The market for standing timber is cyclical from year to year, and very volatile even within the scope of one year's time.
Many factors combine to produce the level of demand and prices for various timber and wood products.
In Southwest and Central Virginia, and West Virginia, There exist several market segments within the forest products industry. The Virginia counties of Floyd, Carroll, Grayson, Patrick, and parts of surrounding counties enjoy a very active market for white pine timber during certain times of the year. This is owing to the white pine resource in the area, and the existence of several companies who utilize white pine, and have good markets for white pine lumber. Quality hardwood timber enjoys good market activity in the entire region, but the market has definite strong periods and weak periods. The hardwood timber market is somewhat less dependent on the season, but is cyclical due to trends in the market for lumber, furniture, etc.