Early Q3 Timber Prices Vary Across the Lake States

As August closes, we can see early indications of the third-quarter Lake States timber pricing.

As is often the case, prices for the same species moved in different directions across the three states. Cordwood prices continued to draw complaints from loggers and landowners, but the downward price trend eased in Michigan and Wisconsin (albeit at a historically weak level). About half of the species showed an increase and half a decrease in those states.

However, cord prices in Minnesota slid for all but two species.

Minnesota prices tend toward less variability in general year to year. However, the exception so far in the third quarter was for maple sawlogs, which notched a 5-year high for this period (through mid-August) in the state.

In the Wolverine state, half of the species sold as cordwood actually showed an increase over the same period in 2025, while half declined.

Ash sawlog prices in Wisconsin increased, as did the volume harvested (despite the impact on availability due to emerald ash borer disease). Black walnut prices were also strong based on a limited number of private harvests.

For the full picture of timber prices in the Lake States, week by week down to the regional or county level, major organizations in the forestry world rely on the Forest Data Network Prime database. You can learn more or schedule a demo of FDN Prime here. (forestdatanetwork.com/prime)