In recent times, the closure of forest product mills and plants across the United States has become increasingly frequent, almost to the point of occurring monthly, if not weekly. While each shutdown is often viewed in isolation, it is imperative to understand the collective impact and magnitude they represent. The American Loggers Council (ALC) asserts that these closures are not merely isolated incidents but symptoms of a larger, more serious condition plaguing the U.S. timber and forest products industries. Addressing these closures solely from the perspective of the direct impacts on mill workers and local communities overlooks the ...