The state of logging businesses in North and South Carolina in 2022

The challenges and changes that logging businesses face impact the whole wood supply chain, making it relevant to gather timely information about them. Logging business surveys have been taking place for several decades in various states across the United States of America and have played a vital role in documenting the status of the logging industry and the challenges facing business owners. Two waves of mail surveys were sent to individual logging businesses across North and South Carolina between March and May of 2022. These surveys collected information related to general timber harvesting (products harvested, silvicultural operations), business information (number of workers, types of equipment, capital investment), owner demographics, and the challenges faced by the logging businesses. Data were analyzed for each state and within the different physiographic regions (Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain). Compared to the 2017 South Carolina survey, 2022 results indicate that the state has more medium-sized logging businesses today, few younger loggers entering the logging industry, an increase in the educational level of loggers, a decrease in intergenerational transfers of logging businesses within families, and a rise in the input and operational costs. This study also provides insights into the current state of North Carolina logging businesses and will serve as a baseline for the future. Results from North Carolina indicate 31% of loggers are aged 60 or above, 52% represent small-sized businesses, 51% have completed high school, 27% anticipate exiting the industry by 2027, and high input and operational costs were reported as significant challenges.