This report is the fourth summary of annualized inventory of Pennsylvania with field data collected from 2013 through 2019.Forest land area has decreased since 2014 to 16.6 million acres.Oak/hickory and maple/beech/birch forest-type groups dominate the forested area and large-diameter stands account for 73 percent of timberland.Net volume on timberland is 37.3 billion cubic feet but increases have slowed due to decreased gross growth and increased mortality.Net growth still outpaced harvest removals by a ratio of 2.1:1.Additional information on forest area, land-use change, fragmentation, ownership,

Wood-consuming furniture manufacturers (WCFM) are major users of forest products in the United States. Between 2000 and 2009, the real value of domestic WCFM shipments (production) declined by 51%. After 2009, WCFM shipments fluctuated, but by 2019 shipments were 48% below 2000 levels. A major contributor to this decline was furniture imports. In 1997, imports accounted for 6% and 23% of the value of upholstered household furniture (UHF) and wood household furniture (WHF), available to U.S. consumers, respectively. In 2019, imports accounted for 35% and 78% of domestically available UHF and WHF, respectively. The primary source of imported UHF in 2019 was China, while Vietnam was the most important source of WHF. Domestic consumption also influences WCFM shipments. Between 1997 and 2019, consumption of UHF by U.S. end-users increased; since 2002, this increase was primarily supplied through increased imports. Since 2005, domestic consumption of WHF declined by 45%, which contributed to the 75% decline in domestic shipments since that year. Wood office furniture and related products also have experienced a 40% decline in consumption since 2000, which coincided with a 41% decline in shipments. More research is needed to determine the impact of decreased WCFM shipments on U.S. forest product production and prices.

In 1990, the major destinations for hardwood logs exported by the United Sates were Europe, Canada, and three East Asian markets: Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. From 1990 to 2005, the volume of hardwood logs exported to Canada increased by 402 percent. During this period, another East Asian log market developed, consisting of China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam (CHV). While increased Canadian exports were an apparent result of increased U.S. bilateral trade with Canada, the development of the CHV market was associated with increased U.S. furniture imports from that region. The volume of U.S. log exports worldwide peaked in 2005, and the value of log exports peaked in 2007. Exports to all regions declined in 2009. After 2009, exports to CHV increased and surpassed shipments to Canada in 2014. In the past decade, much of the increase in exports to CHV appears to be the result of demand within China. Recently, these exports have been affected by trade disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic. For most of the study period, the dominant log export species were white oak, red oak, maple, or cherry in terms of value. Since 2018, walnut has become the most important log export species (value basis) as a result of increased shipments to China.

The fourth full annual inventory of Minnesota's forest reports 17.6 million acres of forest land with an average live tree volume of 1,156 cubic feet per acre. Aspen is the most predominant forest type in Minnesota, making up 28 percent of the total area. Net growth exceeds removals in the State resulting in a growth to removals ratio (G/R) of 1.7, meaning that forest land is accumulating volume. Fragmentation and parcelization, aging forest cover, as well as threats from native and nonnative pests, are major issues that will impact the future of Minnesota's forests. Information from the National Woodland Owners Survey is also presented in this report. A detailed interactive report is available at https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-123-INT, and supplemental information, including (1) tables summarizing quality assurance, (2) a core set of tabular estimates for a variety of forest resources, and (3) user and database guides for P2 and P2+ protocols, can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-123.

An examination of hardwood lumber prices in the eastern United States adjusted for inflation and regional differences in forest composition found declines in aggregate (combined species) prices across all regions. The greatest declines occurred in the Northeast and Lake States regions with smaller declines occurring in the Central, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic regions. With the exception of white oak and walnut, prices of high-value species declined more than prices of low-value species. For most of this century, the Northeast region has had the highest aggregate prices for lumber products. However, the Central region had the highest price for high-quality lumber since 2017. While lumber prices have declined, prices for industrial hardwood products increased. In 2020, the price of pallet cants exceeded the price of lower quality hardwood lumber for most species, and crosstie prices exceeded that of aggregate mid-quality lumber. The declines in hardwood lumber prices were the result of reduced domestic demand and insufficient increases in exports to offset this decrease. While increased domestic and export demand will result in increased prices, the prolonged period of low lumber prices may reduce the expected returns to timber management.

In 1990, Europe, North America, and the Asian democracies of Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea (JTK) were the major export markets for U.S. hardwood lumber and oak species accounted for 59 percent of total exports. In the 1990s, shipments to Europe and North America increased, while shipments to JTK declined. During the early 2000s, exports to China and Vietnam (CHV) increased. The worldwide recession of 2009 caused exports to decline in all regions, and oak species accounted for 37 percent of total shipments that year. Since 2010, CHV has become the most important export market for all species except maple. In 2020, oak species accounted for 43 percent of total export volume, and walnut ranked third in value of shipments. An examination of imputed prices found that exports tend to be composed of mid- to higher-quality hardwood lumber. Since 1997, real prices of exported lumber have declined for most species, and this decline occurred concurrently with increased U.S. sawtimber volume. In the 1990s, increased exports expanded the market for domestically produced hardwood lumber. Since the early 2000s, increased lumber exports have partially countered reduced domestic demand and have acted as a hedge against greater declines in overall demand for U.S. hardwood lumber.

An examination of changes in growth, mortality, and removals of hardwood sawtimber in the eastern United States within the first two decades of the 21st century found large variations among regions and species groups. Changes in growth ranged from a 17% increase in the Lake States region to a statistically insignificant 1% in the Southern region. Most regions had relatively large increases in mortality. High levels of ash (Fraxinus spp.) mortality in the Northeast, Lake States, and Central regions likely were a result of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Hardwood sawtimber removals declined in all regions except the Lake States and Central regions, with the largest relative declines occurring in the Southern and Mid-Atlantic regions. With the exception of ash, there were no indications of immediate declines in eastern sawtimber volume. However, continual increases in mortality, a resurgence of removals, and reduced growth could cause sawtimber volume to plateau in the coming decades. The findings from this study indicated that there likely would be variations in these plateaus among the species groups and regions.

Since 1992, the oaks (Quercus spp.) have accounted for a third of the eastern hardwood growing stock volume, but oak poletimber volume has declined from 27 percent of total hardwood poletimber volume in 1992 to 23 percent in 2012 with most of this change occurring since 2002. This decline is a precursor to a reduction in oak sawtimber volume in the future in the absence of successful timber management efforts to avert it. The decline in oak poletimber volume initially occurred concurrently with a decline in consumption and price of higher grade hardwood lumber and a historic reduction in the margins between lumber and stumpage prices. These declines in price margins appear to be a market aberration since margins recovered to prerecession levels by 2017. The greatest value for oak and most other hardwood species is associated with aesthetic attributes which are influenced by the rate and consistency of tree growth, bole clarity, and wood color. Desirable attributes may take 75 years to develop. The extended period of time it takes oak to mature combined with the price risk due to market variability and changing fashion trends makes the time value of money a barrier to oak management. An understanding of economic factors that influence hardwood markets should be embodied in the development of timber management plans. Successful oak regeneration could be promoted as a part of hardwood sustainability certification, thereby transferring the management costs to the current customers of hardwood products.

High quality North American hardwood lumber and veneer is increasingly exported and used worldwide. A large portion of the timber resource utilized in the production of these products is contained within the northern region of the eastern United States. The cubic volume of this resource has increased by 15% since 2000, with most of this increase occurring in trees greater than 43.2 cm diameter at breast height. Although the volume of high-quality timber is likely at its highest level in over 100 years, 60% of the increase in the volume between 2008 and 2017 was in sawtimber-size (27.9 cm and larger) trees of low quality. Region wide, the species group "other white oaks" had the largest increase in high-quality volume. The largest increases in low-quality volume were for the soft maple and "other red oaks" species groups. While the volume of poletimber (12.7 to 27.7 cm) growing stock decreased between 2008 and 2017, the volume of cull poletimber-size trees increased more than 50%. These trends indicate a future decline in timber quality. Research is needed to determine the cause of these declines and how they may be reversed. One question that should be examined is the role of natural mortality and damage versus human disturbance on timber quality.

Increasing hardwood growing stock volume in the eastern United States from the 1950s to the 1990s was led by increases in poletimber volume. In the current century, volumetric growth has become concentrated in larger trees at least 17 in. dbh (≥17 in.). In the Central Hardwood region, the volume of such trees now exceeds poletimber volume by 75

Timber harvesting is a major disturbance agent influencing the composition and structure of eastern hardwood forests. To better understand timber harvesting practices, we examined roundwood harvesting patterns in 13 eastern states in the Central, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern regions that contained high proportional volumes of hardwood in their forest inventories. Nearly 5400 Forest Inventory and Analysis sample plots in which timber was cut and assumed to be used were examined for the period 2009-2015. Nine patterns based on basal area removed were isolated and defined, of which six were partial removals and three were clear-cuts. Of the patterns observed, four involved primarily hardwoods, three involved primarily softwood, and two were mixed. Large diameter-influenced partial hardwood harvesting practices were found to be predominant in the Central hardwood region, but mixed diameter hardwood and softwood partial harvesting patterns were noted in Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. Harvesting patterns examined in Pennsylvania and New York appeared to be a transition between the patterns found in the Central and three most Northern states. Large diameter-influenced harvesting also occurred less frequently in the MidAtlantic states. Clear-cuts were noted in all states examined but were associated with higher levels of removal in the Mid-Atlantic states. Softwood cuts were more common in the Northern and Mid-Atlantic states and pine thinning cuts were noted in Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina. Although this study provides insight into current timber harvesting processes, additional information is needed to determine how timber management practices can be developed to complement the economic considerations associated with harvests.

Sawmills are an important component of the hardwood industry, developing value-added products derived from the timber resources of the eastern United States. Employment in eastern sawmills has declined during the 21st century, reaching its lowest point in 2009 and 2010. Employment declines in the North and South Central regions of the United States were less than declines in the Northeast and Southeast regions, but East-wide employment was over 30 percent lower in 2010 than in 2001. The number of sawmills also has declined in the East, but since 2010, average employment in those mills has been increasing. Eastern hardwood lumber production followed sawmill employment for the four eastern subregions between 2001 and 2008; the last year estimates were available by state. Initial estimates of hardwood lumber production in 2009 based on production-to-employment ratios for the 2001 to 2008 period appeared higher than US Department of Agriculture estimates from timber product output data. A potential cause of this discrepancy was sawmills maintaining key employees during the Great Recession. After adjusting for these differences, eastern hardwood lumber production for 2009 was estimated to be 6.5 billion board feet (BBF), which was consistent with estimates of hardwood lumber consumption, net exports, and inventory adjustments. Eastern hardwood lumber production had increased to 9.2 BBF by 2015 but still was 28 percent less than the peak production year of 1999.

This report summarizes the third full annualized inventory of Indiana forests conducted from 2009 to 2013 by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program of the Northern Research Station in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Indiana has nearly 4.9 million acres of forest land with an average of 454 trees per acre. Forest land is dominated by the white oak/red oak/hickory forest type, which occupies 72 percent of the total forest land area. Most stands are dominated by large trees. Seventy-eight percent of forest land consists of sawtimber, 15 percent contains poletimber, and 7 percent contains saplings/seedlings. Growing-stock volume on timberland has been rising since the 1980s and currently totals 9.1 billion cubic feet. Annual growth outpaced removals by a ratio of 3.3:1. Additional information on forest attributes, changing land use patterns, timber products, and forest health is included in this report. Detailed information on forest inventory methods and data quality, a glossary of terms, tabular estimates for a variety of forest characteristics, and additional resources are available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-107.

Exporting is a critical component of the product mix for many domestic hardwood firms. Previous research has identified factors associated with hardwood lumber exporting behavior, but less is known about the advantages and disadvantages to exporting associated with the region within which a firm is located, or about exporting of secondary hardwood products. A procedure comparing a measure of production (employment) to the level of exporting in three US hardwood regions (based on aggregations of state-level data) was used to contrast regional relative exporting of primary and secondary products. Several factors were then considered as possible explanations for the observed regional differences. Overall, the results suggested that proximity to seaports (i.e., the East Coast) benefited exporting of both hardwood lumber and secondary products, but the impact was greater for lumber. Thus, for secondary products, regional exporting barriers appeared to be lower. Firm size and sawtimber quality and species were additional factors that were associated with regional exporting. Data for individual states provide clues to interstate movement of hardwood products as they make their way to US ports. This influence also is discussed, but such movement makes state-level analysis of exporting difficult.

Understanding employment trends is important for discerning the economic vitality of U.S. hardwood lumber users. After a period of growth in the 1990s, employment in industries consuming hardwood lumber has declined in the 21st century. The wood household furniture industry has experienced the greatest decline, with North Carolina, Virginia, and California being the states most affected. Nearly all of the decline in employment in the furniture industry can be attributed to increased importation of this product. Millwork and kitchen cabinets are industries associated with home construction. Both of these industries experienced declines in employment in the 21st century. Employment in millwork started to decline after 2000, while employment in the kitchen cabinet industry started to decline after 2006. While there was little change in the relative regional employment rankings in the millwork industry, Indiana displaced California and Texas to become the largest employer in the kitchen cabinet industry. Employment in the pallet industry has declined in the 21st century, but mostly during the two recessionary periods. The pallet industry was the only industry that had an employment increase after 2009. Ohio was once the major pallet producing state, but it was displaced by California and Texas after 2002.

Domestic Hardwood lumber consumption has changed considerably in this century, but how do these changes differ from changes that have occurred over the last 50 years and how have they affected lumber price? In this article, we examine how changes in consumption have influenced aggregate Hardwood lumber prices as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusted for inflation (Fig. 1). For this analysis, we separate consumption into four industrial sectors, furniture (wood household, upholstered household, and office, institutional and custom office millwork), construction and remodeling (flooring, millwork, kitchen cabinets and other building products), industrial (primarily pallets and crossties) and other products (staves, handles, and assorted miscellaneous products) and international trade (exports and imports). When useful, we will also examine individual industries within these sectors.

The eastern hardwood resource is often associated with high-quality sawtimber used in the production of grade products, but this segment of the resource accounts for approximately 20 percent of the cubic volume of all live trees. By contrast, 17 percent of the hardwood timber volume is classified as cull trees, and an additional 14 percent is low-quality sawlog-size growing stock. The remainder of the resource is midgrade sawtimber-size growing stock and smaller-diameter poletimber. This article first examines definitions and terms useful in understanding the structural component of the hardwood resource and then examines this resource and important hardwood roundwood markets on a regional basis. The quality of hardwood timber varies considerably by region. The East Central and Mid-Atlantic contain lower cull volume on a percentage basis in part because of large quantities of yellow-poplar. The Northern and East Central regions contain the greatest volume of high quality sawtimber and produce relatively large quantities of hardwood lumber. The Southern region contains a large volume of hardwood timber, but much of this timber base is low quality or cull; still, this resource is highly utilized by a variety of industries, including grade hardwood sawmills. The West Central region can also be characterized as low quality but contains a third of the black walnut sawtimber in the United States. The Plains region contains the lowest volume of hardwood timber, and the widespread geographic distribution of this timber outside of Minnesota may make use of this material for most areas of this region uneconomical.

The third full cycle of annual inventories (2009-2013) of Missouri's forests, completed in 2013, reports that there are an estimated 15.5 million acres of forest land in the State. An estimated 60 percent of the forest land area is in sawtimber size stands, 30 percent are pole timber size, and 10 percent are seedling/sapling size or nontstocked. The net volume of live trees on forest land increased by 4 percent, from 20.1 million cubic feet in 2008, to 21.0 million cubic feet in 2013. Average annual net growth of live trees on forest land decreased by more than 25 percent, from an average of 36 cubic feet per acre in 2008, to an average of 26 cubic feet per acre in 2013. This report includes additional information on forest attributes, land-use change, carbon, and forest health. In addition to this document, Missouri Forests 2013: Statistics, Methods, and Quality Assurance is online at https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-108. It contains 1) descriptive information on methods, statistics, and quality assurance of data collection, 2) a glossary of terms, 3) tables that summarize quality assurance, 4) a core set of tabular estimates for a variety of forest resources, 5) a set of user and database guides for P2, P3, and P2+, and 6) a Microsoft Access database that represents an archive of data used in this report, with tools that allow users to produce customized estimates.