By KAREN BINDER
Illinois Correspondent

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. — Selling firewood from part of his 600-acre tract in southern Illinois is just a hobby for Eddie Simpson – but how he does it is lauded by Illinois state agriculture officials as a textbook example of how to do it well.

Simpson, a rural Franklin County resident, had already filled orders for 40 cords of wood from his land by early December, the kickoff to what he calls the beginning of firewood season in his area. In Northern states, that “season” began before Thanksgiving.

“I really only do it to help me keep in shape, and to help pay my heating and air bills,” said Simpson, a 45-year-old farmer.

His firewood profits last year covered the $3,600 in heating and air conditioning bills for his home and outbuilding.

Make no mistake: Split and delivered hardwoods such as ash, hickory and oak make for big business during the winter season, although state officials in Illinois know of no formal economic impact study conducted for the firewood industry. A check of commercial providers in Illinois showed more than 65 listings statewide.

“There’s no question it is a multimillion-dollar industry,” said Januari Smith, communications manager for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

There are key tips to handling, transporting and storing firewood that Simpson follows each year, ensuring his wood remains insect-free, dry and clean-burning. Wood he splits in early spring is stacked and protected with large tarps. His customer base is in roughly a 30-mile area around his property, meaning his wood stays local.

Horticulture educator Nancy Pollard, with the University of Illinois extension, said sellers and buyers should keep firewood “local.”

“Purchase firewood from local sources and store it outdoors, shielded from rain,” Pollard recommended. “A simple tarp or an open shed prevents wood from becoming damp and invaded by wood-decaying fungi. Bring firewood inside a few days before use to avoid bringing unwanted insects into the home.”

Carpenter ants are attracted to decaying wood. They may be black, red or brown, or a combination of these colors, Pollard explained. While they appear to feed on wood, they only hollow out galleries already damaged by decay fungi.
“Keeping wood dry will minimize fungi and ants,” she said. “Carpenter ants brought in on firewood will not cause structural damage to a home. Ant baits specific to this species can be used indoors, if necessary.”

In addition to ants, beetles may be found on firewood. They usually will not cause any damage to the home, or need to be treated. If you find sawdust in the wood, it is likely caused by a beetle larva. Occasionally adult beetles, which are attracted to light, move out of the wood and toward nearby windows.
“While insects found in wood rarely result in structural problems in homes, movement of firewood over distances can spread infestations of insects that kill trees in the landscape and forests,” Pollard said. “Buy firewood within 10 to 50 miles of where it is produced to avoid needlessly spreading insect infestations from one location to another.”

The emerald ash borer is one of the worst tree destroyers these days. First detected in Michigan in 2002, the beetle – native to Asia – is believed to have destroyed nearly 150 million ash trees. It has affected 14 states and Canada, and makes it critical that anyone buying and selling firewood do so locally.
“Many states have quarantines against moving firewood across state or even county lines,” Pollard said. “Check with your agriculture departments to make sure.”