High        Low       Avg.       Last        Last         Volume      # of 
                    Price       Price     Price      Quarter     Year                     Rpts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veneer
Black Walnut        $2,500      $875      $1,185                 $1,735      15 Int.-MBF     2

Sawlogs
Black Walnut        $585        $435      $485       $105        $700        22 Int.-MBF     2
Hickory             $230        $ 90      $175       $145        $ 90       162 Int.-MBF    14
Mixed Hardwoods     $200        $ 30      $115       $195        $ 75       676 Int.-MBF    12
Oak (mixed species) $200        $120      $155       $160        $150       861 Int.-MBF    10
Post Oak            $230        $ 90      $160       $150        $140       133 Int.-MBF    14
Red oak (group)     $585        $ 95      $170       $210        $185     5,699 Int.-MBF    28
S Yellow Pine       $230        $ 95      $130       $120        $ 95       727 Int.-MBF    16
Sycamore            $160        $160      $160                                1 Int.-MBF     1
White oak (group)   $220        $160      $160       $140        $130        74 Int.-MBF    16
Fence Posts                                                          
S Yellow Pine       $0.50       $0.50     $0.50                             909 Int.-MBF     1
S Yellow Pine       $0.68       $0.47     $0.62                          15,984 Int.-MBF     4
Pulpwood                                                             
Mixed Hardwoods     $  1        $  1      $  1       $  1                 2,998 Int.-MBF     2
Stave                                                                
White oak (group)   $300        $205      $260       $265        $265        14 Int.-MBF     2

Two species need to be highlighted for comment in the Ozark Region. Hickory is enjoying popularity with consumers for cabinetry which is increasing both demand and price for good quality hickory timber. The "loose-barked" hickory (Shagbark) is preferred because of a greater amount of sap wood, but all species of good quality will sell well. This popularity has as much to do with the relatively low price of cabinet grade hickory lumber as the appearance of the cabinets from the manufacturers' perspective. However, a significant number of consumers are attracted to the "rustic" appearance, subtle color differences, and durability of hickory cabinets. If you have some good quality hickory that is ready to sell, you might want to take advantage of this market trend. Don't wait too long, however. Most trends of this type are somewhat short-lived!

More reports than usual for pine fence posts were received this quarter. However, this is not a reflection of greater demand, but only because there were more forester-assisted post sales reported. Thinning from both plantations and natural stands were reported. The range of stumpage prices per post is encouraging and the return to the landowners ranged from a low of about $50.00 per acre to a high of more than $140.00 per acre.

Pine sawlog markets are still below par compared to those in nearby southern states. The absence of large volume pine lumber producers in Missouri is definitely impacting our stumpage prices in a negative way. Most reports of pine stumpage sales involve only small volumes absorbed by local markets. Larger volume sales appear to be selling at about the average price listed, even when the trees are large diameter and high quality.