Editing Vermont (section)

====Forestry====

Forestry has always been a staple to the economy, comprising 1% of the total gross state output and 9% of total manufacturing as of 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Vermont_Forests/Library/NEFA13_Econ_Importance_VT_final_web_Jan29.pdf|title=The Economic Importance of Vermont's Forest-Based Economy}}</ref> In 2007, [[Windham County, Vermont|Windham County]] contained the largest concentration of kilns for drying lumber east of the [[Mississippi River]]. The decline of farms has resulted in a regrowth of Vermont's forests due to [[ecological succession]]. Today, most of Vermont's forests are [[Secondary forest|secondary]]. The state and [[non-profit organization]]s are actively encouraging regrowth and careful forest management. Over 78% of the land area of the state is forested compared to only 37% in the 1880s, when sheep farming was at its peak and large amounts of acreage were cleared for grazing.<ref>{{Cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=54bXBQAAQBAJ |title=The Story of Vermont: A Natural and Cultural History, Second Edition|last1=Klyza|first1=Christopher McGrory|last2=Trombulak|first2=Stephen C.|date=January 6, 2015|publisher=University Press of New England|isbn=978-1-61168-686-9}}</ref> Over 85% of that area is non-industrial, private forestland owned by individuals or families. In 2013, {{convert|73054|e6cuft|abbr=off|sp=us}} of wood was harvested in Vermont.<ref name="Morin-2014">{{cite report|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/ru/ru_fs30.pdf|title=Forests of Vermont, 2013|date=2014|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station|last1=Morin|first1= Randall S.|last2= Pugh|first2= Scott A.|id =Resource Update FS-30|location = Newtown Square, PA}}</ref> A large amount of Vermont forest products are exports with {{convert|21504|e6ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} being shipped overseas plus an additional {{convert|16384|e6cuft|abbr=off|sp=us}} to Canada.<ref name="Morin-2014" /> Most of it was processed within the state. In this century the manufacture of wood products has fallen by almost half. The annual net growth has been estimated at {{convert|172810|e6cuft|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref name="Morin-2014" /> The [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]] estimates that {{convert|8584|e9cuft|abbr=off|sp=us}} remain in the state.<ref name="Morin-2014" /> Forest products also add to carbon sequestration since lumber and timber used in houses and furniture hold carbon for long periods of time while the trees that were removed are replaced overtime with new growing stock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forest2market.com/blog/the-role-of-wood-products-in-forest-carbon-accounting|title=The Role of Wood Products in Forest Carbon Accounting {{!}} Forest2Market, the Wood and Fiber Supply Chain Experts|last=Hearn|first=Suzanne|website=www.forest2market.com|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=June 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623202444/http://www.forest2market.com/blog/the-role-of-wood-products-in-forest-carbon-accounting|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, the price of wood products had either plummeted or remained the same when compared to previous decades, which meant there was cause for concern with jobs in the industry. For example, in 1994, the price of a thousand board feet was $300, the same as it was in 2017. The price of wood chips has halved in the same time frame. In 1980, the price for a cord of wood was $50; in 2017, $25. For lack of demand, Vermont's forests are growing twice as fast as they are being cut.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Tena | last=Starr | title=Blek outlook for forestry industry | url=https://bartonchronicle.com/bleak-outlook-forestry-industry/| newspaper=The Chronicle | location=Barton, Vermont | pages= 1A, 20A, 21A | date=August 2, 2017 | access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref>