{"id":41,"date":"2018-10-30T16:36:40","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T16:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8009\/stories\/?p=41"},"modified":"2020-10-20T20:42:28","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T20:42:28","slug":"where-do-utility-poles-come-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forestrycareers.com\/stories\/where-do-utility-poles-come-from\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Do Utility Poles Come From?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Utility poles are so tall, straight and sturdy, it takes a special tree to make them. You can’t simply grow an entire forest of poles: you have to find the top candidates. Our foresters explain how they locate, measure and prepare these valuable trees. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

LUFKIN, Texas\u2014Did you ever look at a towering, perfectly-straight utility pole and wonder what tree could have made such a large pole?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of them come from Rayonier land!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most valuable trees on our land in the U.S. South, \u201cpole\u201d trees can become utility poles for telephone and power lines or piles for docks and piers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It Starts with Genetics”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pine trees in a natural forest typically do not provide a large number of poles, explains Rayonier\u2019s Lufkin-based senior timber marketing manager, Jeremy Flood. But our in-house genetic research team<\/a> has worked to develop seed families that produce tall, straight trees with smaller branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt starts with genetics,\u201d Jeremy says, \u201cfollowed by decades of management with proper thinning<\/a> and fertilization. The result is mature plantations with high quality grade timber.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Foresters
Shane, left, and Jeremy get ready to “scale” logs to determine which will make good poles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finding the Right Trees for Poles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though the trees in a stand of timber are the same age and species, they still mature to a variety of shapes and sizes. A forest manager ensures each tree reaches its highest potential use. Trees worthy of becoming poles are the rarest\u2014and, consequently, the most valuable\u2014because of the very specific requirements that must be met in order to qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without careful planning and attention to detail, one could overlook these valuable trees, selling them as sawtimber, a significantly less valuable product. Jeremy\u2019s team created a plan to ensure as many trees as possible became poles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It Would Be a Waste Not to Capture Their Full Potential”<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese stands have been nurtured and grown for more than 25 years. It would be a waste to not capture their full potential,\u201d says timber marketing manager Shane Bergman, who spearheaded the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To locate potential poles before a harvest, a forest technician takes an inventory, statistically measuring the stand of trees to locate those that meet the size specifications needed for poles. Our foresters work closely with a logging contractor, who cuts them down, separates them from the other trees, and places them to the side for the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Measuring
Each log is assessed to determine if it is a candidate to become a pole, and what portion of the log can be used.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Strict Specifications for a Log to Become a Pole<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once the poles are laying side-by-side in a giant row, a forester inspects them one-by-one. He measures them to ensure they\u2019re straight, with an even thickness and free of defects like scars and knots that could penetrate the wood. They also have to be the right diameter for the customer\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPoles have very tight specifications required by the customer and consumer,\u201d Jeremy explains.  \u201cIt\u2019s not all cosmetic, much of the specs are required for engineering purposes, to ensure strength and longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They reject, or “cull,” logs that don\u2019t meet the rigorous standards and use them for sawtimber. Using a chainsaw, they manually cut those that meet the standards to the exact size specifications of the buyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Scaling
Jeremy checks each log to determine if it will make the cut for the pole mill.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The logger delivers the logs to a pole mill to be processed into the final product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shane couldn\u2019t be happier with the way the project worked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s exciting to scale poles because of the relationships you build,\u201d he says. \u201cAs you work with the contractors you get to learn about them and see that they have the same values as Rayonier when it comes to being a good steward of the forest. We truly get to work with some great individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Utility poles are so tall, straight and sturdy, it takes a special tree to make them. You can’t simply grow an entire forest of poles: you have to find the top candidates. Our foresters explain how they locate, measure and prepare these valuable trees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ryn_post_video":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cp2UfsvlSQY&feature=emb_logo"},"categories":[24,5,3],"tags":[8,12],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nWhere Do Utility Poles Come From? | Rayonier Timber Company<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rayonier, a global forest company, provides timber for utility poles. 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