Forest Industry in Vermont   Programs: Industry Assistance Forest Statistics For Vermont Wood Energy   Publications: Economic Importance of Vermont's Forests Forest Exchange Bulletin Forest Resource Harvest Summary Industry Directories   Personnel: Staff

Vermont has a long and rich history of wood products manufacturing spanning over 250 years. The state's first primitive sawmill was built in Westminster in 1738 or 1739, and by 1840 census figures showed 1081 sawmills in the state. Over time, Burlington developed into a major lumber, processing center. In 1870 alone, about 150,000,000 board feet of lumber passed through the port. The Connecticut River also saw plenty of activity, mainly in the form of log and pulpwood drives destined for mills in southern Vermont and Massachusetts.

Today, Vermont's diverse forest products industry spans the length and breadth of the state, from Brattleboro to Beecher Falls and Hartland to Fair Haven. In 2001 alone it contributed $1 billion in value of shipments to the Vermont economy. The industry touches the lives of many Vermonters as well, providing employment for almost 12,000 people. Roughly 85% of them are working close to home in rural areas, making good wages (the forest products industry has the highest manufacturing wage outside of Chittenden County). From the nearly 70% of forest landowners who have sold forest products from their property, to the logging contractors, sawmills and veneer mills, and the wood product manufacturers, one need not look far in any Vermont community to see the positive effect of the industry.

Over 78% of the land area of the state is forested and over 85% of that area is non-industrial, private forestland (owned by individuals or families). Forest management activities on these properties result in payments to landowners totaling roughly $30 million annually.

There are an estimated 500 logging contractors in Vermont, mostly self-employed, they make a net annual income of around $25,000. These business people produce around one million cords of forest products each year, though the yearly total varies depending on the weather and the overall market for forest products.

Vermont is host to 2 large veneer mills, 200 sawmills, and 2 wood-fired electric generating plants. There are no pulpmills located in the state. The sawmills, veneer mills and generating plants directly employ about 3,500 people. All but one of these businesses is located in a rural area. These businesses provide local jobs to rural populations and have a direct effect on the viability of private land ownership.

The market for forest products regional and fast becoming global, so it is difficult to account for how much Vermont grown wood is manufactured into Vermont made products. It is estimated that of the 100 million board feet of hardwood lumber (maple, birch, oak, ash) produced in Vermont per year, about ¾ of it winds up in Vermont products. The 100 million board feet of softwood lumber (white pine, hemlock, spruce, fir) produced in Vermont is more likely to be shipped out of state without further processing.

About 600 wood product manufacturing or crafting businesses also make their home in Vermont. They are located in every populated town and gore. They range from single person woodshops to the Ethan Allen plants in Beecher Falls and Orleans, where a combined 1,400 people are employed. The products range from miniature flagpole caps and knife handles to one-of-a-kind gallery quality furniture selling in the $50,000 to $100,000 range. Most of these businesses are in rural areas employing a total of 8,000 people in production and management.

Wood also provides an estimated 6% of Vermont's energy needs. Wood chips provide electricity through two biomass power plants, as well as heat for industrial, institutional and residential buildings. The Montpelier and Waterbury office complexes, as well as several other office buildings are heated with wood, as are twenty-six public and private schools. The estimated value of this energy is $34.3 million.

The Vermont forest products industry is represented by a number of organizations and trade groups, which can provide additional information. Below is a partial list of contacts for those interested in more detailed industry information:

Associated Industries of Vermont
PO Box 630
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-3441

Vermont Logger's Association
PO Box 306
Greensboro, VT 05841
(802) 533-2187

Vermont Forest Products Association
PO Box 991
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 224-9177

Vermont Wood Manufacturer's Association
PO Box 196
Poultney, VT 05764
(802) 287-4284

Vermont Woodlands Association
PO Box 196
Poultney, VT 05764
(802) 287-4284