Forestry & Wood Products

Oregon is the largest lumber producer in the U.S. Oregon has 30.5 million acres of forestlands—about 46 percent of the total landmass of the state. An internationally-recognized leader in forest product manufacturing, Oregon combines accessible raw materials with cutting-edge innovation to produce a diverse range of high quality, value-added wood products that are exported to every corner of the globe.

Advanced technology in the wood products industry has streamlined the processing of Oregon timber, making the industry more competitive and less labor intensive. Innovation has created new economic opportunities for Oregon companies like the Murphy Company, which went from producing traditional plywood to value-added engineered wood products, such as laminated veneer beams that can compete with steel in the global marketplace.

Oregon State University (OSU), one of the world’s leading forestry schools, helps keep Oregon on the cutting edge of advanced technology in wood products, from timber harvesting to processing. In particular, OSU’s Wood Innovation Center connects the best in business, science and forestry, linking industry with university-based research to develop innovative processes and systems that add value to Oregon’s wood products. And the multi-university Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies (Oregon BEST) Center provides businesses around the state with access to leading-edge innovation in green building, biofuels, bioproducts and biomass-based renewable energy. Learn more >>