Log buyers
are accustomed to hearing about log size in terms of the small end
diameter (not circumference at chest height) in inches and length in
feet.
Assume 1" of diameter decrease per 8' of tree height and convert the
small end of the log to diameter in inches (twice the radius) using:
circumference=6.28 x radius. EX: assume that your 62" DBH tree is 60" at
16' above the ground. The radius = 60"/6.28 or 9.55" so the small end
diameter is about 19".
</p>
If a butt walnut log of that small end diameter is free of
defects (metal, split, knots, bumps, discoloration, holes, rot etc.) it
is big enough to sell as a walnut veneer log and consequently should not
be sold as a walnut saw log.
</p>
The first thing that I would do in your situation is more
research. Get a PA state forester to visit and give you his opinion of
the trees. He will probably not be allowed to talk about dollars but he
should be able to give an opinion on the relative quality of the trees.
The next thing that I would do is talk to some loggers to find out who
they sell their veneer logs to and get some current prices for walnut
logs delivered to the log yard.
</p>
There is potentially a lot of value in the butt logs of your
trees which can be destroyed if the trees are damaged during felling. If
you do decide to sell the trees and you do not have a lot of experience
in timber felling it would be worth hiring a professional faller to do
the work.
</p>
Walnut is currently in high demand. If you can locate some
potential buyers ask them how many board feet of walnut it would take
for them to come to your property and give you bids on the felled and
yarded trees. If you have enough volume to execute this type of sale, do
not cut the trees up into logs. Pull them out tree length (cut off at
8" or below the first big limb) and advise bidders that they are allowed
to make marks on the yarded trees but no cuts because the next bidder
may have wanted to cut the trees up differently depending upon his
markets.
</p>
Remember, in addition to the cost of the trees on the stump, the
buyer still has to pay for the cost of logging and haul, which can be as
much as the price you get on the stump. You will get more if you convert the tree(s) to lumber, and then
sell the lumber.
</p>However, then you will bear the cost to log the trees, to saw the
trees, to stack the green lumber, suffer the drying losses, handle each
board several times, and store the lumber. Don't under-estimate how
much work that is. So selling the trees on the stump at the same price
the best selling hardwoods are bringing in your area is a fair price if
someone else has to do all the work to produce the lumber. You could
more than double the value if you did all that work yourself and could
possibly sell the air dried walnut lumber for $2.00 to $3.00 per board
foot average. But if you do that, be sure and buy a good sawmill, hire a
good helper, build some good sheds to dry the lumber in, buy a good
tractor or fork lift, several good pairs of gloves, and some good
back-pain medicine.