I am going to be thinning a Black Walnut plantation and want to know the min diameter, either DBH or inside the bark on the small end that will qualify as a saw log. And, what might be the value cents/bd. ft. or per 1000 bd. ft. Thank you, Dale

Hi Dale:

Most production sawmills require 12-13 inches diameter inside bark (DIB) on the small end of all sawlogs. Custom or portable sawmill operators, on the other hand, would obviously be able to mill smaller logs based on what you can provide them though the net yield will be small and will contain a significant amount of sapwood.

We don't value or appraise standing timber or logs via this forum as there are way too many variables to consider. Additionally, hardwood trees and logs are all graded individually to account for surface defects, color, pith, diameter, log length, rings-per-inch, etc.

Your local WI-DNR county forester, however, should be able to give you a ballpark estimate for what black walnut is selling for in your area of Wisconsin:

WI-DNR Forestry: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/forestlandowners/dnrforesters

Best of luck!