National Hardwood Lumber Association

10/12/2026

The hardwood industry doesn’t have a shortage of wood. It has a shortage of markets. 👀

There’s hardwood in the forest. There’s processing capacity. But from the landowner to the logger, sawmill, secondary manufacturer and end user, there has to be enough value at every step to keep the material moving.

That’s where things get complicated.

Log costs remain high. Lumber prices remain low. Some mill sheds are filling with lumber that has nowhere to go. Markets for lower-value material are disappearing. And in some cases, selling a log may make more economic sense than turning it into a higher-value product.

So where are we actually losing the value?

🌳 At the forest?
🪵 At the sawmill?
🏭 In domestic manufacturing?
🚢 In our reliance on export markets?
🏠 With the end user and demand for real hardwood?

The answer isn’t just one of them.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/TZJf50ZLZAF

Now we want to hear from you: Where do YOU think the hardwood industry is losing the most value right now? 👇

10/12/2026

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian members, friends, and partners! 🍁🇨🇦

We’re grateful for the people and partnerships that connect our hardwood community across borders, and for the knowledge, collaboration, and friendship we share throughout the year.

Wishing you time to enjoy good food, good company, and the people who matter most.

10/09/2026

You’ve invested in equipment. You’ve explored automation. Maybe you’re already looking at AI and optimization.

But when was the last time you measured what your mill is actually recovering from every log?

An NHLA Yield Analysis evaluates your current production process to identify preventable losses and opportunities to improve recovery.

Because improving profitability doesn’t always start with buying something new.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/QwCg50ZWweK

10/08/2026

Missed a session at ? Want to revisit one that left you with a whole page of notes?

The education doesn’t end when Convention does! We’ve added recordings from the 2026 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase to our YouTube channel so you can catch up on the insights, conversations, and industry updates from Cleveland.

Watch sessions covering:

📈 Hardwood market conditions, demand, and what’s ahead with Dan Meyer
🌎 Global markets and the future of American hardwood with Mike Snow
⚡ Wood energy opportunities for sawmills with Lew McCreery
🔥 Thermal modification and its opportunities for American hardwood
🎤 Our Day 1 General Session, including Connor Lokar’s economic outlook for 2027 and beyond
🌳 Our Day 2 General Session covering NHLA leadership, membership, committees, industry initiatives, and more

Whether you missed a session or just want to hear it again, it’s all in one place!

▶️ Watch the 2026 NHLA Convention Education Sessions playlist: https://ow.ly/3VIz50ZU1iu

10/07/2026

What happens when everyone isn’t playing by the same rules? 🏈

American hardwood producers know how to compete. But in a global market shaped by subsidies, trade policies, and government purchasing decisions, the playing field isn’t always level.

That’s why NHLA is working to put American hardwood in the conversation when the U.S. government decides what to buy.

Flooring. Furniture. Cabinets. Millwork. Railroad ties. Pallets. Mass timber. The federal government purchases billions of dollars in products each year, and increasing the use of U.S.-grown, harvested, and manufactured hardwood represents an opportunity to create sustained demand here at home.

Dive into the full story: https://ow.ly/6e3I50ZLYzb

10/06/2026

What does it take to bring American hardwood’s challenges to Washington and make the case for action?

A new article from Miller Wood Trade Publications takes readers inside the work of NHLA’s Crossroads Strategies Task Force, Crossroads Strategies, and Seven Letter.

Written by Will Courtney, Executive VP of Crossroads Strategies, the article explains how industry research, government affairs, and strategic communications work together to advance priorities around trade enforcement, federal procurement, and demand for American-grown, American-milled hardwood.

This effort brings mill owners, NHLA board members, staff, and policy and communications professionals together around a shared goal: a stronger future for the U.S. hardwood industry.

Read the full article:
https://ow.ly/1MnZ50ZUCLX

Help bring more people into the conversation by sharing this article.

The U.S. hardwood lumber industry has spent 20 years losing ground, but its future is not yet written: the next five years offer a narrow and consequential

10/06/2026

A new chapter of leadership begins at NHLA! 🌳👏

We’re excited to welcome Stephanie VanDystadt of Hull Forest Products as Chairperson and Tom Coble of Hartzell Hardwoods as Vice Chairperson of the NHLA Board of Directors.

Both Stephanie and Tom have given their time, experience, and leadership to the hardwood community, and we’re grateful to have them stepping into these roles as NHLA continues working to serve, strengthen, and advocate for our industry.

Please help us welcome and congratulate Stephanie and Tom - we’re looking forward to all that’s ahead! 🎉

10/05/2026

The numbers tell a difficult story for American hardwood - and maintaining domestic production capacity matters.

In a September 16 letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Rep. John Rose highlighted the challenges facing U.S. hardwood producers ahead of the Department of Commerce’s October review of the industry.

The letter points to declining hardwood lumber production, falling exports, job losses, mill closures, and increasing pressure on the domestic infrastructure that connects forest landowners, sawmills, manufacturers, and the communities that depend on them.

Rep. Rose urges the Department to consider those conditions as it evaluates additional trade measures, emphasizing the role a strong domestic hardwood industry plays in American manufacturing, supply-chain resilience, and economic security.

Read the full letter attached.

10/04/2026

Would you hand over your mill’s production and financial data? 👀

We know what some of y'all are thinking: ABSOLUTELY NOOOOT!

And that’s exactly why NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert wants to clear up a few things about the NHLA Sawmill Benchmarking Study.

Your competitors won’t see your numbers. NHLA won’t see your company-specific numbers either. Individual mill data is collected and analyzed independently by The Beck Group, anonymized and reported only in combined peer groups.

What you get is something that's difficult to see from inside your own operation: how your mill compares to others.

Production. Recovery. Labor. Costs. Inventory. Energy. Technology. Safety.

You know your mill better than anyone. But could knowing where you stand against the rest of the industry make it stronger?

🪵 Read Dana’s take on what benchmarking is - and what it isn’t: https://ow.ly/OK6T50ZLZfy

10/02/2026

We were pleased to welcome Congressman David Kustoff back to NHLA headquarters earlier today for a tour and discussion about the current state of the American hardwood industry.

Joining us was NHLA Board member and fellow Memphian Bill Courtney, CEO of Classic American Hardwoods, Inc., bringing firsthand perspective on the challenges facing hardwood businesses in Tennessee and across North America.

Congressman Kustoff represents Tennessee’s 8th Congressional District. We appreciate his continued engagement with NHLA and the opportunity to bring the industry’s concerns directly to a member of Tennessee’s congressional delegation.

Thank you, Congressman Kustoff and Bill, for spending time with our staff and helping keep American hardwood’s future at the forefront of the conversation!