By TRACI RUSHING | U of A System Division of Agriculture
MONTICELLO, Arkansas — Weyerhaeuser’s announcement of a $500 million investment in Drew County marks a substantial moment for Southeast Arkansas, bringing economic growth and advancing sustainable forestry practices. According to the Arkansas Center for Forest Business at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the new facility is poised to deliver significant benefits for the region’s communities, forest and environment.
The state-of-the-art Timberstrand facility will produce laminated strand lumber, or LSL. This high-tech engineered wood product is known for its strength, stability and versatility. Laminated strand lumber is formed by shredding trees and binding the strands together with resin.
“The process creates a dimensional lumber that will not warp and has engineering qualities that typically exceed the highest quality sawn lumber,” said Matthew Pelkki, director of the Arkansas Center for Forest Business and professor of forest economics for the University of Arkansas at Monticello and University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The raw material for this mill will be relatively small-diameter pines. Commonly known as pulpwood, these smaller pines have dropped in value and accumulated in greater amounts in the southern region of Arkansas since the closure of the Crossett paper mill five years ago.
“There are several benefits to a facility that fosters partial harvesting, or thinning, of forests of our region” said Michael Blazier, dean of the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“Thinning promotes health of the remaining trees as they benefit from the greater availability of light, water, and nutrients, which in turn reduces fire, insect and disease susceptibility,” Blazier said. “Wildlife benefits from the greater vegetation that grows under the trees after thinning, and forest landowners gain from the revenue generated by these harvests. So this new facility will be a powerful driver of the economic and ecological health of our region.”
“A healthy forest economy goes hand in hand with healthy communities and healthy forests,” said Pelkki. “This facility exemplifies that synergy, offering a sustainable solution that strengthens our forests and supports economic vitality.”
Weyerhaeuser has highlighted the creation of nearly 200 high-quality jobs as a key benefit of this new facility.
“The addition of approximately 200 jobs in our region holds significant potential for boosting the local economy,” said Pelkki. “Related industries and community jobs will add another 300 employed people in the region. These high-wage jobs should add about $25 million annually to the region’s payroll.”
Mention of product names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
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