Sawmiller Pens Opinion Article

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following opinion article was written by Kirby Kendrick and does not necessarily represent the views of Timber Processing staff. 

Across Iowa and rural America, generations of families have built their lives around one of the country’s most sustainable and iconic natural resources: hardwood. From Appalachia to the Midwest, and all across the country, the U.S. hardwood industry supports nearly two million good-paying jobs, bolstering rural economies and strengthening Heartland communities.

In Edgewood, Iowa—where my family has operated a sawmill and dry kiln facility for three generations—hardwood is more than just an industry. We are proud to be the economic foundation of our small town, the largest employer in a community of 900 people, and a lifeline that supports 130 to 140 families directly, and countless more through suppliers and local businesses.

Today, however, our industry is at a crossroads. Domestic demand for hardwood has dropped significantly, and international markets remain unstable after years of trade conflict. This is especially true for China, by far the largest foreign buyer of American hardwoods. When tariffs were imposed earlier this year, we experienced an overnight negative inventory swing in the millions. Instead of building on what was projected to be a strong year, we’ve seen sales drop by $7 to $9 million solely because of retaliatory tariffs and lost markets.

The ripple effects have been devastating. We’ve lost five to seven suppliers who decided it was no longer worth facing volatile prices, and workers who once provided hardwood logs now turn to more stable construction jobs, leaving mills like ours scrambling to source timber. We had planned to invest in a multi-million-dollar expansion in Edgewood that would have used local contractors and labor. Unfortunately, those plans are now on hold. This isn’t just about one company—it’s about rural economies across America that rely on hardwood mills as anchors of their communities.

I recognize that the administration is working to hold China accountable, and reform is overdue. But the U.S. government must be prepared to support the industries bearing the brunt of this turbulence. In 2018, many farmers rightly received relief packages to offset their losses from trade disputes. Yet policymakers must remember that hardwood producers are farmers, too. We cultivate, harvest, and replant America’s hardwood forests with the same care and stewardship as those who till the soil for corn, soybeans, and wheat. Our livelihoods depend on the land, and our industry is just as vulnerable to the same global forces that affect traditional agriculture.

Similar to other commodities, the hardwood sector is very export-dependent—more than half of some species are sold overseas—leaving us susceptible to tariffs and a shifting global trade landscape. Congress and the administration must act now to include hardwood in any relief efforts provided to farmers and other industries harmed by trade disputes. This is critical to provide immediate breathing room for hardwood exporters while longer-term solutions are developed.

But relief alone isn’t enough. We need fair, predictable, and enforceable trade policies that restore stability and U.S. competitiveness. That means stronger enforcement of trade commitments, a consistent strategy for addressing unfair practices abroad, and a seat at the table for small- and medium-sized exporters in negotiations that directly determine our survival.

Hardwood is more than just a commodity; it is a legacy industry rooted in sustainable stewardship and American craftsmanship. Without action, we risk losing not just jobs and facilities, but entire communities built around this resource. Policymakers who care about rural America, American jobs, and fair trade must make support for the U.S. hardwood sector a priority. For Edgewood, for Iowa, and for rural towns across this country, the time to act is now.