587 na

Softwood bark 53,627 123,927

Coarse softwood 217,467 na

Fine softwood 141,680 na

na = not applicable.

-50

0

50

100

150

200

MMft3

1993 132 126 30 156 6 -24

1999 189.3 135.2 15.7 150.8 54.2 38.5

Production Kept in state Imports Consumption Exports Trade balance
11

In addition to the inquiry on the amount of residue

generated, respondents were asked to indicate the use to

which residues were put. Again, residues were broken

down into hardwood and softwood as well as by type.

One hundred fifteen respondents indicated uses (Table 9)

that included making composite products, wood pulp,

industrial and residential fuel, agricultural products of

several types, burned or land filled, other, and don’t know.

Ninety-three respondents reported using coarse hardwood

residues. The most common use, cited by 22 respondents,

was residential fuel. Pulp, composites, and industrial fuel

were close behind at 19, 17, and 14 respondents,

respectively.

Eighty-five respondents indicated that they used their fine

hardwood residues. Fifty-nine respondents reported

agricultural use and 10 respondents reported use as

industrial fuel.

Hardwood bark use was third in the species/type category

among respondents with 73 respondents reporting bark

used for everything except pulp. “Other” was the primary

use reported by 38 respondents. Most specified “other” as

mulch.

Examining responses to hardwood and softwood residue

use, it is important to note that most sawmills in

operation produced hardwoods and that the hardwood

mills generally were larger than the softwood mills (Table

1). With hardwood-only mills more than twice as

prevalent as softwood-only mills, it is reasonable to expect

that uses for hardwood residue would receive a higher rate

of response than uses for softwood residue. Given the

overall use values, it would appear that hardwood,

softwood, and mixed mills responded similarly in residue

use.

Comparisons With 1993

Direct comparison is not feasible due to differences in the

nature of the data. For instance, in regard to species, the

last report included the species breakdown for removals

from New York, but not mill receipts, which are the

source of the current report. While the species

proportions are generally similar, the large difference in

the proportion of hemlock is difficult to explain.

However, we were able to compare overall production and

consumption and track imports and exports. There has

been considerable change in production and consumption

as determined by log receipts since 1999 (Fig. 6). In

1993, industrial roundwood production was estimated at

132 MMft3

. New York was a net importer with primary

processors importing another 30 MMft3

, or five times

exports (6 MMbf). Primary processors consumed 156

MMft3

, making New York a net importer of 24 MMft3

(Total imports minus exports).

The situation in 1999 was far different from that in 1993

(Fig. 3). While total production was up from 1993 (189.4

MMft3

 vs. 132 MMft3), total consumption dropped

(150.8 MMft3

 vs. 156 MMft3) due to a dramatic increase

in exports (54.2 MMft3

) and a similar but less dramatic

decline in imports (15.7 MMft3

). Thus, New York was a

net exporter in 1999 in contrast to the position it held in

1993. In place of a trade deficit, the state had a trade

surplus of 38.5 MMft3

 in 1999.

In 1993, sawlog production accounted for about 56

percent of total production or about 500 MMbf.

Pulpwood and composite product mills were responsible

for another 41 percent. Other products, including veneer,

accounted for the remaining 3 percent. In 1999,

Table 9.—Use of residues by species group and type, in number of respondents, 19991

.

Use Hardwood residue type Softwood residue type

Bark Coarse Fine Bark Coarse Fine

Composites 4 17 5 3 3 3

Industrial fuel 6 14 10 3 6 3

Residential fuel 10 22 4 3 10 1

Agricultural 12 8 59 5 12 39

Pulp 0 19 1 0 8 1

Burn/landfill 2 7 2 2 8 0

Other 38 6 4 17 12 3

Don’t know 1 0 0 1 1 0

Total 73 93 85 34 60 50

1

Total response = 115.
12

combined sawlog and veneer log production accounted

for 61 percent. This was 2 percent above their combined

total in 1993. Pulp and composite mills accounted for

what remained. The percentage of sawlogs and veneer logs

consumed within New York was unchanged from 1993 at

59 percent. Not surprisingly, two-thirds of the logs

exported from New York consisted of the more valuable,

veneer and export-quality sawlogs.

Terminology and Abbreviations

Several terms used in this report need to be explained.

Roundwood receipts and consumption as used in this

report are virtually synonymous. Likewise, so are the

terms production and removals. Removals, however, is a

term often associated with statewide forest inventory and

reflects reduction in the resource no matter what the

cause (e.g.—mortality and/or land clearing or

conversion). Our use of the term removals is more

narrowly defined and considers only those removals

destined for industrial processing. Timberland is forest

land producing or capable of producing crops of

industrial wood (more than 20 ft3

 per acre per year) and

not withdrawn from timber utilization. For the purpose

of this report, sawlogs include all types of roundwood

used for sawing into lumber and other parts or products

(e.g., grade sawlogs, scragg or pallet logs, boltwood, etc.).

Literature Cited

Bones, James T.; Mayer, Carl E. 1969. Primary wood

products output in New York — 1967. Resour. Bull.

NE-17. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest

Experiment Station. 15 p.

Briggs, David. 1994. Forest products measurements and

conversion factors: with special emphasis on the U.S.

Pacific Northwest. Institute of Forest Resources

Contribution No. 75. Seattle, WA: College of Forest

Resource, University of Washington. 161 p.

Nevel, Robert L., Jr.; Stochia, Everett L.; Wahl, Thomas.

1982. New York Timber Industries—A Periodic

Assessment of Timber Output. Resour. Bull. NE-73.

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

Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 30 p.

New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation. 2001. Directory of primary wood-using

industries in New York State. New York State Depart.

of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 181 p.

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. 2000. Vermont

Forest Resource Harvest Report for 2000. Montpelier,

VT: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources,

Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.

Available at: http://www.state.vt.us/anr/fpr/forestry/

harvest.pdf.

Wharton, Eric H.; Martin, Thomas D.; Widmann,

Richard H. 1998. Wood Removals and Timber Use in

New York, 1993. Resour. Bull. NE-141. Radnor, PA:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,

Northeastern Research Station. 28 p.

Widmann, Richard H.; Griffith, Douglas M. 1999.

Pulpwood Production in the Northeast—1997.

Resour. Bull. NE-144. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research

Station. 20 p.
13

Conversion Factors

The following conversions were used in this report:

1 cord = 85 ft3 = 2.41 m3

1 Mbf (hardwood) = 132 ft3

1 Mbf (softwood) = 129 ft3

Residue factors:

 Sawlogs and Veneer Logs

Hardwood Softwood 

Bark Coarse Fine Bark Coarse Fine 

-------------------------------Tons per Mbf---------------------------------- 

0.5535 1.7455 1.0747 0.4005 1.6241 1.0581 

Pulpwood 

Hardwood Softwood 

Bark Bark 

-----------------------------Tons per Mft -------------------------------- 3

4.0678 3.4234 

Nearly all sawmill respondents used one of three log rules to report receipts. There were: International

1⁄4, Doyle, and Scribner. After entering the data into the computer, Doyle and Scribner amounts were

converted to International 1⁄4 equivalents. To do this we utilized additional data provided by

respondents as to the length and diameter of the “average” or “typical” hardwood and softwood log

received at their operation. Where such information was provided, it was used in conjunction with

scaling length and diameter tables found in Briggs (1994) to develop specific length/diameter

conversion indexes. For those respondents not providing diameter and length estimates, the following

defaults were used to convert to International 1⁄4: Scribner values were multiplied by 1.15; Doyle values

were multiplied by 1.3.
Printed on Recycled Paper

Hansen, Bruce; Crawford, Sloane; Baker, Iris; Akers, Melody. 2002. Survey of

primary processors in New York, 1999. Resour. Bull. NE-155. Newtown

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

Research Station. 13 p.

This report presents the results of a survey of primary wood processors in New York

and surrounding states and Canada that relied on New York’s forests for at least a

portion or their roundwood receipts in 1999. The previous survey of wood use and

production in New York was conducted in 1993. At that time New York was a net

importer of round wood. The latest study found that New York is now a net exporter

of roundwood with Canada accounting for about two-thirds of all exports. Both

sawlog and total roundwood production in New York were at levels not seen since

the early 1900s. Hardwoods account for just under two-thirds of the total roundwood

production.

Keywords: New York, primary manufacturers, industrial forest products, wood

residues, survey, production statistics
Headquarters of the Northeastern Research Station is in Newtown Square,

Pennsylvania. Field laboratories are maintained at:

Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts

Burlington, Vermont, in cooperation with the University of Vermont

Delaware, Ohio

Durham, New Hampshire, in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire

Hamden, Connecticut, in cooperation with Yale University

Morgantown, West Virginia, in cooperation with West Virginia University

Parsons, West Virginia

Princeton, West Virginia

Syracuse, New York, in cooperation with the State University of New York,

College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at Syracuse University

Warren, Pennsylvania

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and

activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political

beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of

program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET

Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,

Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call

(202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

“Caring for the Land and Serving People Thr ving People Through Research”