But stumpage prices never come down as fast as they go up. Most reports contacted reported that they had dropped their prices, their mills had plenty of logs and they were hesitant to put money into standing timber right now. Likewise, most consultants and landowners were holing their best tracts off the market but were getting ready for an anticipated improvement in the fall. When the rains do come it's likely we'll see a flurry of buying. In the hardwood, market logs are also abundant and several reporters commented that mills are taking down time and limiting log deliveries.
Reports are that the hardwood lumber market is steady but supply is adequate.
Some mills report demand for lumber good but prices are poor. This situation has made mills more choosy about the quality of the logs they buy and some hardwood mills have begun stockpiling hardwood logs for the winter a bit early. In general, the timber markets have been poor all summer. And the threat of a southern pine beetle outbreak is worse news yet. Amongst all this bad news there are tracts being sold.