Wood fuel delivered prices in the first quarter of 2014 increased $1.04 per ton, or 5.2 percent, from the first quarter 2013 average price of $20.05 per ton. Since fourth quarter 2013, prices increased $0.88 per ton to an average price of $21.09 per ton.
The 19th Century American humorist and writer Mark Twain once pronounced that buying land was a good investment because they're not making any more of it. While the amount of timberland increases and decreases as land use changes-increasing population and the dynamics of urban expansion or the conversion of timberland to cropland when one or the other is price advantaged-the amount of timberland is ultimately limited by the overall availability of land.
With the number and severity of storms blowing across the South this spring and summer, timberland owners may need to assess-and possibly sell-damaged timber. Assessing the severity of damaged timber as accurately as possible will help landowners determine whether they need to salvage timber and how quickly.
The United Kingdom Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) recently released Electricity Market Reform: Allocation of Contracts for Difference, a report that outlines support for biomass and other renewable energy technologies. Under the program, Contracts for Difference will be allocated through separate rounds and divided across two groups.
Industrial production and manufacturing and non-manufacturing industry performance as reported in Forest2Market's monthly Economic Outlook, a 24-month forecast of macroeconomic indicators.
The slow-down in the housing market that began last fall and lingered throughout the winter appears to have stuck around for spring. Housing starts rebounded and permit numbers remained positive as completions fell. Home sales have improved but remain relatively weak as both increases in home prices and mortgage rates discourage potential buyers.
