Value of Timber Products Compared With That of 
Agricultural Crops 
The importance of timberland and timber products in the 
South’s economy is evident when the value of roundwood 
timber produced is compared with the value of other crops 
from agricultural lands. The $6.1 billion of roundwood 
timber products output in 1984 was twice the value of 
soybean or cotton production and three times the value of 
tobacco, wheat, or corn crops in the South in that year— 
all values at local points of delivery (fig. 1.5). With a few 
exceptions, the timber harvest exceeded the value of these 
crops for individual States as well. Southwide, there was $1 
of roundwood timber output for every $3 dollars of other 
crop production (app. table 1.5). 
The timber harvested in 1984 ranked among the top three 
crops in terms of value of production in all 12 Southern 
States (app. table 1.6 and fig. 1.6). It was first in value 
in six States—Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, 
Mississippi, and Louisiana. In Alabama, roundwood tim- 
ber products almost equaled in value the total for all other 
crops. In the other five States, the value of roundwood prod- 
ucts was equivalent to two-fifths to three-fifths of other crop 
values. Timber ranked second behind some of the largest 
individual State crops in the South—wheat in Oklahoma, 
cotton in Texas, and tobacco in North Carolina. It ranked 
third in Florida, exceeded only by fruit and nut production 
and the harvest of commercial vegetables. Soybeans and 
rice in Arkansas and soybeans and tobacco in Tennessee 
generated the highest crop production values in those States, 
but roundwood timber was a close third. 
The value of roundwood timber products 
produced in the South in 1984 was twice 
that of the soybeans or cotton produced, and 
three times that of tobacco, wheat, or corn. 
There was $1 worth of timber produced for 
every $3 worth of other crops produced. 
