United States 

Department of 

Agriculture Produce Yellow-Poplar 

Forest Service Furniture Dimension at 

Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station Minimum Cost by Using 

YELLOPOP @t" l'hq @ David G. Martens 
! 

Abstract 

I Describes a computer program called YELLOPOP that determines the least-cost 

combination of lumber grades required to produce a given cutting order of 

yellow-poplar furniture dimension parts. If the least-cost mix is not available, 

YELLOPOP can be used to determine the next best alternative. The steps to use 

the program are described. 

The Author 

i 

David G. Martens, research forest products technologist, received a B.S. degree 

1 in forest products from Iowa State University in 1961 and an MS. degree in 

wood technology from lowa State in 1963. After graduation, he joined the staff at i the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station's Forestry Sciences Laboratory at 

Princeton, West Virginia, where he has been conducting or supervising research 

1 to improve the efficiency of wood use. 

Manuscript received for publication 7 February 1986 

Northeastern ores st Experiment Station 

370 Reed Road, Broomall, PA 19008 

November 1986 

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names In this publicat~on is for the informa1 tion and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official 1 endorsement or approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Forest 

Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. 

The computer program described in this publication is available on request with 

the understanding that the US. Department of Agriculture cannot assure its 

accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability for any other purpose than that 

reported. The recipient may not assert any proprietary rights thereto nor represent it to anyone as other than a Government-produced computer program. 
Yellow-poplar continues to be an important raw material 

in the U.S. furniture industry. Although its use as a core 

material has been largely replaced by particleboard, yellowpoplar still accounts for about 20 percent of the furniture 

industry's total lumber requirements. 

To assist the hardwood furniture and dimension industries, a computer program called YELLOPOP has been 

developed by the USDA Forest Service to facilitate the 

production of yellow-poplar furniture dimension at minimum 

cost. YELLOPOP determines the leastcost combination of 

yellow-poplar lumber grades required to produce a given 

cutting order of dimension parts. If that combination is not 

available, YELLOPOP can be used to determine the next 

best alternative. In addition, it can be used as a 

decisionmaking tool to evaluate numerous day-to-day problems in the management of a furniture rough mill. 

Y ELLOPOP Program 

The YELLOPOP analysis uses a linear programing technique to correlate the cost associated with each grade of 

yellow-poplar lumber with the predicted yields of each 

cutting size obtainable from that grade. This correlation 

leads to the combination with the lowest total cost. 

The yield values for each grade were developed from the 

charts published in "Dimension Yields from Yellow-Poplar 

Lumber" (Gilmore et al. 1984). The actual numerical yield 

values for random-width pieces and the yield adjustments 

for cuttings of specific widths for Firsts and Seconds (FAS), 

First and Seconds One Face (F1 F), No. 1 Common (IC), 

No. 2A Common (2A), and No. 28 Common (2B) are 

extrapolated from the yield values in Tables 1-10 (Appendix). Yields are based on 414 kiln-dried yellow-poplar lumber (Volumes refer to lumber measured in the dry condition). The dimension cuttings from all grades are clear, 

two-face, with the exception of the No. 28 grade yields, 

which are for sound two-face cuttings. The yield values are 

not necessarily the maximum attainable from any individual 

board. Rather, they simulate a highly skilled operator who 

can make consistently good decisions on where to place 

the saw lines. Therefore, the predicted yields should be 

achievable in a well-run rough mill. 

Cutting orders containing pieces of any length from 10 to 

96 inches and pieces with specific widths (no glueline) up 

to 5-112 inches can be evaluated by YELLOPOP. However, 

the maximum length pie~e obtainable from each grade is 

limited to: 96 inches for FAS; 96 inches for F1F; 80 inches 

for No. 1C; 40 inches for No. 2A; and 40 inches for No. 28. 

The yield values contained in Tables 1-10 are based on 

the longest length cutting obtained from each grade. For 

example, if the longest length obtained from FAS grade 

was 90 inches, Table 1 shows that for every thousand 

board feet (M b9 of rough FAS lumber input, you can 

expect a yield of 400 net board feet (or 40 percent) of 

90-inch long cuttings that are 1 inch and wider (random 

width). If you want only 2-inch-wide pieces that are 90 

inches long, Table 2 shows that the yield value must be 

reduced by 22 net board feet. Therefore, the predicted 

yield of 90-inch-long by 2-inch-wide cuttings is 378 net 

board feet for every M bf input. Yields for subsequent 

(shorter) cuttings from FAS are derived from the column of 

yields having 90 inches as its longest length. If the next 

length to come from FAS is 70 inches, the predicted yield 

is 533 net board feet per M bf input (Table 1). However, if 

the available 378 net board feet of 90 x 2-inch cuttings 

were already removed, the yield of 70-inch random-width 

cuttings is actually 155 net board feet (533-378) for each M 

bf input. The predicted yield of each shorter subsequent 

cutting would be calculated in a similar fashion. Although 

the process is very time-consuming to do longhand, the 

computer can evaluate all possible combinations of cutting 

sizes and lumber grades easily. 

Data Entry 

The data entry screen for the YELLOPOP program is 

shown in Figure 1. For later reference, you enter the date, 

name or model number of the cutting order, and the thickness of the lumber required. The input factors used by the 

program include the cost per M bf associated with each 

grade of yellow-poplar that you wish to have considered in 

the possible least-cost mix, adjustments you want to make 

to the predicted yields for each grade, and volume constraints you want placed on the grades. 

The cost of each grade, expressed in dollars per M bf, 

should represent the sum of all costs associated with that 

grade through the rough mill. Cost items to be included are 

at the discretion of the user but could include the cost for 

lumber purchase, delivery, drying and handling, rough mill 

cut-up, inventory, and overhead. 

The yield adjustment factor can be used to modify the 

predicted yields of any grade. Acting as a percentage 

adjustment to the predicted yields, the yield adjustment 

factor can be used to adapt the basic yields for admissible 

defects, thicknesses of lumber over 414, or general roughmill efficiency. 

The volume constraints are used to limit the amount of a 

grade being considered. The resulting YELLOPOP analysis 

may or may not use all of the grade in limited supply, but 

the least-cost grade mix will never contain more of that 

grade than the volume allowed. This feature of the program 

is generally used in determining the next best alternatives. 
-- -- 

Date 

Input 

Faators 

/ / Yellow- 

-- ,,-,-,,,-----,--------------- poplar -- 

Name of Cutting Order Species Thickness 

Lumber Grade Information 

(Select only three) 

2B 2A 1 C F1F FAS 

Yield Adj- 

(percent) 

PF1 = Help PF3 = Exit PF7 : Prev. Screen PF8 = Next Screen 

Figure 1 .-Blank Data Entry screen. 

Cutting Order 

Now that the grades and their associated costs have 

been established, the individual sizes of the pieces to be 

obtained are entered on the Cutting Order screen shown in 

Figure 2. Each size of cutting is entered by length, width, 

type, and number of pieces required. Up to 50 different 

sizes of cuttings can be entered. The type of cutting refers 

to whether it is of a specified width (no glueline) (S) or 

glued up from random widths (R). 

YELLOPOP Printout 

The YELLOPOP printout consists of four sections: (1) the 

input information evaluated, (2) the least-cost grade mix, 

(3) the range and sensitivity analysis, and (4) the cutting 

instructions for obtaining the desired cuttings. The first 

three sections are meant to be retained by management 

and filed for future reference. The last section would go to 

the rough-mill foreman for use in establishing the cutting 

instructions. 

Input Information 

The first section (Fig. 3) provides a record of the lumber 

costs used, any adjustments made, and the cutting order 

evaluated. Since individual cutting orders recur, it can be 

saved and used in making future management decisions. 

Least-Cost Grade Mix 

The second section provides the least-cost grade mix 

solution (Fig. 4). For each grade of lumber, the printout 

shows the predicted lumber volume required, the grade's 

contribution to the total production cost, the net board feet 

of cuttings to be obtained from it, the percent yield, and the 

totals of these items for the entire cutting order. 

This solution represents the best that we can do under 

the costs and conditions we have specified. There is no 

other combination of grades and volumes that will result in 

a lower total cost. 

Range and Sensitivity Analysis 

The range and sensitivity analysis (Fig. 4) is the key to 

using YELLOPOP as a decisionmaking tool. It indicates 

how good our current least-cost grade mix 'is relative to the 

next best alternatives. As such, it also indicates how we 

might allocate our lumber when less than optimal conditions exist. 
Item Length 

No. (in.) 

( 1) 

( 3) 

Width R/S* Number of Item Length Wigth R/S* 

(in. ) pieces No. (in.) (in.) 

( 2) 

Number of 

pieces 

CUTTING ORDER 

Item Length Width R/S* Number of Item Length Width R/S* Nunber of 

No. (in.) (in.) pieces No. (in.) (in.) pieces 

(31 (32) 

(33 ) (34) 

(35) (36) 

(37 (38) 

(39) (40) 

(41 ) (42) 

(43) (44) 

(45) (46) 

(47 ) (48) 

(49) (50) 

PF1 : Help PF3 : Exit PF7 = Prev. Screen PF8 = Go to File Screen 

Options 

Figure 2.-Cutting Order, screen 1 and screen 2. 
INPUT INFORMATION SECTION OF YELLOPOP PRINTOUT 

March 20, 1986--dresser--Yellow-poplar 

Grade yield 

Lumber Production adjustment Volume 

grade costs factor constraints 

(doliars/M bf) (M bf 

Number 2A Common 362 .OO 95 .O None 

Number 1 Common 430.00 95.0 None 

Firsts and Seconds 570.00 95 .O None 

--Input Cutting Order-- 

Cutting size 

Length Width 

(inches) ( inches) 

Totals 

Figure 3.-Input information section. 

Type of cutting Number 

random (R) or of 

specified (S) cuttings 

Lumber 

thickness 

( inches) 

414 

4/4 

414 

Net board 

feet of 

cut tinas 

96.4 

568.3 

949.2 

3178.7 

708.1 

490.2 

364.6 

73.7 

158.2 

50.1 

396.1 

328.1 

156.2 

929 *7 

515.6 

458.3 

111.3 

9533 *O 
LEAST-COST GRADE MIX SOLUTION 

March 20, 1986--~ztec Dresser--Yellow-poplar 

-- Summary by Grade -- 

Total 

Input Gross production Board feet Percent 

Selected grades cost/^ bf volume cost of cuttings yield 

(dollars) (M bf) (dollars) 

Number 2A Common 362 1.978 716 1092.7 55.2 

Number 1 Common 430 14.777 6353 8014.7 54.2 

Firsts and Seconds 570 0.642 365 425.6 66.3 

Totals 17.396 7435 9533 -0 54.8 

-- Range and Sensitivity Analysis Information -- 

Selected grades 

Number 2 Common 

Number 1 Common 

Firsts and Seconds 

Figure 4.-Least-cost grade mix solution. 

Input cost and Associated gross 

levels/M bf volumes (M bf) 

(dollars) 

Upper 363.60 

362 .OO 

Lower 328.19 

Upper 440.28 

430.00 

Lower 429.56 

Upper 570.76 

570 .OO 

Lower 552.25 
The range and sensitivity analysis shows the range over 

which the input cost of each grade can move without a 

change in the least-cost grade mix, assuming the input 

cost of the other grades remains unchanged. By varying 

the input cost of one grade while holding the others constant,'the program determines at what level of input cost 

there would be a change in how the grades are used to 

obtain the cuttings required. The "associated gross volumes" then show the volume of the grade that would be 

used at that input cost. 

Figure 4 shows that if the input cost of FAS increased by 

76 cents per M bf, the volume of FAS used in the alternative least-cost mix would drop by 121 board feet to 521 

board feet. Although hardly earth-shaking, an astute manager may see this as an indication that FAS could be eliminated entirely. If, in fact, YELLOPOP is rerun without any 

FAS, it would be found that a mix of 15.884 M bf of No. 1C 

and 1.673 M bf of No. 2A would result in a total cost of 

$7,436 or only $1 .OO more than our least-cost mix. As a 

matter of fact, both FAS and No. 2A could be eliminated for 

an additional $46 over the least-cost mix. The capability to 

evaluate the cost of different options can be a help to 

managers. 

For a more complete discussion of the interpretation of 

the range and sensitivity analysis and how it can be used 

as a decisionmaking tool, obtain a copy of "OPTIGRAMI: 

Optimum Lumber Grade Mix for Hardwood Dimension 

Parts" (Martens and Nevel 1985). 

Cutting Instruction 

The last section of the YELLOPOP printout is the cutting 

instruction (Fig. 5) for obtaining the required dimension 

cuttings from the proposed least-cost mix. The rough-mill 

foreman uses this section to assign cutting lengths to 

specific crosscut saw operators. 

It provides the input volume of each grade according to 

the leasf-cost mix, the cutting sizes that are to be obtained 

from each grade, and the number of pieces that are 

expected from that volume of lumber. 

The program evaluates all combinations of cutting 

requirements and yield per grade to determine the leastcost combination. The results are not always according to 

tradition. For example, in the cutting instructions shown 

(Fig. 5), the longest length in the cutting order (60.750 

inches) is obtained exclusively from No. 1C and not FAS. 

Instead, FAS is used to supplement the requirements for 

58.1 25-, 17.000-, and 15.500-inch cutting lengths and 

provide all of the 28.312- and 19.250-inch cutting lengths. 

The fact that FAS was used to supplement relatively short 

lengths helps explain how it could be completely eliminated 

from the mix at a total added cost of $1.00. 

This last section also provides a value called "board feet 

shorts." This represents the net board feet of unused 

volume that would be available as 10-inch-long, randomwidth cuttings. As such, it provides an indication of how 

well the raw material is being utilized.' 

In addition to the information on each grade, the entire 

cutting order is summarized. Included in the summary are 

the total gross volume of lumber required; the total net 

board feet of cuttings to be obtained, the total board feet of 

shorts anticipated, and the total number of pieces required. 

Using YELLOPOP 

YELLOPOP is designed for use on any IBM mainframe 

computer with a mathematical programing system (MPS) in 

its program library. The program can be accessed through 

an on-site computer or through a remote terminal. 

Remote Terminal 

For those using a remote terminal, YELLOPOP has been 

placed on the Computerized Management Network (CMN), 

a national time-sharing computer service managed by the 

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. Access to CMN 

can be made on any ASCII terminal and a modem or on a 

microcomputer with a communications program. 

The CMN is accessed through normal long distance 

telephone lines. To LOG ON, you will need to obtain a 

CMN user identification number (userid) and password by 

contacting: 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service 

Extension Computing Resources 

Plaza I, Building D 

Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 

703-961 -51 84 

There is no initial fee or hookup charge for CMN, but there 

is a small monthly userid ownership charge. 

To use the program, you simply dial the computer telephone number and LOG ON with your CMN userid and 

password. The computer will then ask you what program 

you would like and you enter "YELLOPOP." The Main 

Menu screen, shown in Figure 6, will appear and asks what 

you would like to do. By pressing one of the four function 

(PF) keys, you can request a file for editing or analysis 

(PF4), determine if a submitted analysis has been returned 

to your userid (PF5), get the HELP file (PFl), or exit from 

the program (PF3). For example, if you wish to make a 

YELLOPOP analysis, you press the PF4 key. A screen 

appears that asks you to enter a file name (Fig. 7). It also 

lists all the file names that you have previously run. To 

enter a file name, you may either (a) enter a name of from 

one to eight characters in the file name field and then 
OPTIMUM SOLUTION CUTTING INFORMATION 

March 30, 1986--Aztec Dre'sser--Yellow-poplar 

Lumber Gross Cutting size Type of Number of Net board 

Selected grades thickness volume Length Width cutting cuttings feet 

(inches) (Mbf) --(inches)-- 

Number 2A Common 4/4 1.978 

Net Board Feet/Grade = 1092.7 

Board Feet Shorts = 174.1 

Number 1 Common 14.777 

Net Board Feet/Grade = 8014.7 

Board Feet Shorts = 369.9 

Firsts and Seconds 0.642 

Net Board FeettGrade = 425.6 

Board Feet Shorts = 21.8 

Total Gross Volume Total Net Board Feet Total Shorts Total Number of Pieces 

(M bf) (bf 

17.396 9533 *O 565.8 21 264 

Figure 5.-Optimum solution cutting information. 
-------- YEUOpOp ......................... ......................... Main I.lenu ==zIIE:=I:=EI:I:::=== 

Press a PF key to indicate your choice 

PF4 - Specify a file for editing or analysis. 

PF5 - Deternine if submitted analysis has been 

returned to your userid. 

PF1 :: Help PF3 = Exit 

. . 

Figure 6.-Main Menu. 

press the ENTER key, or (b) position the cursor at the 

name of one of your existing files and then press ENTER 

(this copies the name at the cursor to the file name field at 

the top of the screen); then press ENTER again to validate 

the name you have selected. A message will appear at the 

bottom of the screen indicating that the requested file is an 

old file. 

Now that you have selected your file, press the PF8 key, 

as shown at the bottom of the'screen, to proceed to the 

File Options screen (Fig. 8). As shown, you press a PF key 

to select whether you want to edit the selected file (PF4), 

submit the file for processing (PF5), or specify your job 

priority (PF6). 

Since we are interested in making an analysis, we would 

press PF4 to proceed to the Data Entry screen shown 

earlier in Figure 1. Fields for all necessary data input are 

labeled. These include date, cutting order name, thickness, 

lumber grades to be selected and their respective costs, 

yield adjustments, and volume constraints. On the Data 

Entry screens, you can move the cursor with the cursor 

controls or skip from field to field with the TAB key. 

In the example Data Entry screen (Fig. 9), we have specified 414 thickness and the lumber grades of 2A, lC, and 

FAS. The input costs of $362, $430, and $570, respectively, reflect estimates of the total of costs for each grade 

through the rough mill. The 95 percent yield adjustment is 

for demonstration purposes only. Since no volume constraints were used, the program assumes that there are 

unlimited volumes available for each grade. We would now 

press PF8 to move to the next screen, which is where we 

enter our cutting order (Fig. 10). YELLOPOP can accommodate 50 specific cutting sizes (30 on this screen and 20 

on the next screen). Each is entered by length, width, type, 

and number of pieces. An R is used for panels that will be 

glued up from random-width pieces, and S is used when 

each part is to have a specified width (no glueline). Part 

sizes do not need to be entered in a particular order, such 

as from longest to shortest lengths. 

Pressing the PF8 key takes us to screen 2 of the cutting 

order and pressing PF8 again takes us back to the File 

Options screen (Fig. 8). If we press PF6 on the File Options 

screen, we can specify our job priority (Fig. 11). Five levels 

of priority can be selected from idle (least expensive) to 

urgent (most expensive). If no selection is made, the program is preset to run on idle priority. Assuming that we are 

satisfied with our priority, we press PF5 to submit our file 

for processing. We will receive a message at the bottom 

indicating that "YELLOPOP job submitted. Check for 

results after 10 minutes." 
Enter file name: ----------- 

Files: 

DRESSER AZTEC 

PFl = Help PF3 = Exit PF7 = Hain Menu Screen PF8 : Fiie Options Screen 

(Edit/Submit Files) j 

Figure 7.-File Name screen. 

Selected File: AZTEC 

Press the PF key corresponding to your choice 

PF4 - Edit the Selected File. 

PF5 - Submit the file for processing. 

PF6 - Specify job priority. 

(Use before submitting a job.) 

Figure 8.-File Options screen. 
Lumber Grade Information 

(Select only three) 

Input 

Factors 

2B 2A 1 C FIF FAS 

I Yield Ad j. 

(percent ) 

PFl = Help PF3 = Exit PF7 = Prev. Screen PF8 = Next Screen 

Figure 9.-Completed Data Entry screen. 

We can now press PF4 to make changes in our file if we 

want to rerun it with different lumber input costs, yield 

adjustments, or volume constraints. If we want to enter 

another analysis, we can press PF7 to go back to the File 

Specification screen (Fig. 7). 

To receive our YELLOPOP output, we return to the Main 

Menu screen (Fig. 5) and press the PF5 key to determine if 

our submitted analysis has been returned to our userid. If it 

has not come back, we will receive a.message at the bottom of the screen saying, "No YELLOPOP output has been 

returned. Try again later." When the analysis is completed, 

the output is returned to our "reader." To look at the output, we press PF11 as indicated on the screen. This makes 

the entire YELLOPOP output available to you. You can 

look through it by using the PF8 and PF7 keys to scroll 

forward and backward, respectively. 

If you wish to keep the output, you press the PF9 key to 

have it recorded onto your CMN disk space as a perrnanent record or to have it printed. If you have a printer 

attached to your terminal, you can have your results 

printed by using the command "TPRINT" followed by the 

file name that you used in your File Name screen shown in 

Figure 7. You can also discard the output by pressing the 

PF2 key or have it printed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute 

and State University (VPI&SU) by pressing the PF4 key. 

VPl&SU will then send you the results. By pressing the 

PF3 key, you will be returned to the Main Menu. 

On every screen requiring the selection of an option or 

the input of data, the PF1 key has been labeled HELP. 

After pressing it, a help file will be displayed on the screen 

to explain each of the options available to you. 
I 

PFl = Help 

Length 

(in. 

27.750 

60.750 

31 -375 

30 .OOO 

20.250 

18.250 

18.000 

16.500 

14.250 

Width 

(in.) 

20.000 

2.250 

3.250 

1.750 

2.250 

1.250 

1.250 

3.000 

2.250 

CUTTING ORDER 

Number of 

pieces 

25 

1000 

1000 

1000 

500 

2500 

1000 

1500 

500 

Length Width 

(in.) (in.) 

15.500 22.000 

58.125 2.250 

31.375 2.250 

28.312 0.750 

19.250 0.750 

18.000 2.625 

17.000 2.250 

16.500 2.000 

PF3 = Exit PF7 = Prev. Screen PF8 = Next Screen 

Number of 

pieces 

240 

3500 

1000 

500 

500 

1000 

3500 

2000 

Figure 10.-Cutting order. 

Mainframe 

If potential users have access to an IBM mainframe 

computer, they may wish to obtain a copy of our 

YELLOPOP program library. If you send a blank tape to the 

Forestry Sciences Laboratory, P. 0. Box 152, Princeton, 

West Virginia 24740, we will have our YELLOPOP program 

library copied onto it and return it to sender with documentation of its contents. There will be no charge to the user. 

If the IBM mainframe in question does not have an MPS 

package in its program library, it will be necessary to obtain 

it before YELLOPOP will function. An MPSX can be 

obtained from an IBM representative or an MPSlll can be 

obtained from Ketron, Inc., Management Science System 

Divisions, 1400 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 

22209. 

All features and capabilities available on the CMN version are also available on the mainframe version and they 

are operated identically. 

Summary 

YELLOPOP can make a significant difference in the total 

cost of yellow-poplar dimension parts by selecting the most 

economical combination of grades and volumes required to 

produce a given cutting order. YELLOPOP and its companion programs, OPTlGRAMl and WALNUT (Martens 1986), 

are decisionmaking tools designed to help furniture roughmill managers. OPTIGRAMI is used to evaluate cutting 

orders from all species graded by the standard National 

Hardwood Lumber Association's rules and WALNUT is 

used' for walnut. They are easy to use and are adaptable to 

individual plant situations. 
------> YELLOPOP JOB PRIORITY <==== 

I 14ark an "Xu next to the priority you want assigned to your job. 

- IDLE (Least expensive) 

- OVERNIGHT 

- STANDARD 

- PRIORITY 

- URGENT (Most expensive) 

I 4 

PF7 = Return to 14enU 

Figure 11 .-YELLOPOP job priority. 

Literature Cited 

Gilmore, Robert C.; Hanover, Stephen J.; Danielson, Martens, David G.; Nevel Robert L., Jr. OPTIGRAMI: 

Jeanne D. Dimension yields from yellow-poplar lum- optimum lumber grade mix program for hardwood 

ber. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-41. Madison, WI: U.S. dimension parts. Res. Pap. NE-563. Broomall, 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Prod- PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

ucts Laboratory; 1984. 13 p. Northeastern Forest Experiment Station; 1985. 10 p. 

Martens, David G. Reduce dimension costs by using 

WALNUT. Res. Pap. NE-586. Broomall, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern 

Forest Experiment Station; 1986. 10 p. 
Appendix 

Table 1.-Predicted yields of random-width, clear 2-face cuttings from FAS grade yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet per M bf) 

Length of 

subsequent Length of longest cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 96 

Table 2.-Reduction values for obtaining predicted yields for cuttings of specified widths from FAS grade yellow-poplar lumber (net 

board feet per M bf) 

Width of Length of cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 96 
Table 3.-Predicted yields of random-width, clear 2-face cuttings 

from F1F grade yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet per M bf) 

Length of 

subsequent Length of longest cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 96 

Table 4.-Reduction values for obtaining predicted yields for cuttings of specified widths from F1F grade yellow-poplar lumber (net 

board feet per M bf) 

Width of Length of cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 96 

Table 5.-Predicted yields of random-width, clear 2-face cuttings from grade 1C yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet per M bf) 

Length of subsequent Length of longest cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 
Table 6.-Reduction values for obtaining predicted yields for 

cuttings of specified widths from grade 1C yellow-poplar lumber 

(net board feet per M bf) 

Width of Length of cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 

Table 7.-Predicted yields of random-width, clear 

2-face cuttings from grade 2A yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet per M bf) 

Length of 

subsequent Length of longest cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 

-------- Inches - - - - - - - - 

40 250 

30 290 360 

20 425 400 460 

10 630 530 480 525 

Table 9.-Predicted yields of random-width, 

sound 2-face cuttings from grade 28 yellowpoplar lumber (net board feet per M bf) 

Length of 

subsequent Length of longest cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 

- 

-------- Inches - - - - - - - - 

40 200 

30 265 285 

20 380 375 375 

10 605 500 470 450 

Table 8.-Reduction values for obtaining predicted yields for cuttings of specified widths from 

grade 2A yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet 

M bf) 

Table 10.-Reduction values for obtaining predicted yields for cuttings of specified widths from 

grade 28 yellow-poplar lumber (net board feet per 

M bf) 

Width of Length of cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 

Width of Length of cuttings 

cuttings 

(inches) 10 20 30 40 

-------- Inches - - - - - - - - 

2 60 44 32 29 

3 132 100 78 62 

4 220 1 75 131 105 

5 324 260 198 150 

5-112 380 307 235 1 72 
Martens, David G. Produce yellow-poplar furniture dimension at minimum cost by using YELLOPOP. NE-RP-592. Broomall, PA: US. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station; 1986. 15p. 

Describes a computer program called YELLOPOP that determines the 

least-cost combination of lumber grades required to produce a given cutting order of furniture dimension parts. If the least-cost mix is not available, 

YELLOPOP can be used to determine the next best alternative. The steps 

involved in using the program are also described. 

ODC 836.1 

Keywords: Furniture, hardwood dimension; lumber yields; dimension yields 
Headquarters of the ~ortheastem Forest Experiment Station are in Broomall, Pa. 

Field laboratories are maintained at: 

Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts. 

Berea, Kentucky, in cooperation with Berea College. 

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, 

Morgantown. 

Orono, Maine, in cooperation with the University of Maine, Orono. 

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, 

Syracuse. 

University Park, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State 

University. 

Warren, Pennsylvania. 

Persons of any race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or with any handicapping condition are welcome to use and enjoy all facilities, programs, and services 

of the USDA. Discrimination in any form is strictly against agency policy, and 

should be reported to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. 

*u. S. GOVERNmENT PRINTING OFFICE :l986-646-160:4O0O3 

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