Utilization of Southern Pine Beetle-Killed Timber

Over 600 buyers of pine in North Carolina were questioned on their attitudes regarding purchase and utilization of southern yellow pine beetle-killed trees. Five of the 11 responding pole, piling, and post buyers stated that they would not purchase beetle-killed trees, whereas only six of the 76 responding pulpwood buyers refused to accept dead trees. Manufacturers of lumber, dimension stock, railroad ties, and reconstituted wood products were intermediate in their attitudes. A survey of the literature on the utilization of beetle-killed, blue-stained, decayed, nad insect-attacked southern yellow pine indicates that trees recently beetle-killed could be used economically for dimension lumber and pulp production, even when purchased at the same price as sound wood. However, as the length of time the trees have been dead increases, their value and usefulness to the wood products manufacturer decreases. The survey also showed that there is an urgent need for further information on the rate of deterioration of beetle-killed trees and its effect on utilization, and for development of a simple field method for estimating time since beetle-kill.

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