By Guy Page

Veteran Vermont forester and author William Sargent is warning that the closure of the Finch Wood Yard in Glens Falls could have far-reaching consequences for the Northeast’s forest products industry, calling it one of the most significant events of his more than 50-year career.

In a statement released after Friday’s announcement that the wood yard would close, Sargent said the economic impact will extend well beyond the facility itself, affecting loggers, truckers, landowners and others who depend on the timber industry.

“Without a doubt it is one of the most impactful events in my 50-plus year career as a forester in Vermont,” wrote Sargent, who earned his B.S. from the University of Vermont’s School of Natural Resources in 1974, where he majored in Forest Management, and has worked over 50 years in Southern Vermont as a forester. “The economic impact on loggers, truckers, landowners, and anyone involved in the forest products industry in the Northeast is immense.”

Sargent’s concerns are shared by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, who released a statement: “We are deeply concerned for those, including many of our own members in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont, whose livelihoods will be affected by this announcement,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran, said. “The Glen Falls mill is one of two pulp markets in Eastern New York that purchases wood from logging contractors from multiple states in the Northeast region, and that market is critical both to the financial survival of logging and trucking firms and to their ability to properly manage forest health. Both will suffer from its loss.”

The PLC statement said that in its most recent Logging and Trucking Economic Impact Study, members report a 40 percent reduction in wood markets in the last five years. Many are suffering severe revenue losses, layoffs, loss of clients, reduced productivity, and inability to plan for the future.

“The loss of the Finch Paper pulp mill in Glens Fall will only compound these challenges,” the PLC said. 

Sargent said many people underestimate the scale of the operation. According to information he received from industry sources, the Finch Wood Yard handled roughly 60 tractor-trailer loads of roundwood each day, seven days a week — about 420 loads weekly or approximately 20,000 truckloads annually.

By comparison, Sargent said Vermont’s largest mills typically receive only 75 to 80 truckloads per week.

He also warned that Finch filled a unique role in the regional timber market by purchasing low-grade hemlock pulp, a product for which he said there are no comparable buyers elsewhere in the Northeast.

“The loss of this market will have a huge long-term impact,” he said.

Despite the setback, Sargent expressed confidence that loggers and truckers will adapt, noting the industry has survived previous mill closures across Vermont, including Burke Lumber, Rutland Plywood following a fire, and A. Johnson in Bristol.

“My guess is that by this morning they will be piling firewood up for later sales,” he wrote, describing it as a temporary measure while businesses search for longer-term solutions.

Sargent also urged lawmakers to strengthen support for Vermont’s working forests. Among his recommendations, he called for limiting conservation policies that reduce timber harvesting opportunities, ending carbon credit projects on land enrolled in the Current Use program, and restoring active forest management on state and federal lands.

“Make them multi-use again. Forestry uses have been forgotten,” Sargent wrote. “These things will help your local loggers and truckers survive this and continue long term. It is the Vermont way. Make it happen. No more excuses.”

Sargent, who lives in North Bennington, is the author of “50 Years a Dirt Forester” and said he plans to continue sharing ideas as the industry responds to the closure.