African Black Ebony is the most valuable wood in the world. A large, old growth tree could be worth a million dollars, but the last of these was probably cut down more than 50 years ago.
Another way to look at the monetary value of trees is to use appraised tree values. Trees can be worth many thousands of dollars if they are good species in good condition in a prime location, or may be worth nothing if they are in poor shape or are poorly located.
Depending on the end-use of the tree, the sawmill may require that it be a minimum size of 8 inches in diameter, with the top being at least 4 inches wide (as this is the minimum size needed to cut most types of construction boards).
The value can range from $900 to $1800, and the rate goes up if the trees are decades old, high-quality, and high in demand. Clearcut timber is usually more lucrative for each acre, given the trees' average size and how much material is available.
At the time of writing this article in 2022, the price of black walnut per board foot ranges from $5 to $10. In some situations, landowners are fetching even a little more than that. If you want to know the price of black walnut per tree, current averages range anywhere from $300 to $1,000.
The size of a walnut tree can impact its worth and market value. In general, larger trees are more valuable than smaller ones. Mature Trees that are wider and taller are usually worth more than shorter, skinnier trees because they can produce more boards.
The IRS code about timber sale taxation is a bit obscure. There are three main ways to reduce the tax bill; 1) report income as capital gains, 2) calculate the timber basis and depletion, and 3) keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses related to the timber sale.
Common lengths at sawmills are 12' (12'6”) and 16' (16'6”). How small is too small for your mill? I can mill most logs down to toothpicks if you want; the real question is whether or not it's cost effective for you. In most cases, 8” is as small as I like to go because I can get a 6x6 out of the logs.
Mature trees can have an average appraised value of between $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the species and size.
Most high-dollar logs are veneer-quality logs.
Veneer logs look like they came from the “log factory” and are perfect in every way; no signs of knots, straight, round, good color, good growth ring spacing, centered pith, no bird peck, no shake, no metal, fresh, and hopefully, big.
As a result, black ebony wood is highly sought after by craftsmen, musicians, and collectors, and its scarcity has only added to its value. If you could grow it or find it, a single black ebony tree could be worth a million dollars.
For most forest types in our region, this likely means there are trees exceeding 150 years old and some may be as old as 200 (white pine), 250 (sugar maple), or 400 years (hemlock). If you do have an old growth forest, consider yourself very lucky indeed, as truly old forests are exceedingly rare in the northeast.
Walnut trees are always one of the most demanded trees in the wood industry. Oaks, maples, cherry, and ashes are also valuable trees. A high-quality veneer tree with a large diameter can be worth a lot but they are rare. A common rule is the bigger the log, the more it is worth.
Evans bases his pricing on, “sizing and coolness.” An 8,000-pound, heavily fissured stump with a burl on one side and huckleberry and lichen growing on it is selling for $3,000. Others go for much less. “If you can pick it up by yourself it's probably going to be $25,” Evans said.
You can identify a small potted tree as a money tree by its stalks with five long green leaves. These five leaves are said to represent the five elements in feng shui: water, earth, fire, wind, and metal. Very rarely, these plants may feature stalks with seven leaves, which is considered a sign of intense good fortune.
Many hardwood sawlogs are cut to 9' to allow for trim allowance; at minimum, cut your logs to at least 8'6" (eight feet, six inches).
Typically sawmills in North America handle two types of wood: hardwood and softwood. Hardwood trees like walnut and maple have leaves that fall in the autumn and grow back in the spring. Softwood includes spruce and cedar, and their needles are permanently attached.
As a rule of thumb, there will be a measurable loss in four to six weeks of warm (over 50 F) weather. It is just a rule of thumb.
As discussed above, the net gain from the sale of timber is typically considered a capital gain, either long-term or short-term.
Royalties are defined as payments tied to the extraction of the resource, meaning in the case of timber pay-as-cut contracts.
Whether or not you will owe taxes for selling personal items, goods, or services online will depend on several factors, including whether you made a profit. Usually, you need to pay federal income taxes and self-employment taxes if you make more than $400 during the tax year.
According to the 2021 Trends report, sales of Tulare County walnut properties were very limited, ranging from $24,000 to $30,000 per acre last year.
For walnut trees, the smallest tree that is considered marketable would be 16 inches in diameter, measured about four feet from the ground. Any walnut 16” and up is marketable. For oak species, the smallest marketable size would be about 18” in diameter, measured 4 ft from the ground.
Black walnut logs bring premium prices, with single trees bringing thousands of dollars. Bruce Thompson, author of “Black Walnut for Profit” estimates a mature stand of black walnut trees can bring about $100,000 per acre in timber value alone.