Economic Confusion

I really love the show but just about any time they start throwing out money figures it seems like I get more confused.

What exactly is Pihl Logging (and the others) doing?  Contract cutting?  Paid x number of $s per board foot of timber delivered to the mill?  That's what I think you are doing.  Looks like it might be $150/1,000 BF.  But, every once in awhile some special log is found or whatever and there seems to be excitement about it which I wouldn't have if it was a straight $ per 1,000 BF.

I'm pretty familiar with the eastern hardwood harvest side of things.  It is pretty rare to get any sort of contract cutting since it is all selective cutting.  Typically the logging company comes in and does the harvest and sells the timber and keeps between 40-60% of the gross sale, sort of depending on the density or the timber and the species and the quality.

Does Pihl ever buy the harvest rights for some lump sum amount and then sell whatever is able to be harvested?