Early Q3 Timber Prices Vary Across the Lake States

As we pass mid-August, we get some early indications of midway trends in Lake States timber pricing.

As is often the case, prices for the same species moved in different directions across the three states. While cordwood prices continued to draw complaints from loggers and landowners, changes overall were somewhat muted in Michigan. In the Wolverine state, half of the species sold as cordwood actually showed an increase over the same period in 2025, while half declined.

Meanwhile, cord prices in Wisconsin declined across the board. In some instances, these price changes were dramatic: Oak and ash showed the largest drops —24% and 45%, respectively.

In contrast, ash sawlog prices in the state increased, as did the volume harvested (despite the impact on availability due to emerald ash borer disease).

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.

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)