[Ferretlover]

Changing consumer tastes, construction downturns have slashed demand
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Global economics and the housing bust are throwing a relentless string of problems at the mom-and-pop sawmills and logging companies that make up much of the nation’s hardwood lumber industry.
Large furniture makers have abandoned the U.S., a growing number of raw logs are being shipped overseas for processing, and changing consumer tastes and construction downturns have slashed demand for hardwood flooring, trim and red oak, long the dominant species.
The result has been rising unemployment for forestry workers and a sharp decline in hardwood production. Government statistics show production has dropped from 12.6 billion board feet in 1999 to about 10.7 billion last year. …
Bureau of Labor Statistics data reflects how the industry is shrinking.
The number of timber jobs nationwide fell almost 13 percent to 8,790 in 2006 from 9,910 in 2000. Likewise, the number of logging equipment operators has declined more than 17 percent to 28,300 in 2006 from 34,180 in 2000. ...
Housing crisis affects lumber industry

[jboogy]

This is a good thing, there's a new show on about lumberjacks called axmen or axman. I've watched a little, enough to know I don't care if every one of those companies go bankrupt and their workers have to find another job. They are very good at turning forest into barren, stripped pieces of hell. The bastages.