October 19, 2023 - Liberty, PA
PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined Senator Gene Yaw and Representative Clint Owlett at Wheeland Lumber Company in Liberty, Tioga County, to celebrate Forest Products Week in Pennsylvania, and highlight the value of forest products to our quality of life, jobs, and economy. Wheeland Lumber, a fourth-generation family business embodies the value of the industry and illustrates why Pennsylvania leads the nation in hardwoods production and exports. With nearly 17 million acres of forestland, Pennsylvania has the most abundant hardwood forest in the United States and accounts for $21.8 billion in direct and $39.1 billion in indirect impacts on the state's economy. More than 60,000 Pennsylvanians - ten percent of the state's manufacturing workforce - are employed in the forest products industry. The commonsense, bipartisan 2023-2024 budget Governor Shapiro signed increased the funding for hardwood research and promotion from $474,000 to $725,000. This is an increase of more than 50% from the previous year's funding, which marks an important step in furthering the mission of the Hardwoods Development Council and its partners to support this impactful industry. This is the first time Pennsylvania has declared its own Forest Products Week , coinciding with a Presidential proclamation declaring the week nationally. This week recognizes the strength and potential of this industry, and its incredible economic, environmental, and educational benefits to Pennsylvania.Speakers Include:Agriculture Secretary Russell ReddingJon Geyer, Executive Director- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture - Hardwoods Development Council
An Official Pennsylvania Government Website