Challenging Times for Wisconsin's Logging Industry

Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 -- 9:01 AM

(WMTV) Longtime professional loggers in Wisconsin say they are dealing with the most challenging times their industry has ever faced.

Paper mills that buy pulp wood have closed creating an oversupply in timber markets that has sent prices plummeting. The logging bust in northern Wisconsin has forced some loggers to pick up side jobs in construction or related fields.

Some have left the industry. For those who decide to leave, even quitting the business isn’t so simple. The heavy equipment used in logging is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Most loggers lease equipment from local banks, which means they must keep making monthly payments even if their businesses aren’t profitable. And, if a logger stops making payments, the bank can repossess the equipment.

But, that comes with a price for the banks because of the value of that equipment has plunged, and there’s little or no secondary market for it.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.