Forest Industry
Indiana's forest products industry is a diverse and highly fragmented industry. Indiana's forests are almost exclusively hardwood with oaks, hickories, sugar maple, and yellow poplar the predominant species. It has been estimated that the average tree in Indiana increases in value 27 times before it leaves the state. In other words, every dollar of standing timber harvested generates an additional $27 of economic activity in Indiana. In Indiana the wood using industry is the sixth largest industry in the state, contributing over 3 billion dollars to the economy annually. This industry has created more than 50,000 jobs in the state. Over the nation the Hoosier state ranks ninth in total lumber production and third in hardwood lumber production. For the state and the forest landowner this industry is vital.
Without this industry our forest land and trees would be worthless, only used for building sites and cleared for crop production. Forest landowners are dependent on the sawmills and loggers as much as they are dependent on the landowners. Each could not survive without the other.
The few times that a forest landowner might come in contact with a representative of the industry it is important that the landowner understands what the industry is all about.
The woodusing industry in Indiana is broken down into 5 broad groups, timber buyers, loggers, sawmills, veneer mills, and the secondary industry. There are a few other "branches" in the industry but they are so few in numbers that they will not be covered here.
Forest Products Industry Directory
Evergreen Magazine issue about Indiana Forests and Industry in Acrobat format.