Optimal bucking of Douglas fir taking into consideration external properties and wood density

During recent years niche markets have begun to demand forest products with specific characteristics. Traditionally markets required products with particular external log properties such as a specific diameter, length, and knot size. However, today's log markets are beginning to include new wood properties, such as basic density and stiffness. Although markets have not accompanied these new requirements with price incentives for producers to meet such demands, the new characteristics are nevertheless valued by these markets. An optimal bucking procedure, which included wood density, was developed. Four hypothetical market scenarios, covering a range of density specifications and price incentives, were evaluated, and results showed that in a density-constrained scenario the total revenue could be substantially less than in a scenario which did not specify density.