Question: Roseburg Corporation manufactures cardboard containers. In 2008, the company purchased several large tracts of timber for $20 million with the intention of harvesting its own timber rather than buying timber from outside suppliers. However, in 2012, Roseburg abandoned the idea, and sold all of the timber tracts for $30 million. Net income for 2012, before considering this event, was $12 million.
Required: Write a memo providing your recommended income statement presentation of the gain on the sale of the timber tracts. Be sure to include a discussion of the alternatives that might be considered.