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TECHNOLOGY 41
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LORCAT Processing Setup In LORCAT, by scaling the simulated sawing time up or
The Log Recovery Analysis Tool (LORCAT) 4.0 was configured down, the sawing times can be adjusted to match a specified
to simulate the sawing practices of the typical eastern US annual production volume.
hardwood sawmill. Table 2 gives an overview of the sawing This is accomplished by the user specifying in LORCAT

settings used in the LORCAT simulations conducted. the hourly production volume. The hourly production volume
The minimum opening face width was 5.5-inches, with a is estimated by dividing the annual production volume by
minimum lumber length of 8-feet. A random-width, 6-inch-tall the total number of annual operating hours. The analyses
cant was sawn for all logs, which then was sawn into lumber specified that the mill operated 2,250 hours per year, based
using a gang-resaw, as specified in Table 2. on the average annual production data from NHLA.
The target thickness for the headrig and the gang-resaw This equates to approximately 281 operating days per year,
was calculated using Brown’s equation. LORCAT was instructed somewhat more than the 250 to 253 working days estimated
to simulate grade sawing, where the log is rotated and boards by the production estimates of Hardwood Market Report.
are sawn from the highest-grade face until a user-specified Thus, for the annual mill production volumes of 4, 8, and

cant thickness is achieved. 12 MMBF, the hourly production volumes are 1,778, 3,555,
It was specified that the analyses simulate split-taper and 5,333 bdft, respectively.
sawing, where the taper of the log is split between opposite
faces and the log is sawn parallel to its central axis. Log, Lumber and Residues Prices
To perform an accurate costing analysis that reflects
Mill Processing Volume current market conditions, accurate and current log and
Luppold and Bumgardner estimated that the average hardwood lumber prices are required. Average red oak log prices

sawmill across all size categories in the Northeastern and for the first half of 2024 were obtained from the Kentucky
North Central regions of the US produces approximately four Division of Forestry.
million board feet (MMBF) lumber per year. Bergman and Bowe These reports show delivered log prices to sawmills by
defined a large hardwood sawmill as one that produces 10 region and by quality: high, medium, and low. Region 4,
MMBF or more lumber per year. Eastern Kentucky, has the most complete data and reported
These authors also reported that the average large hardwood the price of red oak logs per thousand board feet Doyle scale
sawmill produced a mean volume of 15.25 MMBF per year. as $544, $402, and $133 for high, medium, and low-quality
Similarly, Lang reported that the average hardwood sawmill logs, respectively.
produces 14 MMBF per year. However, Lang acknowledges Rogers states that the high, medium, and low-quality sorts

that the mills included in their study also produced softwood are approximately equivalent to the USDA Forest Service Log
lumber. Grades Factory 1, Factory 2, and Factory 3, respectively.
NHLA data revealed that the average NHLA member produced Market prices for green red oak 4/4 thickness lumber in
approximately 11.75 MMBF of lumber per year. Based on this the Appalachian region are listed in Table 3 of Hardwood
information, LORCAT was configured to simulate three mills Market Report’s weekly pricing report.
that produced approximately 4, 8, and 12 MMBF per year. HMR does not report prices for F1F or Selects. Johnson,
LORCAT uses the log sawing time data collected by Adams however, states that FAS lumber prices can be used to estimate

and Adams and Dunmire to estimate the sawing time for F1F and Selects prices at 0.98 percent and 0.95 percent of
each log based on log grade, scaling diameter, and length. the FAS price, respectively.