Files
Abstract
Georgia's total land area is 37,068,000 acres, of which 65 percent is forested; more forest acres than any other state. Of that 37 million forested acres, 47% or 22.1 million acres are in pine trees. (Source: The University of Georgia - Warnell School of Forest Resources). Falling timber prices are impacting farmers ability to generate needed revenue from their timber land. As a result, many farmers are looking for ways to generate additional revenue from their timber and land to compensate for the sluggish timber market. One potential revenue-generating market is the pine straw market for landscaping purposes. The pine straw market continues to expand throughout Georgia and the southeastern United States as homeowners and landscapers use the material for decoration and weed control. Continued population growth, a strong housing market, and economic vitality are all contributing to the demand for pine straw. More specifically, as disposable income rises, so does the demand for pine straw as a landscaping material in urban areas. (“Baling and Marketing Pine Straw”, Georgia Forestry Commission).