THE CH >>> GROUNDS FOR WHAT THEY CALL PINE DOLE. IT'S BIG BUSINESS ACROSS THE SOUTH, RAKING IN ABOUT $200 MILLION A YEAR. IT'S A CRIME IN OUR STATE TO STEAL THE PINE STRAW. SHOWING US THE HARVEST THAT DOESN'T JUST PUT MONEY IN THE BANK, BUT A BOOM FOR THE SYSTEM. SOUNDS MUCH LIKE DISTANT OCEAN WAVES. A SEA OF THESE GREAT CONFERS SWEEPS ACROSS THE SAND HILLS. >> THEY JUST FILTERED THE WIND. >> Reporter: HE'S A MAN OF GOOD TIMBER. >> WE'RE IN GREAT DEMAND. >> Reporter: THE LANDOWNER WHO RAISES NORTH CAROLINA'S STATE TREE, THE PINE FOR ITS BEAUTY AND BROWN CARPET BOUNTY. >> I THINK IT WILL BE WISE TO HANG ON TO YOUR TIMBER AND LET IT PRODUCE AN ANNUAL CROP. HE SELLS AS MULCH. AT $3 TO $6 A BAIL, MONEY DOES FALL OFF THESE TREES. >> THAT EQUATES TO AS MUCH AS $1,200 PER ACRE PER YEAR IN GROSS INCOME. >> Reporter: COMPARED TO ABOUT $5,000 FOR CLEAR CUTTING AND MATURE LONG STANDING, WHICH TAKES ABOUT 50 YEARS TO RAISE. HE HAS AN INCENTIVE TO LET IT STAND. >> I CAN STILL SHOW YOU WHERE I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY ON PINE SAW THAN CUTTING THE TIMBER. >> Reporter: MIKE WILSON GAVE UP PEACH FARMING WITH 600 ACRES. AN ECO SYSTEM HE LONGS TO PROTECT. >> WELL, DON'T GO AROUND PILFERING OTHER PEOPLES PINE NEEDLES. STEALING PINE STRAW IS A CLASS A FELONY. >> WE HAD SOME TROUBLE OF PEOPLE STEALING IT. >> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO THE NEEDLE THIEVES STUNG MIKE WILSON. >> IT WAS A DARK RAINY NIGHT AND LOADED IT RIGHT OUT OF THE TRAILER. >> Reporter: BUT THEY WERE CAUGHT AND CONVICTED. CLAYTON TODD LOADED UP HIS STRAW THE LEGAL WAY. HE BOUGHT IT AND HIS FLOWER BEDS LOVE IT. >> SUPPOSEDLY IT DOES NOT ATTRACT BEATLES, BUGS, TERMITES, AND THE STUFF LIKE THAT. >> Reporter: THE LONG NEEDLES SHINE IN THE SUN AND IN THE WIND. THEN THEY LET GO, LEAVING A TREASURE INTO THE SHADOWS.