TIMBER INDUSTRY IN MAJOR SLUMP - Worst Since Great Depression

(12/10/2009)

Recovery for West Virginia's timber industry seems remote, according to Deputy State Forester Greg Cook. The timber industry lost about 3,000 jobs this year. Cook told the Legislature's Forest Management Review Commission that the industry hasn't been in such bad shape since the Great Depression. Calhoun and regional counties have taken a major hit with the slump. Cook says it will be a long time before the state's hardwoods industry rebounds. The Division of Forestry is preparing a report mapping out a new strategy for West Virginia's timber industry. That report is expected by spring. Cook said, "I don't think we'll ever see it come back as hard and strong as it was going." "There's no people buying lumber...All housing starts are way down, although it's starting a trend of coming back...," he said. Cook did acknowledge that West Virginia timber interests are at a disadvantage in trying to compete with foreign products made with cheap labor. Meanwhile, areas like Calhoun are over 90% forested, still growing.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001