They appear to argue that price per cubic metre, at mill-door, should be the paramount determinant of regime choice. The other factors C recoverable volume, cost, timing and risk C are equally important, and debate is trivialized by emphasizing one of these at the expense of the others. Let's compare two radiata pine regimes, A and B, and look at each of the five factors in turn. In al respects, Regime B produces wood of superior quality. Although the trees will have approximately the same diameter at breast height, the trees in Regime B are much taller, with less taper.
Branches are much smaller and there is less likely to be wind damage.
The proportion of corewood is lower, with its associated problems of spiral grain, checking, etc. Whole-tree wood density, and therefore strength and hardness, is greater for the older trees. None of this means much to the grower unless it is reflected in stumpage prices. Processors can rage and curse about inferior wood, but growers are unlikely to listen unless quality is expressed as premiums or penalties. Quality gradients, such as currently exist, are extremely crude.