Forestry & Logging

The 8,000 companies in the US forestry and logging industry are involved in natural resource management and harvesting. Companies may own and manage the land and harvest the trees and plants, or provide contracted services to public and private landowners. Over 1 billion trees are planted in the US annually – the equivalent of three plantings for each tree harvested.

Worker Injuries And Fatalities

Despite efforts by the industry to reduce injury rates, logging ranks as the most dangerous occupation in America.

Pest Infestations

The spread of invasive plants, diseases, and insects that target woodlands are growing and destroying timber stands in the US.

Sep 26, 2026 - Mill Investment Expands Southern Capacity

• Forisk Consulting says sawmill openings and expansions in the US South are expected to add about 2.1 billion board feet of capacity from 2026 through 2028, net of closures. Projects include restarts, expansions, and new facilities across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina, while several Canadian mills have announced curtailments or closures. Additional Southern sawmill capacity can create new outlets for logs and increase competition for timber in local procurement zones. Forestry and logging companies operating near expanding mills could see stronger harvesting opportunities, higher utilization, or changes in delivered-log pricing as facilities seek enough timber to support added production.
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service issued guidance narrowing when incidental harm to endangered species may trigger enforcement under the Endangered Species Act, according to the Associated Press. The interpretation says killing protected wildlife during activities such as logging or construction may not violate the law if harming the species was not the purpose of the activity. Environmental organizations and former agency officials argue the policy could weaken habitat protections, while supporters of narrower enforcement have sought to reduce regulatory burdens. Forestry and logging firms could face changes in permitting and compliance practices, although ongoing litigation may create uncertainty over how durable the policy will be.
• CME Group reports that lumber futures fell 10.9% in August as the North American market shifted from relatively stable conditions into a late-summer downturn. Futures declined from the low-to-mid $600s per thousand board feet in July to around $560 by late August, a 17-week low. CME attributed weakness primarily to slower housing construction, high mortgage rates, affordability pressures, and tariff uncertainty. Lower lumber prices can reduce sawmill margins and eventually weaken demand for logs, affecting harvesting volumes and contractor utilization. Forestry and logging firms may face greater pressure in regions where mills respond to softer lumber markets by curtailing production or reducing timber purchases.
• Forest products markets were mixed through August, with relatively stable lumber demand but worsening fiber markets, according to AgWest Farm Credit. Pulp mill shutdowns and curtailments have reduced chip consumption and created excess inventories and fewer outlets for pulp logs in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest log markets remained generally stable, but log exports declined for a third consecutive month in July. Reduced fiber demand can pose serious challenges for logging firms because pulpwood and lower-grade material often provide an outlet for portions of harvested trees that cannot be sold as sawlogs. Fewer buyers can lower timber values and make some harvesting operations less economical.

Industry size & Structure

The average forestry and logging company operates out of a single location, employs 6 workers, and generates $2 million in annual revenue.

• The forestry and logging industry comprises about 8,000 companies that employ about 49,700 workers and generate about $15.7 billion in annual revenue.
• The industry consists of foresters that maintain woodlands and loggers that harvest timber.
• Over 1 billion trees are planted in the US annually – the equivalent of three plantings for each tree harvested. The US has recorded over 50 consecutive years of net forest growth that exceeds yearly harvest, according to the North American Forest Foundation.
• About one-third of the US is covered in forest; 56% is classified as private land and 44% is public.
• 94% of firms have fewer than 20 employees.
• The industry's gross output is volatile and can change 20% from year to year.
• Large companies include ALRT Corporation, C & C Logging, Huffman-Wright, and the timber operations of vertically integrated companies like Weyerhouser, Mid-South Lumber, Green Diamond Resources, and PotlatchDeltic.