The Rural Maryland Council has awarded Western Maryland RC&D $34,650.00 in funding from the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) in order to complete a Woodyard Feasibility Study project in Western Maryland.
In coordination with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) Forest Service, Western Maryland RC&D will engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study which will analyze the economic opportunities and costs of establishing a new woodyard in Western Maryland. A woodyard located in Western Maryland could provide much needed support to the local forest products industry. The closure of Verso’s mill in Luke is widely recognized as catastrophic economic loss to the entire region, affecting 350+ logging businesses. Replacing that market is challenging because the remaining buyers of pulpwood are all located beyond the range of a four-hour drive. It is uneconomical for area loggers to dedicate a log truck for a day or more just to deliver a single load of pulpwood. Woodyards overcome transport barriers by aggregating small volumes of wood that are unprofitable to haul long distances.
After the study is completed, Western Maryland RC&D will coordinate with the MD DNR Forest Service and other stakeholders to disseminate and utilize the study’s results.
Western Maryland RC&D would like to thank the Rural Maryland Council for their support of this project!
