Estimation of U.S. Bark Generation and Implications for Horticultural Industries

Abstract

Abstract The historical, current, and projected supply of bark was evaluated. Since the 1980s more than 95 percent of the U.S. bark supply has been utilized in some way. Industrial fuel consumes the largest share of the market for bark, absorbing about 83 percent of softwood bark and 66 to 71 percent of hardwood bark. Current market share of bark for horticulture use (categorized in the miscellaneous group), is about 15 percent of softwood bark supply and about 30 percent of hardwood bark supply. In recent years, domestic timber harvest has been relatively stable or has slightly decreased. During the same time period, there has been an increasing demand for bark as an energy resource. Based on historical data, linear models were fitted between U.S. timber harvest and bark generation at the regional level. With those fitted models, projected bark generation was estimated based on the timber harvest data of the fifth Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) timber assessment. It is estimated that only a minor increase in the long term bark output will occur. For softwood bark which has the greatest demand, projected supply will be below the level of 2001 until about 2020. With expected horticulture industry growth, increased value of bark as a readily available energy source for wood processing mills, and a shift in pulp generation from domestic paper mills to international sources, the total amount and share of bark to the horticulture market will likely decrease.