how much does pine straw sell for

Full Answer

How much does it cost to install pine straw?

Your first application of pine straw should be a depth of 3 inches. At $4 per bale, you'll spend $71 on the initial application of pine needles to cover 500 square feet of your property. Each subsequent application of pine straw should be 2 inches deep will and cost $48.

What is the price of a bale of pine straw?

Good quality, long-leaf organic pine straw typically costs $6 to $7 a bale, Carvin said, and covers about 35-square feet per bale, Carvin said. Similarly one may ask, how much does a bale of pine straw cover? COVERAGE GUIDELINES:1 bale covers an area approximately 50-45 square feet to a recomended depth of 3 inches.

Where can you buy pine straw?

Wholesale Pine Straw. Alachua Straw Company is one of the largest long leaf pine straw distributors in the southeast, with over 6,000 acres of long leaf pine plantations currently under management. Long leaf straw is for those customers that want the absolute best pine straw in their landscaping. The qualities that make long leaf straw the absolute best are an extra protective coating that allows it to last longer and keep its deep rich color longer than other types of straw.

Does Walmart sell straw?

While the quality of the pine straw is relatively good, it's expensive but covers only a small area in your yard . I'm disappointed because Walmart is known for providing reasonable prices for the products it sells. Clearly Walmart should consider lowering the price considerably for this pine straw. Helpful?

How much does pine straw cost per acre?

What is a rectangular bale?

Can you bale pine straw?

Who is Timber Marketing and Management of the Carolinas?

How much can you make off pine straw?

It's possible to gross $1,000 or more per acre per year by gathering, marketing and delivering Longleaf Pine straw. Or if you don't want to take on the whole job, pine straw suppliers may pay you up to $150 per acre for the right to harvest fallen needles on your land.

Can you make money on pine needles?

Production of nontimber forest products such as pine straw can be a good way for forestland owners to earn an income, especially when traditional timber markets are down.

Why do people sell pine needles?

The dropped needles are in such demand that a lucrative business has grown up around raking, baling and selling them to landscapers and homeowners as mulch.

How do you calculate pine straw?

Multiply the length times the width of each of your beds. Then add all your totals up and divide by 100, then multiply by 3 and that is the number of bales you will use.

Is pine straw farming profitable?

Pine straw harvesting can be highly profitable and sustainable as long as appropriate management practices are followed. Typically, pine stands will yield 100 to 150 bales per acre per year if all conditions are right or approximately two tons per acre each year.

Do pine needles have any value?

Nutritional Value Pine needles are high in vitamin C; a tea made with the needles of the Pine tree has been used to stave off scurvy when no other sources of vitamin C were readily available. In a tincture or tea, Pine needles can help alleviate congestion and other respiratory problems.

What is the difference between pine needles and pine straw?

Pine straw, on the other hand, is the dried remains of those pine needles. Once the needles have fallen off the tree, they will dry out and become brittle. And that is what we call pine straw. Pine straw is often used as mulch or packing material, and it can be a great addition to your garden.

Do pine trees make money?

First thin trees will typically go for pulp. The revenue varies depending on market conditions, but as an example, if pine pulp prices are around $8 per ton, the landowner should receive around $400-$500 per acre depending on how heavy the thinning.

How much does a bale of pine straw weigh?

35 poundsA single bale of pine straw, weighing on average 35 pounds, covers about 50 square feet.

Does pine straw mulch attract snakes?

Get rid of mulch. Mulch and pine straw home to several invertebrates that are a prime food source for snakes. Snakes will also use this groundcover as shelter for themselves. Consider using an alternative to mulch or pine straw in your landscape design.

How long does it take for pine tree to produce pine straw?

Another consideration when deciding to rake pine straw is the age of the stand. Pine straw raking can begin in young stands at full canopy closure, ranging from 6 to 10 years of age based on species. Straw production peaks at about 15 years of age.

How long does it take for pine straw to break down?

Composting fresh pine needles could take from 5 to 6 weeks. If you want to speed up the composting process, use aged pine needles. They should be at least a few months old. For best results, compost pine needles that were used as mulch.

How much money can you get from pine trees?

The value of pine trees in the forest or in a plantation can be appraised by a Consulting Forester. Pine timber generally sells for less than ten cents per board foot. So, a big pine tree might be worth $30. However, on a big well-managed plantation, that could add up to significant value on a per-acre basis.

Do pine trees make money?

First thin trees will typically go for pulp. The revenue varies depending on market conditions, but as an example, if pine pulp prices are around $8 per ton, the landowner should receive around $400-$500 per acre depending on how heavy the thinning.

Is planting pine trees a good investment?

Economic analysis has shown that returns on investment when planting pines on old fields will generate REAL rates of return between 10 and 17 percent, depending on site quality. Yes, planting pines on old fields is an excellent investment for landowners.

How much money can you make selling pine cones?

A bushel, or approximately two 5-gallon buckets, of fresh red pine cones will earn $100 —up from $75 per bushel last year. Red pine cones that are collected through this program eventually help with tree planting in state forests, according to a DNR release.

Home | US Forest Service

Home | US Forest Service

HARVESTING PINE STRAW IN LONGLEAF PINE PLANTATIONS

This publication was made possible through funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Page 2 of 2 LL-#10 RAKING LONGLEAF STANDS Pine straw harvesting is easily mechanized in

Harvesting/Selling Pine Straw for Extra Profit | Mississippi State ...

Transcript: Announcer: Farm and Family is a production of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.. Amy Myers: Today, we're talking about harvesting, and selling pine straw for extra profit.Hello, I'm Amy Myers, and welcome to Farm and Family. Today, we're speaking with Dr. John Willis, Mississippi State University Assistant Forestry Professor.

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Why do you thinning a pine straw stand?

When a stand is thinned, leftover tree limbs and other debris should be cleaned up before raking straw again. Thinning also opens the stand allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor, leading to new undergrowth, which may require control. Pine straw harvesting sometimes ends with that first thinning, but once the debris is cleaned up and understory growth is under control, pine straw harvesting can usually resume.

How is pine straw harvested?

Pine straw can be collected from both natural stands and plantations. It is frequently collected from plantations (figure 1) where evenly spaced trees facilitate mechanical gathering in which needles are collected and bundled using a tractor-powered baler. Pine straw harvesting in natural stands is often done by hand-raking and by using a simple box baler (figure 2). Because harvesters can maneuver between trees more easily than equipment can, there may be fewer preparations involved than if the site were a plantation to be mechanically harvested.

Why is pine straw not a good crop for every acre?

Figure 4. Because pine straw harvesting requires limiting understory debris and vegetation that often serve as habitat and food for animals , straw removal may not be appropriate for every acre a landowner has. (Photo credit: John Gilbert)

What are the different types of pine trees in Alabama?

Alabama has three pine species that are common to the state and that produce straw frequently used across the Southeast as landscape mulch. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is often grown in plantations and accounts for more than half of the pine volume in the South. Needles of the loblolly pine are usually 5 to 9 inches long and occur in clusters of three, sometimes four. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) is native to coastal areas and often grows in wet areas, such as near swamps. Its needles are usually 6 to 11 inches long and occur in clusters of two or three. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris ) grows better than other tree species in sandy, well drained soils, but it will grow in almost any soil except prairie soils. Longleaf pine needles are approximately 8 to 18 inches long and usually occur in clusters of three.

How big are longleaf pine needles?

Its needles are usually 6 to 11 inches long and occur in clusters of two or three. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris ) grows better than other tree species in sandy, well drained soils, but it will grow in almost any soil except prairie soils.

What are the characteristics of a pine straw stand?

Certain property characteristics are conducive to harvesting pine straw just as they are with harvesting for timber. If a stand is to be mechanically raked, accessibility requirements are important to accommodate machinery (for example, the presence of entry roads or tree rows wide enough to safely operate a tractor). A stand may need to be commercially mowed or have large debris removed to gain or maintain access. The stand needs to be flat with few or no terraces. A sloping stand, especially a natural stand where vegetation has not been controlled, is not an ideal site for mechanical harvesting of pine straw.

What is pine straw?

Pine straw consists of the needles that fall from pine trees. Freshly fallen needles can be raked and sold to retailers, landscapers, and others who use ...

Pricing Strategies for Pine Needle Mulch

When it comes to mulch, there is no shortage of options. And if you are using shredded bark mulch, you even have to decide whether you want to order it in bulk or buy it in bags .

Short vs. Long Needle Pine Straw

When it comes to pine straw, there are two main types. You can either buy long or short pine needles.

The Pros of Pine Needle Mulch

While there are downsides and difficulties when it comes to pricing a pine straw install, however, there are certain benefits to using pine straw as a mulch vs. shredded wood.

The Cost of Installing Pine Straw Mulch

Here’s the deal, the cost of installing pine straw will vary on many factors.

What is the elephant in the room?

John Willis: Well, Amy, the elephant in the room is the pine market . As I'm sure most landowners are aware that pine is not worth what it was a decade ago, and as a result of that you have lots of landowners trying to make up for that lower stumpage price by gaining some extra income in other areas. The other factor would be the decline in the pulp market. In lots of areas of Mississippi, we just don't have the demand for pulp that we once did, and pine straw can be a substitute product that can help make up for the loss of pulp income.

When is pine straw raking season?

John Willis: Correct. October through December is typically the season when pine straw raking is going to be at its peak because the buyers are looking for the fresh fallen needles that are going to be that orangish-brown tint.

Why do people use pine straw?

John Willis: Yeah, that's a nice secondary market that people are using pine straw for is to put it down around building sites to stop erosion , and that's actually become more and more common, especially in areas where they're doing a lot of drilling for natural gases.

Is Loblolly pine good for pine straw?

John Willis: The species of pine that are going to primarily be used in pine straw, your premium species is going to be longleaf. Typically, that's because the longer needles take a little bit longer to decay, and it's easier for the balers to pick up. Loblolly pine is certainly merchantable, but it is not worth the same level as longleaf pine or slash pine. At this point, there is no real market for shortleaf pine needles. This is due to the length, as you might imagine.

Can you use pine straw for landscaping?

Amy Myers : Of course, we use pine straw for landscaping. Are there any advantages of using pine straw around the home and garden instead of using wood mulch or another type of material?

What is Farm and Family?

Announcer: Farm and Family is a production of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Can you rake pine straw?

John Willis: Yeah, so pine straw can either be raked manually or it can be bailed. It just depends on the contractor coming through, what types of equipment that they have, but it can be as simple as a pitchfork or as complicated as a tractor. Some of the things that people do need to recognize with pine straw, though, is that the stand needs to be very clean, almost park-like to where you could walk unimpeded without any brambles or hardwoods coming up in the understory. That's not a natural state for many of the forests in Mississippi, as naturally most of our forests will tend to be hardwoods over time, and so you're going to have to have inputs and getting rid of that understory. That's going to be a prescribed fire or herbicides to get it clean enough to rake, and that's very, very important.

How much does pine straw weigh?

Rake and bale pine straw into standard bales weighing between 15 and 20 lbs.

How to get pine straw?

Find a source of pine straw. Purchase a pine tree farm, rent the rights to the pine straw on an existing farm, or lease the land. A pine forest will need to be at least eight years old for it to produce sufficient pine straw. Expect to harvest between 100 and 150 bales of pine straw every year per acre of land.

When is pine straw harvested?

Pine straw harvests can occur year round, but the largest crop is usually obtained between October and November. Consider storing pine straw to sell it year round. Selling during a non-harvest period may result in higher profits.

Is pine straw good for landscaping?

Pine straw can be a nuisance in abundance, but can also be used as a beautiful mulch cover for landscapes. Landscapers like to use pine straw instead of wood chips or other materials because it is more resistant to washing away, does not attract termites and conserves moisture. Builders use pine straw to prevent soil disruption during construction projects. Turn this demand into a money-making venture by finding a good source of pine straw, packaging it and marketing it to landscapers and builders.

Do you fertilize pine straw?

Fertilize after you have finished harvesting pine straw from an area. Pine needles naturally fertilize trees, so by removing them, you will need to replace the nitrogen lost to maintain healthy pine trees with sufficient pine needle shedding for harvesting.

Can pine straw be used as mulch?

Pine straw can be a nuisance in abundance, but can also be used as a beautiful mulch cover for landscapes.

How many square feet does a bale of straw cover?

Total Bales: Each bale will cover approximately 35-40 square feet when applying the recommended 2"-3".

What are pine needles used for?

All over the world different species of pine needles are used for art, healing, cleaning and more ...

How many states are delivered by truckload?

delivered to 37 of the lower 48 states by the truckload ...

How much does pine straw cost per acre?

It’s possible to gross $1,000 or more per acre per year by gathering, marketing and delivering Longleaf Pine straw. Or if you don’t want to take on the whole job, pine straw suppliers may pay you up to $150 per acre for the right to harvest fallen needles on your land. In Georgia and North Carolina, pine straw is a $50 million industry annually.

What is a rectangular bale?

Rectangular bales are often made with a traditional hay baler, but there are smaller balers available that can be pulled between the tree rows. If you’d like to explore alternative forestry income sources such as pine straw, give us a call.

Can you bale pine straw?

While traditional farm equipment can be used to bale pine straw, smaller equipment is available to fit the closer confines of a pine plantation, making the job easier, more efficient and more economical. Pine straw can be raked into windrows by hand, but a small self-propelled hay rake makes the job easier and quicker. Rectangular bales are often made with a traditional hay baler, but there are smaller balers available that can be pulled between the tree rows.

Who is Timber Marketing and Management of the Carolinas?

Timber Marketing and Management of the Carolinas, Inc. is a full service consulting forestry and real estate brokerage firm founded in 1989 by Edwin E. Orr. We work as agents for both private and corporate timberland owners in the management and sale of their timber or timberland.

Property

Objectives and Management Strategies

Pine Straw Market

Summary

• Pine straw offers landowners the opportunity to earn short-term income while managing their property for other land uses. However, there are a number of important factors to consider before investing time and money into pine straw harvesting operations. Owners must first consider what is biologically possible on their sites. Second, they must caref...

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