The Virginia Loggers Association supports HB512. We support a robust and healthy forest products industry, and agriculture believing they are strongly connected, to ensure that pollicy makers understand the fiscal health of the businesses who make up Virginia's third largest industry. Fixing problems in the economy means that we must begin with a knowledge of the existing condition. Once known, the best solutions are clearer. Forest products prosperity goes to the heart of this economic sector. If our businesses are healthy with good markets and high production, the sector will remain strong and grow. HB 512 comes at a most opportune time as we see lagging markets, lower pricing to landowners, loggers, and mills. Loggers are on production quotas and many have already left the business. The industry is made up of small family owned businesses, and this is particularly true for loggers, landowners, and many sawmills. To ensure they continue to invest in their businesses, we must have help from the Commonwealth of Virginia to attract new businesses and do more to keep existing businesses. VLA believes HB 512 is a great start and will build a solid foundation for economic development of the forest industry in the future.

The Virginia Loggers Association supports HB512. We support a robust and healthy forest products industry, and agriculture believing they are strongly connected, to ensure that pollicy makers understand the fiscal health of the businesses who make up Virginia's third largest industry. Fixing problems in the economy means that we must begin with a knowledge of the existing condition. Once known, the best solutions are clearer. Forest products prosperity goes to the heart of this economic sector. If our businesses are healthy with good markets and high production, the sector will remain strong and grow. HB 512 comes at a most opportune time as we see lagging markets, lower pricing to landowners, loggers, and mills. Loggers are on production quotas and many have already left the business. The industry is made up of small family owned businesses, and this is particularly true for loggers, landowners, and many sawmills. To ensure they continue to invest in their businesses, we must have help from the Commonwealth of Virginia to attract new businesses and do more to keep existing businesses. VLA believes HB 512 is a great start and will build a solid foundation for economic development of the forest industry in the future.