Tree grade, log grade and lumber grade yield data for 25 hardwood species from the eastern United States and Alaska

This data publication contains tree grade data, factory grade log data and lumber grade yield data for 25 hardwood species sampled across the eastern United States and Alaska from 1962 to 1973. Trees harvested from national, state and nonindustrial private forestlands were followed from the standing tree to milled lumber with component quality documented at each step. Data from 40 sawmills in 18 states are included.
Studies were undertaken by the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory, Experiment Stations and National Forest Regions to develop hardwood tree grades, and relationships between standing graded trees, graded logs and lumber grade yields. Five Experiment Stations (Lake States, Central States, Northeastern, Southeastern, and Southern) and four National Forest Regions (Eastern, Southern, Lake States and Alaska) participated in the hardwood studies. Lumber grade yield estimates for different log grades were developed by species to assist in assigning values to logs based on potential factory grade lumber outputs. These datasets were used by USDA Forest Service scientists, staff and cooperators in support of research in forest products and utilization, forest economics, and timber appraisal in the eastern United States and Alaska. These studies of eastern and Alaska hardwood tree species were part of a larger Hardwood Section of the National Log and Tree Grade Project conducted by the USDA Forest Service. Other government agencies, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and State Forestry Departments cooperated in the project under direction of the Forest Service Hardwood Project Leader. Additional background information can be found in the documents included in the \Supplements folder.