Know the Facts Before Buying, or Selling, Firewood

Contact: Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist
Headquartered in Webster County
Tel: (417) 859-2044
E-mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu


MARSHFIELD, Mo. -- Many people who buy cordwood for their home wood stoves admit they do not understand the transfer process. Some dealers talk in terms of a "rick," a "rank" or a "pickup load."

Others mention a "face cord" and still others talk in terms of a cord or fractions of a cord. Sometimes the definitions vary from dealer to dealer and from locality to locality.

“We would like to think that most dealers are honest, and the transaction is fair. However, this is no way to run a business,” said Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

Schultheis shares here the most common questions he receives about buying and selling firewood, along with his answers to the questions.

Q: Homeowners with wood stoves are stocking up on firewood for their winter heat supply. I understand there is a state law governing how firewood is bought and sold?

A: Yes, by state law, firewood must be sold by the cord or fraction of a cord. It must also be accompanied by a bill of sale in accordance with requirements of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Division of Weights and Measures. Rick, rank, face cord, truckload and pile are not legal units of measure for sale of firewood.

Q: How much is a cord of wood?

A: A cord of wood measures four feet high, four feet wide and eight feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet. Any combination of these measurements is fine as long as they total 128 cubic feet when the wood is stacked in a compact manner.

Q: What’s the easiest way to measure a stack of wood?

A: A simple way is to measure the length, width and average height (all in inches) of the compactly-stacked pile of wood. Multiply these three figures together and divide the result by 220,000. The answer is the number of cords. Multiply this number by the dollar cost per cord to get the price the buyer should pay.

Q: Any other tips on getting a fair deal when buying firewood?

A: First, don’t pay for the wood until it has been stacked and measured by both the buyer and seller. Second, get a receipt with the seller’s name, address, phone number and vehicle license number, along with the price, amount and kind of wood purchased. Third, if a problem with the seller cannot be resolved, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Division of Weights and Measures at 573-751-5639.

Q: Where can I get more information on buying and selling cordwood?

A: Contact the nearest University of Missouri Extension Center and ask for MU Guides G5450 and G5452, which give details about buying and selling cordwood, and about the burning characteristics and heat content of various woods. Schultheis can be contacted at the Webster County Extension Center in Marshfield by telephone at (417) 859-2044.
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Persimmon Seeds Predict: Below Average Snowfall, Colder Than Average Temperatures with Warm Spells in Ozarks

Contact: Patrick Byers, horticulture specialist
Headquartered in Greene County
Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: byerspl@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- This coming winter in the Ozarks is going to be colder than average with a below average snowfall and a few warm spells. Well, at least according to persimmon seeds.

“It’s a cherished bit of Ozarks folklore that the shape of the seedling inside a persimmon seed can predict upcoming winter conditions,” said Patrick Byers, horticulture specialist, University of Missouri Extension. “It is not a research-based way to forecast the weather, but once a year it is a fun tongue-in-check project and a great way to educate people about this unique native Ozark fruit tree.”

According to Ozarks folklore, a spoon shape on the seed indicates above average snowfall, a knife shape signals colder than normal temperatures and a fork shape means warmer than average temperatures.

For this year’s weather forecast, Byers collected fruit from persimmon trees in Lawrence, Newton, Webster and McDonald counties. He extracted the seeds from the fruit and then randomly selected 102 seeds.

“I cracked open the seeds, observed the seedlings and then added up the data,” said Byers.

In 2014, Byers found 18 percent of the seeds had a knife shape; 31 percent had a fork shape, and 51 percent had a spoon shape. Over the past five years of doing this same thing, Byers says the average has been 57 percent spoon shaped, 13.6 percent knife shaped and 28 percent fork shaped.

“The important thing is the deviation from the average.  The numbers should be considered individually.  The spoon percentage is always the highest, but I look for whether a given year's numbers are above or below the average,” explained Byers.

Based on deviation this year, Byers says a folklore based forecast can be made.

“Looks like Ozarkers better get a warm coat,” said Byers. “At least this data from persimmon seeds suggests below average snowfall this year some periods of warm temperatures.”

Persimmons grow on a tree and look like an orange tomato. An unripe fruit can quickly pucker the lips of a person with its bitter taste. Native Americans taught early settlers that the fruit should be left on the trees well into October when it becomes ripe enough to eat.

Once ripe, persimmons don’t keep well. They should be eaten right away or refrigerated for no more than a day or two. To freeze persimmons, simply spoon out the flesh of each one as it ripens, and store it in the freezer in an airtight container. When you have enough, persimmons are often used to make bread, muffins, cookies, cakes and pudding.

For more information on persimmons, or answers to your specific lawn and garden questions, contact Patrick Byers, horticulture specialist, University of Missouri Extension or the Greene County Master Gardener Hotline at (417) 881-8909. More information is available on the Greene County Extension website at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene.
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