Abstract

Timber is harvested in the United States by thousands of independent logging businesses. Fully mechanized, whole-tree harvesting systems are the most common and most productive systems in most states, although chainsaw systems persist in mountainous terrain and cut-to-length systems are common in the Lake States. Southern loggers are most productive, with many logging businesses producing more than 70,000 tons yr-1 while loggers in other regions average <30,000 tons yr-1. Both the number of logging workers and logging businesses declined by 2% yr-1 in 1990–2016. However, despite consolidation, most studies report adequate or excess logging capacity. The logging sector faces a number of challenges, such as the need to recruit new business owners when the current generation retires, declining markets in some areas, and reduced working days per year. However, the logging sector has proven resilient and innovative over the years with significant improvements in productivity and environmental performance.

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