The core idea
Stumpage is the value or price of standing timber sold before harvest. It is not the same as delivered log price or retail lumber value.
Landowner workflow
- Species and product
- Log quality and defect
- Volume and sale size
- Terrain, access, distance, and operating cost
- Current buyer demand and competition
Why preparation matters
Standing timber is not a uniform commodity. Species, grade, defect, volume, access, terrain, seasonal operating conditions, contract terms, and local buyer needs can all change the economics. A defined sale lets you compare offers on the same opportunity instead of comparing vague numbers.
Keep the forestry objective separate from the transaction
A buyer can tell you what a tract is worth to that buyer. A landowner’s forestry decision is broader: which trees should be removed, which should remain, what the next stand should look like, and how roads, water, wildlife, regeneration, and future entries will be protected.
Before you sell