This report identifies and illustrates how individual states contribute to the economic well-being of the U.S. wood industry. Data are gathered into five tables and several graphs. Each table is followed by a list of terms that define each economic category and data source. The two main sources used were the USDA Forest Service 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests and the U.S. Census Bureau 1997 Economic Census, Manufacturing Industry Series. Industries are broken down into three categories, primary, secondary, and furniture manufacturing. As the scope of this report is limited to solid wood products, pulp and paper commodity trends are not included. This information provides key insights into the production and demand dynamics of the world’s largest solid wood marketplace.

Land Use and Ownership

• One-third of U.S. land is covered by forests (302 million hectares), making forestland¹ the number one type of land use in the United States.
• Alaska is the state with the most forestland, ahead of California & Oregon (see graph "Forestland vs. Timberland").
• A majority of the states with the most forestland are in the West, but all of the top ten states with the highest percentage of timberland making up their land area are in the East.
• One-fifth of U.S. land is timberland² (204 million hectares), which is land capable of producing 1.38 cubic meters per hectare of industrial wood annually.
• Most of the U.S. timberland is in the Southeast and the Northwest.
• Georgia is the state with the most total timberland, followed by Oregon and Montana.
• Maine is the state with the highest percentage of land area that is timberland (86 percent), ahead of New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Vermont.
• Overall, 71 percent of all timberland in the U.S. is privately owned, while 29 percent is publicly owned.
• All 13 states with more than 50 percent of their timberland publicly owned are located in the West.
• Nearly 85 percent of private timberland is not owned by the forest industry.³
• In 1997, a little over one-third of U.S. timber removals were hardwood (169 million m³) and about two-thirds were softwood (285 million m³).
• Tree planting occurred on 509 thousand hectares of private land and 98 thousand hectares of public land in 1998.
• The relative amounts of removals versus plantings show positive trends in terms of sustainability. The states with the most removals are the ones doing the most planting (see graph "Top Fifteen States With Most Removals and Plantings").

Manufacturing

• The total number of wood businesses in the U.S. is 86,000, including 19,000 primary manufacturers, 53,000 secondary manufacturers, and 14,000 furniture manufacturers.
• All 50 states have wood manufacturing businesses, with the number of establishments ranging from 8 in Rhode Island to 1,900 in Alabama.
• The value of U.S. solid wood shipments in 1997 was $127 billion. Furniture manufacturers contributed another $21 billion.
• The highest values for shipments come from Oregon, California, and North Carolina. Oregon leads as the nation’s top primary and secondary manufacturer, while North Carolina is first in furniture production.
• Georgia is ranked first for most removals and only seventh for total value of shipments.

Employment and Trade

• The U.S. solid wood industry employed 588,000 persons in 1997 and furniture manufacturing employed another 285,000.
• North Carolina is ranked number one for industry employment, followed by California and Oregon. While Oregon & California each have more employment in the primary and secondary sectors, North Carolina employs more in the furniture sector.
• U.S. solid wood exports were $6.0 billion in 1999, with 36 percent leaving from the East Coast, 37 percent leaving from the West Coast, and 27 percent leaving from all other regions.
• The ports with the highest percentage of the country’s shipments are in Washington, New York, and Oregon.

1. Forestland is land that is at least ten percent stocked by forest trees of any size.
2. Timberland is land covered by forests capable of producing 1.38 cubic meters per hectareof industrial wood annually and is not reserved.
3. Forest industry is an ownership class of private lands owned by companies or individuals operating wood using plants.

FORESTLAND VS. TIMBERLAND

FORESTLAND AND TIMBERLAND COMPOSITION

U.S. FORESTLAND AND TIMBERLAND: TOP TEN STATES IN 1997

OWNERSHIP OF TIMBERLAND: PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC

EMPLOYMENT AND SHIPMENT VALUE

TOP 15 STATES WITH MOST REMOVALS AND PLANTINGS

TOP TEN STATES SHARE OF TOTAL U.S. SOLID WOOD EXPORTS

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TERMS FOR U.S. FORESTLAND AREA AND GROWING STOCK BY STATE IN 1997 AND 1998

Total Land Area: Amount of total land area for each state. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Washington, D.C., Draft 10/15/99, Table 1, p. 1.

Total Forestland: Total amount of land that is at least 10 percent stocked by forest trees of any size, including land that formerly had tree cover and that will be naturally or artificially regenerated. The minimum area for classification of forestland is 1 acre. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 1, p. 1.

Percent Forested: Percent of the state’s land that is forestland (Column 3 divided by Column 1).

Total Protected Forest Reserve: All forestland that has been removed from harvest and held by the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, and National Park Service. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 1, p. 1.

Other Forestland: Land that is neither reserved nor timberland.

Timberland: Land covered by productive forests capable of producing 1.38 cubic meters per hectare (or 20 cubic feet per acre) of industrial wood annually and not legally reserved from timber harvest. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Hardwood Growing Stock: Live sound trees suited for roundwood products. Equal to about 88 percent total volume for hardwoods. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Tables 22-23, pp. 55-58.

Softwood Growing Stock: Live sound trees suited for roundwood products. Equal to about 95 percent total volume for softwoods. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Tables 21-23, pp. 54-58.

Tree Planting on Public Lands: Acres of public land (including National Forest, State Forest, and other state and public agencies’ lands) that experienced seeding or tree planting during the fiscal year 1998. Data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics 2000, Washington, D.C., Table 12-24, p. XII–21.

Tree Planting on Private Lands: Acres of private land (including forest industry, other industry, and non-industrial lands) that experienced seeding or tree planting during the fiscal year 1998. Data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics 2000, Washington, D.C., Table 12-24, p. XII–21.

TERMS FOR U.S. TIMBERLAND OWNERSHIP BY STATE IN 1997

Timberland: Land covered by productive forests capable of producing 1.38 cubic meters per hectare (or 20 cubic feet per acre) of industrial wood annually and not legally reserved from timber harvest. Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Washington, D.C., Draft 10/15/99, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Percent Land Area That is Timberland: Percent of total land area that is covered in timberland.

Total Privately Held Timberland: Total amount of timberland not owned by the local, state, or Federal Governments, but by private individuals or companies. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Industry Owned: Portion of total private timberland that is owned by forest industries. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Forest Industry: A class of ownership of private lands owned by companies or individuals operating wood using plants.

Private Non-Industrial: Portion of total private timberland that is owned by individuals or groups that do not operate wood using plants. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Total Publicly Held Timberland: Timberland that is owned by local, state, or Federal Government. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Federally Held: Portion of publicly held timberland that is managed by the Federal Government. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

Other Publicly Held: Portion of publicly held timberland not managed by the Federal Government. This includes state, county, and municipally held land. Data from the USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Table 10, pp. 23-30.

TERMS FOR REMOVALS, MANUFACTURERS, EMPLOYMENT AND SHIPMENT VALUE BY STATE

Estimated Total Number of Wood Businesses: Sum of first column (number of mills) for each type of wood industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Estimated Total Wood Industry Employment: Sum of second column (number employed) for each type of wood industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Estimated Total Value of Wood Industry Shipments: Sum of third column (shipment value) for each type of wood industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Hardwood Removals: Losses of hardwood stock that occur by other than natural causes (mortality). Includes harvest of roundwood products, logging residues, and other removals (such as non-commercial thinning and land clearing). Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Washington, D.C., Draft 10/15/99, Table 38, pp. 93-94.

Softwood Removals: Losses of softwood stock that occur by other than natural causes (mortality). Includes harvest of roundwood products, logging residues, and other removals (such as non-commercial thinning and land clearing). Data from USDA Forest Service, 1997 RPA Assessment of the Nation’s Forests, Washington, D.C., Draft 10/15/99, Table 38, pp. 93-94.

Log Yards: These are logging industries included under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 113310, including those that produce logs, bolts, and other roundwood products. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, "Manufacturing-Industry Series," August 11, 1999, EC97M-1133A, Table 2, p. 7.

Number of Mills: Number of establishments. Each physical site with employees is called an establishment. One company may own many establishments.

Number Employed: Average of all full-time and part-time production workers plus the number of other employees in mid-March of the year.

Sawing and Planing Mills: These are sawmills counted under NAICS code 321113 and cut stock, resawing lumber, and planing mills counted under NAICS code 321912. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3211A, Table 2, p. 7, and EC97M-3219B, Table 2, p. 7.

Veneer and Plywood Mills: These include hardwood veneer and plywood manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321211 and softwood veneer and plywood manufacturers counted under NAICS code321212. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3212A, Table 2, p. 7, and EC97M-3212B, Table 2, p. 7.

Engineered Wood and Truss Manufacturing: These include engineered wood member manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321213 plus truss manufacturers industries counted under NAICS code 321214. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3212C, Table 2, p. 7, and EC97M-3212D, Table 2, p. 7.

Door, Flooring, Moulding, and Window Manufacturers: These are wood window and door manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321911 plus other millwork manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321918. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3219A, Table 2, p. 7, and 3219C, Table 2, p. 7.

Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturers: These include all industries counted under NAICS code 321219. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3212E, Table 2, p. 7.

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturers: These include all industries counted under NAICS code 321920. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3219D, Table 2, p. 7.

Other Solid Wood Product Facilities: These include other miscellaneous wood products manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321999, wood preservation firms counted under NAICS code 321114, and prefabricated wood building material manufacturers counted under NAICS code 321992. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3219G, Table 2, p. 7, EC97M-3211B, Table 2, p. 7, and EC97M-3219F, Table 2, p. 7.

TERMS FOR FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS BY STATE

Estimated Total Number of Furniture Manufacturers: Sum of first column (number of mills) for each type of furniture industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Estimated Total Employment by Furniture Manufacturers: Sum of second column (number employed) for each type of furniture industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Estimated Total Value of Furniture Shipments: Sum of third column (shipment value) for each type of furniture industry. Since non-disclosed states are not included here, actual numbers are probably higher.

Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturers: These are those industries included under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 337110. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, "Manufacturing-Industry Series," August 11, 1999, EC97M-3371A, Table 2, p. 7.

Number of Mills: Number of establishments. Each physical site with employees is called an establishment. One company may own many establishments.

Number Employed: Average of all full-time and part-time production workers plus the number of other employees in mid-March of the year.

Value of Shipments: Aggregate of the market value of shipments for the year.

Non-Upholstered Wood Household Furniture Manufacturers: These are industries counted under NAICS code 337122. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3371C, Table 2, p. 7.

Wood Office Furniture Manufacturers: These are industries counted under NAICS code 33721. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3372A, Table 2, p. 7.

Wood Television, Radio, and Sewing Machine Cabinet Manufacturers: These are industries counted under NAICS code 337129. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3371G, Table 2, p. 7.

Custom Architectural Woodwork & Millwork Manufacturing: These are industries counted under NAICS code 337212. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, EC97M-3372B, Table 2, p. 7.

September 2000