The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Brent Day is the owner of Day Logging in Porter.
A recent article by Maine Public (and republished by Bangor Daily News) claimed that the loss of federal funding may force some Maine loggers out of work. As a logger myself, I feel compelled to offer a clearer, firsthand perspective.
Loggers are a testament to resilience, ingenuity, and dedication, working tirelessly to harvest and transport timber in ways that are efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible. This legacy dates back to Maine’s earliest days, when European explorers sought its tall pines for ship masts for the European market. Logging and forest products have been integral to Maine’s identity, enduring highs and lows.
From Bangor’s prominence as the world’s lumber capital in the 1860s to the rise of the Great Northern Paper Company and the pulp and paper mills in the 1900s, loggers have played a vital role in managing and bringing this invaluable natural resource to the global market.
Today, wood remains vital — not only for construction and paper, but also for emerging fields like nanotech and biofuels. The markets for wood are unyielding, with Maine’s logging industry significantly contributing to the state’s economy. In 2021, it supported approximately 5,600 jobs and generated an estimated $582 million in output, with $312 million in labor income. Very little of this money coming into the state had anything to do with federal funding, rather it’s the result of the free market at work as intended.
An implication that Maine loggers depend on government subsidies to survive is entirely untrue. Like any industry functioning within a free market, logging is driven by choice. Loggers choose to stay in business or move on, just like landowners decide whether to harvest their wood or wait, and mills opt to process timber or not. These are independent decisions, made by business owners, not bureaucrats.
Even within the article playing up the impact of frozen federal funds, the reporter notes that only a total of six landowners in the entire state elected to join a federally funded “climate smart” pilot program. I believe the government can be most helpful if it protects its citizens and their businesses from unfair competition, not stimulate them with subsidies.
Many Maine loggers rise long before dawn — not chasing handouts but driven by pride in their craft and the freedom it offers. They invest in expensive equipment, not because they expect subsidies, but because they value the sense of accomplishment that comes with a hard day’s labor. I think the notion of “free money” erodes the spirit and determination that Maine’s loggers have embodied for centuries. It distorts the natural flow of the free market, a system that loggers rely on and respect.
As a proud Maine logger, I reject the inaccurate picture presented in the article and feel it’s important to highlight the hardworking, independent, and passionate spirit that defines Maine’s logging community.
