I live just off FM 1488 in the Woodlands/Magnolia.

There is a truck selling firewood at every road cut along FM 1488.

This morning while driving down 1488, I noticed a white truck and a guy talking to the dude selling the firewood. It was a guy from the Tx Dept of Agriculture. He was handing the firewood dude a piece of paper.

What do you think that was about? Is it illegal to sell firewood without some kind of permit, checking for some type of parasite or fungus in the wood?

Maybe he was giving him his address to deliver a load of wood?

Wouldn't you just text him from your phone so it had the address digitally? I couldn't remember the last time I hand wrote out an address to give someone.

Gunny456 said:

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Maybe he was giving him his address to deliver a load of wood?

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He was explaining the paperwork to the firewood guy, who looked very confused

If the dude is selling fire wood on the side of the road he may not own a cell phone.

Apparently it's a new law in Texas that was passed in 2023.

"Texas regulates the movement of firewood due to several harmful forest pests that threaten the health of Texas trees. The state has several counties under quarantine for the highly destructive emerald ash borer which means firewood cannot be taken out of these counties. Texas also prohibits the entry of out-of-state hickory, pecan, and walnut wood due to an exterior quarantine on the pecan weevil. Additionally, most of Texas is under quarantine for the imported fire ant, which legally restricts the movement of firewood out of these regions. Another invasive pest that the authorities are closely watching is the Mexican soapberry borer, which has been detected in 50 Texas counties."


https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/map/texas/

BurnetAggie99 said:

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Apparently it's a new law in Texas that was passed in 2023.

"Texas regulates the movement of firewood due to several harmful forest pests that threaten the health of Texas trees. The state has several counties under quarantine for the highly destructive emerald ash borer which means firewood cannot be taken out of these counties. Texas also prohibits the entry of out-of-state hickory, pecan, and walnut wood due to an exterior quarantine on the pecan weevil. Additionally, most of Texas is under quarantine for the imported fire ant, which legally restricts the movement of firewood out of these regions. Another invasive pest that the authorities are closely watching is the Mexican soapberry borer, which has been detected in 50 Texas counties."


https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/map/texas/

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Aha!

We were not exactly what you would call rich growing up. For extra money, Dad and I would cut and split cord after cord of wood and haul it up to Houston to sell. It was amazing how fast it went and how well we did selling it. I think back then we were doing $150 a cord delivered and stacked.

We were South of San Antonio. Dad found an Aggie in Columbus that wanted is pasture cleared and we were really cooking then. We would go in the summer and cut, split, stack our wood. Then we would use it as a home base and just haul loads from Columbus into Houston. Good times!

Pecan borer
Ash borer
Soapberry borer
Oak Wilt
Sheesh. Texas forests in 100 years will consist of Mesquite, Juniper, Ligustrum and Chinese Tallow at this rate.

Left out the southern pine "bark" beetle for the East Texas folks...

BurnetAggie99 said:

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Apparently it's a new law in Texas that was passed in 2023.

"Texas regulates the movement of firewood due to several harmful forest pests that threaten the health of Texas trees. The state has several counties under quarantine for the highly destructive emerald ash borer which means firewood cannot be taken out of these counties. Texas also prohibits the entry of out-of-state hickory, pecan, and walnut wood due to an exterior quarantine on the pecan weevil. Additionally, most of Texas is under quarantine for the imported fire ant, which legally restricts the movement of firewood out of these regions. Another invasive pest that the authorities are closely watching is the Mexican soapberry borer, which has been detected in 50 Texas counties."


https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/map/texas/

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That should work as well as masks did stopping Covid.

Not sure how you are going to enforce that!

The Ag inspector probably was talking to the seller about following the correct procedure for selling firewood .

The proper way to sell it is by cubic feet. If you tell people you are selling 5 cubic feet then it has to meet or exceed that amount.

Interesting information, but it makes sense, don't want to be bringing more insects that eat up our trees

87IE said:

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The Ag inspector probably was talking to the seller about following the correct procedure for selling firewood .

The proper way to sell it is by cubic feet. If you tell people you are selling 5 cubic feet then it has to meet or exceed that amount.

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I've only ever heard cord, half cord, quarter cord, etc.

I have some I need to sell.

How much for a cubic foot

Assuming a healthy pecan or oak tree fell during a storm, what would be the idea time to cut and then split for it to be properly seasoned for winter firewood? Seems like we have had some too green and some too dry for good firewood.

Ballpark answer on wood seasoning is anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years pending on species & size.

I hate it when my wood is too dry

Should be about $2.75 if I did my math right. It usually sells for $350-$375/cord around here. I just split one cord today and still have a 16' and 20' trailer of live oak left to split. I don't see how anyone can sell it for the price it goes for and feel like they made a good deal, though. Kudos to those guys.

Mas89 said:

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Assuming a healthy pecan or oak tree fell during a storm, what would be the idea time to cut and then split for it to be properly seasoned for winter firewood? Seems like we have had some too green and some too dry for good firewood.

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I can't speak for the 'proper' way, but the wood I am splitting now was cut 3 weeks ago. I will split it now, when I have time to split it, and it will sit on the rack open air for a month or two, and then I will cover the top. . We get very little rain or moisture out here. It doesn't take long. Ill take that wood and move it to my racks that are totally enclosed in 6-7 months and by winter, it will burn nice and clean.

Don't know about this cord and cubic foot stuff, here in the San Antone area we just buy peekup loads.

JB!98 said:

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We were not exactly what you would call rich growing up. For extra money, Dad and I would cut and split cord after cord of wood and haul it up to Houston to sell. It was amazing how fast it went and how well we did selling it. I think back then we were doing $150 a cord delivered and stacked.

We were South of San Antonio. Dad found an Aggie in Columbus that wanted is pasture cleared and we were really cooking then. We would go in the summer and cut, split, stack our wood. Then we would use it as a home base and just haul loads from Columbus into Houston. Good times!

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Sounds like we had a pretty similar childhood. I could have written the exact same first paragraph.

I pay $180 per cord cut and split. That's a fir/larch mix and the guy dumps it as close to the barn door as he can get it.

I bought a log truck load at a charity event a few months ago that will be delivered to the house in the spring. Should make for a fun summer of cutting and splitting.

It's not illegal up here to move firewood, but it is a top focus for invasive species prevention. Mostly trying to get people to stop bringing firewood from wherever home is when they come into the state (or across the state) to go camping.

My Uncle has a Cabin up around Cloudcroft NM. He brings me Pinon Wood every year when he's back in Texas. I Like using it in the fire place when it's cold. We trade I give him Oak, Pecan, & Mesquite that's been cut up off the ranch for BBQ/firewood

BurnetAggie99 said:

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My Uncle has a Cabin up around Cloudcroft NM. He brings me Pinon Wood every year when he's back in Texas. I Like using it in the fire place when it's cold. We trade I give him Oak, Pecan, & Mesquite that's been cut up off the ranch for BBQ/firewood

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Bought my first small batch of piñon wood. Really enjoyed the fire but seemed to burn really fast. I will say most the logs were split pretty small, but still burned faster than I expected. That normal?

Also got and burned some juniper. It popped too much and threw up too much ash for my wife's liking.

htxag09 said:

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BurnetAggie99 said:

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My Uncle has a Cabin up around Cloudcroft NM. He brings me Pinon Wood every year when he's back in Texas. I Like using it in the fire place when it's cold. We trade I give him Oak, Pecan, & Mesquite that's been cut up off the ranch for BBQ/firewood

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Bought my first small batch of piñon wood. Really enjoyed the fire but seemed to burn really fast. I will say most the logs were split pretty small, but still burned faster than I expected. That normal?

Also got and burned some juniper. It popped too much and threw up too much ash for my wife's liking.

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It likely burned fast cause you had smaller sized logs. If you have some nice sized logs it won't burn to fast & will be low ash. Also has a nice smell fragrance used in the fire pit.

We stay pretty active on the ranch clearing the Cedar/juniper. I use alot of that wood for outside fire pit or give to my grandma to use in her wood stove. Have occasionally used cedar/juniper in the fireplace if don't have anything else. Have to have a high good fireplace screen when using it.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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Should be about $2.75 if I did my math right. It usually sells for $350-$375/cord around here. I just split one cord today and still have a 16' and 20' trailer of live oak left to split. I don't see how anyone can sell it for the price it goes for and feel like they made a good deal, though. Kudos to those guys.

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It seems high to me as well, but firewood is a labor intensive and time consuming business. I've seen $300-$350 around me, that is delivered and stacked. I'd think when it's all said and done they're making about $30-$40 an hour.

JB!98 said:

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We were not exactly what you would call rich growing up. For extra money, Dad and I would cut and split cord after cord of wood and haul it up to Houston to sell. It was amazing how fast it went and how well we did selling it. I think back then we were doing $150 a cord delivered and stacked.

We were South of San Antonio. Dad found an Aggie in Columbus that wanted is pasture cleared and we were really cooking then. We would go in the summer and cut, split, stack our wood. Then we would use it as a home base and just haul loads from Columbus into Houston. Good times!

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Hard work never hurt anyone. Probably lots of good memories with your Dad also.

I live in the area as well. Those same people are also selling puppies.

RightWingConspirator said:

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I live in the area as well. Those same people are also selling puppies as well.

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Backyard breeders

RCR06 said:

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Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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Should be about $2.75 if I did my math right. It usually sells for $350-$375/cord around here. I just split one cord today and still have a 16' and 20' trailer of live oak left to split. I don't see how anyone can sell it for the price it goes for and feel like they made a good deal, though. Kudos to those guys.

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It seems high to me as well, but firewood is a labor intensive and time consuming business. I've seen $300-$350 around me, that is delivered and stacked. I'd think when it's all said and done they're making about $30-$40 an hour.

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Yes, as a revenue I guess, Assuming the wood is free. I figured in my personal example, with free wood, if I could sell it for 350/cord, figuring travel time and expense to get the wood, fuel costs, time splitting, consumables during the process, and then figuring I still have to haul it to some dude AND stack it for him….im not making 35/hour. Maybe 20-25…maybe. Still not bad, but still not worth it. If I was 16, I'd be all Over it though, and I was at one time.

You could wait until we get a polar vortex and this part of the circuit ends up with no electricity. Based on the last one, after three days, a lot of the folks down the road were ready to ransom their children for some 4 sticks of densely rolled newspaper.

I do enjoy the physical aspect of it though. It's nice occasionally. My body doesn't like it the next day but it is still rewarding to see the finished task. I have a tree guy that lets me have it when he does someone's tree work. He charges for haul away but instead cuts it into pieces and throws it on my trailers. He gets extra money because he doesn't have to dispose of it and I get the wood. The only thing is that he'll cut some 24" crotches that are 18" long and how those little Mexican dudes throw green liveoak of that dimension on my trailer is beyond me. I'll have to grapple that damn thing off.

I would bet 20 or less an hour when you factor in time cutting down, fuel, oil, chains for feeling and then cutting. Then say you rent a splitter which really is cheaper, gas for that and labor time here again. Time loading and loading and delivery gas used.

(Not sure how the blue star got in my reply)

RCR06 said:

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Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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Should be about $2.75 if I did my math right. It usually sells for $350-$375/cord around here. I just split one cord today and still have a 16' and 20' trailer of live oak left to split. I don't see how anyone can sell it for the price it goes for and feel like they made a good deal, though. Kudos to those guys.

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It seems high to me as well, but firewood is a labor intensive and time consuming business. I've seen $300-$350 around me, that is delivered and stacked. I'd think when it's all said and done they're making about $30-$40 an hour.

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I can no longer do it, age and Muscular Dystrophy have robbed me of former abilities, but I used to cut and sell firewood for side income. Working by myself, I considered the days that I was able to cut, split, and load 2 cords (in an 10 hour time frame) the bar or standard for when I was making money, or doing well. And I was doing well to be able to get $150 per cord, delivered and stacked back then. I did not see a lot of people seeking to work that hard to make a little extra money.

Point is, in most models, the inherent value of the firewood itself is not, imo, accounted for in transactions. I didn't pay land owners for access to harvest the trees on their property. I offered to cut down and haul off dead oaks and mesquite that were eventually going to fall and clutter up their pasture. The main factor in aquiring land owners permission, in my experience, was the additional offer to leave no stump over 2 inches tall and to treat any mesquite stump with Remedy and diesel if it had any life in it.

In my view, I was spinning my wheels in terms of making money. The pleasure of being out in the woods alone, working hard and smelling the scent of cut oak and mesquite, and the enjoyment of seeing deer and wildlife made it a worthwhile endeavor, in my estimation. Just turned 71 and if I could I'd be out cutting and splitting firewood on my own property, rather than watching it die and fall down for lack of someone willing to harvest and utilize the resource.

I know, too long, did not read. Nostalgic old man blabber.

wai3gotgoats said:

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RCR06 said:

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Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

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Should be about $2.75 if I did my math right. It usually sells for $350-$375/cord around here. I just split one cord today and still have a 16' and 20' trailer of live oak left to split. I don't see how anyone can sell it for the price it goes for and feel like they made a good deal, though. Kudos to those guys.

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It seems high to me as well, but firewood is a labor intensive and time consuming business. I've seen $300-$350 around me, that is delivered and stacked. I'd think when it's all said and done they're making about $30-$40 an hour.

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I can no longer do it, age and Muscular Dystrophy have robbed me of former abilities, but I used to cut and sell firewood for side income. Working by myself, I considered the days that I was able to cut, split, and load 2 cords (in an 10 hour time frame) the bar or standard for when I was making money, or doing well. And I was doing well to be able to get $150 per cord, delivered and stacked back then. I did not see a lot of people seeking to work that hard to make a little extra money.

Point is, in most models, the inherent value of the firewood itself is not, imo, accounted for in transactions. I didn't pay land owners for access to harvest the trees on their property. I offered to cut down and haul off dead oaks and mesquite that were eventually going to fall and clutter up their pasture. The main factor in aquiring land owners permission, in my experience, was the additional offer to leave no stump over 2 inches tall and to treat any mesquite stump with Remedy and diesel if it had any life in it.

In my view, I was spinning my wheels in terms of making money. The pleasure of being out in the woods alone, working hard and smelling the scent of cut oak and mesquite, and the enjoyment of seeing deer and wildlife made it a worthwhile endeavor, in my estimation. Just turned 71 and if I could I'd be out cutting and splitting firewood on my own property, rather than watching it die and fall down for lack of someone willing to harvest and utilize the resource.

I know, too long, did not read. Nostalgic old man blabber.

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To the contrary. Loved reading all of it sir.