Louisiana Forestry Facts

Forestry Facts:

• Agriculture contributed a total value of $9.5 billion to the state's economy in 1995.
• Only the chemical industry consistently ranks above forestry in total value and employment.
• The number one agricultural crop is forestry. Forestry produced 71% of all agricultural commodities and 54% of all wildlife, animal, fisheries and plant commodities in 1995. Forestry's direct contribution to the Louisiana State economy amounted to over $5.1 billion in that year.
• Forestry enterprises employed 25,400 in manufacturing in 1994 and 8,000 in harvesting and transportation.
• Forestry is the primary land use in the state with 13.8 million acres of timberland, or over 48% of the total land area (1991).
• Ownership of tirnberland in Louisiana is comprised of private owners (58.6%), industry (32.4%), National Forest (3.6%) and other public agencies (5.4%) (1991).
• Louisiana's timberland is well stocked, with 48% hardwood and 52% softwood, with 19 billion cubic feet of growing stock, the same as Mississippi and Arkansas, who each have 16% more forest land.
• Average net annual growth vs. removal of growing stock on Louisiana's timberland: Hardwood growth exceeds removal by 47.7 million cubic feet (308.3 vs.260.6 million cubic feet). Softwood removal exceeds growth by 132.4 million cubic feet (659.2 vs.526 million cubic feet per year, USDA Forest Service, 1992). Growing stock are trees with at least one 12-foot or two 8-foot potential logs.
• 116 million trees are planted annually in Louisiana.
• In Louisiana, there are approximately 180 primary processing firms (sawmills, treating plants, veneer and plywood plants, pulp and paper plants) and approximately 750 secondary processing firms ( cabinets, architectural millwork, furniture, etc.).
• The forest products industry is growing - $529 million in new, large-scale industry investment in 1995.
• To enhance industry development, the Louisiana Forest Products Laboratory (LFPL) was established to provide technical information and to help the development of value added processing. Louisiana ranks last in adding value to material harvested as compared to surrounding states. For every dollar received on sales of logs and lumber, an average of only $0.11 is added before leaving the state. This compares with $ 1.65 in Texas, $0.78 in Mississippi, $10.79 in Michigan and an average of $0.94 in all surrounding states. This low amount of added value is due to:
  • most wood leaving Louisiana is in the form of logs and lumber,
  • many processed goods purchased in secondary processing are purchased outside of the state due to availability,
  • marketing information and techniques are needed
  • plants providing semi-finished goods are needed,
  • increases in plant efficiencies are needed,
  • technical information is needed,
  • safety programs to help reduce workman's compensation costs are needed, and
  • knowledge of local and other markets are needed.

The LFPL:

• provides technical support,
• develops relevant information through quality research,
• provides marketing expertise,
• provides management workshops,
• helps form networks, and assists in the establishment of vocational training.

For more information contact: