P1473

4-H Forestry Project No.5—Measuring Standing Sawtimber

One of the most important aspects of forestry is growing a crop of trees. However, timber is measured and sold in a different way than the crops familiar to most of us.

Soybeans are sold by the bushel, and cotton is sold by the pound or bale. Farmers receive a certain amount, depending on crop prices, for each bushel or pound they sell. Have you wondered how a tree farmer measures a timber stand and how the crop is sold? Lumber is bought and sold by the board foot. A board foot is a unit of lumber measurement equal to 1 foot square by 1 inch thick.

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Publication 1473 (POD-09-25)

Revised by James Shannon, PhD, Extension Specialist I, North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, from an earlier version revised by Brady Self, PhD, Extension Professor, Forestry, by Stephen G. Dicke, PhD, Extension Professor (retired).