With a nearly $29 billion impact, the Georgia forestry industry is one of state’s largest economic forces.
Tree farmer Roy Malone, 93, is one of the nearly 3,500 people across Central Georgia who work in forestry. “I came back from World World II and I planted my first acreage of pine trees,” said Malone. Sixty plus years later, he owns more than 2,000 acres of land.
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the forestry industry contributes nearly $29 billion to the states economy. And in Central Georgia, “If you look at the entire forestry sector, and that includes logging, management, milling and the final products, you’re looking at about $1.1 billion in output per year,” said Wendy Burnett, with the commission.
When planting a pine tree, “you might thin em the first time at 12 to 14 to 15 years old. The second six or seven years after that,” said Malone. And five to 10 years later, the trees are ready for their final harvest. Logging. That’s where Carey Locke comes in.
“We haul about probably 1,250 tons per day out of the woods,” said Locke. Before he can even touch the wood, Locke must negotiate a purchase price with the tree farmer. Soft wood like pine, called pulpwood, is the least expensive. Pine poles, which are used as light poles, are the most costly because they are among the oldest.
From 13 WMAZ News: https://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/local/2014/05/19/georgia-forestry-economy/9288953/