Timber industry remains key Idaho industry
Advice and assistance are available for family forest owners from a variety of sources, including Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho.
Each year, the average person uses 43 cubic feet of wood and 681 pounds of paper. That is over a ton of wood each year, or the equivalent of one tree 100 feet tall and 18 inches in diameter. These products begin with a tree.
Idaho loggers and wood haulers work hard every day to bring these products to you. They take pride in the work they do to provide products for Americans. It is hard work and a proud profession. Loggers and wood haulers are highly skilled and utilize high-tech equipment on the job. Idaho has the 8th highest lumber production of all states nationwide.
In 2014, 1.6 billion board feet of timber was produced. Associated Logging Contractors — Idaho’s members harvest and haul most of this timber. Almost all wood harvested in Idaho is processed in-state, and 90 percent of all primary wood products are exported out of state. Sales of primary wood and paper products earned $2 billion last year. Only three states have a greater dependence on this industry, Maine, Oregon and Mississippi.
Worker earnings in the forest products industry totaled $667 million, 1.6 percent of all worker earnings in the state equaling 7 percent of Idaho’s manufacturing gross domestic product. Average annual wages for loggers and wood haulers range from $28,950 to $63,840. The overall average worker earning for Idaho’s entire forest products industry is $56,800. An estimated 11,740 people are employed by the industry.
ALC — Idaho logging and wood hauling contractor businesses are all family- owned and operated, and are the backbone of Idaho’s forested rural communities. ALC - Idaho is proud to be part of Idaho’s forest products industry.
The lumber industry works to help foresters implement plans to keep forests growing strong and healthy, while at the same time utilizing the material harvested for the products people use daily. They do their part to manage our forests for today and tomorrow, helping to ensure that a healthy forest continues to grow.
Loggers and wood haulers support the Idaho law requiring areas to be replanted after logging. Each year, more than 18 million seedlings are hand-planted in Idaho’s forests while Mother Nature plants millions more. Today, Idaho’s forests grow more trees than are harvested, and more timber is killed by fire, insects and disease than harvesting.
Information: idahologgers.com or 208-667-6473.
Courtesy of Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho