Michigan Forests Outperform Wisconsin and Minnesota in Q1 2025 Logging

Winter logging generated less volume and generally weaker pricing in the Lake States in the first quarter of 2025. Wisconsin was impacted by warm weather, which reduced or eliminated winter logging there. Also, a lack of activity reported by county forests in Wisconsin was a major factor in the lesser volume reported during the quarter.

Very detailed pricing reporting for the quarter is available on the Forest Data Network Prime database. More information on the Prime database here: https://www.forestdatanetwork....

In contrast, Michigan volume was far stronger, with all eight Michigan regions reporting a good flow of data. Sawlog volume in the state was particularly good in both maple and mixed hardwood. There was a slight drop in pine volume from Q1 of 2024.

However, Michigan cordwood volume was soft for cordwood. Much of the activity in Michigan was in state forests. The Upper Peninsula presented pricing contrasts, with the Eastern U.P. presenting strong pricing in maple sawlogs and cordwood.

But projections for Michigan for the balance of 2025 will be impacted by a severe ice storm that crossed the Northern portion of the state, wreaking havoc on forests and communities. The swath of damage runs from the area around Alpena on Lake Huron through the Eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula. Sections of private and public forest land face a massive cleanup up including salvage logging operations.

The impact of the storm recovery on forest prices and volume will be available on the FDN Prime database.

Minnesota pricing tended toward stability. There was volume reported in five of seven regions in the state. Cordwood prices were up slightly, except for pine prices, which dropped.