Timber prices in Louisiana were up during the first quarter of 2002 from the prior year, while overall production was down from earlier averages during the year 2001, according to the Quarterly Report of Forest Products from the office of State Forester Paul D. Frey.

According to the report, stumpage prices paid for pine sawtimber during the first quarter of 2002 averaged $334.89 per thousand board feet (MBF) Doyle. This represents a 1.0 percent decline from the previous quarter, and a 2.8 percent increase compared to a year ago.

Prices paid for mixed hardwood sawtimber during the first quarter of 2002 averaged $297.74 per MBF Doyle, which is 8.5 percent higher than the fourth quarter of 2001 and 16.9 percent higher than a year ago.

The increased average state price for mixed hardwood sawtimber was due to a price of $407.68 per MBF in the Florida parishes area north of Lake Pontchartrain and Baton Rouge, adjacent to the Mississippi state line. By contrast, mixed hardwood sawtimber in Area 3, central and western Louisiana from Winn, Natchitoches, and Sabine parishes south to Beauregard and Calcasieu, brought only $119.14 MBF. Area 1, north and northwest Louisiana, brought $216.09 MBF, and Area 2, the delta area of Northeast Louisiana, brought $291.14.

Prices for pine sawtimber, averaging $338.30 vs. $325.78 a year ago, ranged from $351.02 in the central and western Area 3, to $315.95 in north and northwest Area 1, to $349.71 in southeast Area 4.

Pine pulpwood per-cord prices were $16.51 in north and northwest; $17.72 in central and western, and $12.93 in southeastern Louisiana. State average one year ago was $22.04, and $21.94 for the first quarter.

Prices vary due to timber size, species, quality, logging conditions, distance to mill, end product uses, demand and competition, the State Forester's report points out.

Total production of both sawtimber and cordwood was down in 2001 from the previous five-year averages, and was the lowest individual year in the period from 1997 through 2000.

Sawtimber production in 2001 was 1.155 trillion board feet, against the peak of 1.424 trillion board feet in 1997, and a five-year average of 1.321 trillion board feet. Cordwood production was 5.813 million cords in 2001, against the peak of 6.250 million cords in 1999, and a five-year average of 5.940 million cords.