The federal government shutdown led the U.S. Forest Service to notify 450 timber purchasers on Monday that it has shut down logging operations in 150 national forests, Jeff Barnard reports for The Associated Press. Loggers were given seven days to finish cutting and hauling out logs on timber sales where they are already working. "What this means is another economic hit to rural areas in tough economic shape during the government shutdown," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told Barnard. (Read more)
Many rural states rely heavily on timber sales. Oregon leads the country in softwood timber production, employing 76,000 people while resulting in $5.2 billion in total income and $12.7 billion in total industrial output, according to The 2012 Forest Report. Washington, which ranks second in softwood, accounts for $5 billion, making it the state's third largest commodity, according to the Washington Mill Survey. Pennsylvania leads the country in hardwood timber production, and Tennessee and Kentucky are usually second and third. Information from the Forest Service is unavailable because the website has been shut down until the government gets back to work. (Read more)
Many rural states rely heavily on timber sales. Oregon leads the country in softwood timber production, employing 76,000 people while resulting in $5.2 billion in total income and $12.7 billion in total industrial output, according to The 2012 Forest Report. Washington, which ranks second in softwood, accounts for $5 billion, making it the state's third largest commodity, according to the Washington Mill Survey. Pennsylvania leads the country in hardwood timber production, and Tennessee and Kentucky are usually second and third. Information from the Forest Service is unavailable because the website has been shut down until the government gets back to work. (Read more)
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