Oregon State Forest Plan Doesn’t Deliver
Last week it became clear that the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) has a big problem on its hands. The 70-year Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) the agency spent years developing will decimate the agency’s budget, do significantly more economic harm to surrounding communities than was previously reported, and shutter many large and […]
Cruising for Timber…and Dinner in Oregon State Forests
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) managed State Forests are a particularly important source of timber for Hampton’s sawmills. ODF harvests a portion of these lands to provide revenue for schools and other public services and cover the cost of forest protection and recreational access. State Forest timber sales are planned and advertised by ODF. Each harvest […]
Hampton Lumber Marks 80 Years in Business
This month, Hampton Lumber is celebrating 80 years in business. We’re thrilled to reach this milestone and to mark this achievement, we’re honoring the foundational values that got us here; commitments to people, stewardship, and community. To celebrate and honor our past we are looking to the future and acting accordingly. We are commemorating this […]
Oregon Private Forest Accord: A New Dawn for Forestry in Oregon
After nearly a year of scientific review and negotiations, timberland owners and environmental groups have reached a historic agreement to overhaul Oregon’s forest laws and create significant new protections for salmon habitat in Oregon’s private forests.
Unpacking Lumber Prices
Lumber prices are making headlines across North America and for good reason—over the past year, the price of lumber has increased dramatically. A global health crisis, policy interventions, and basic supply and demand issues have created shortages of a number of critical materials. Supply chain issues have affected many products from steel to microchips. Commodity producers are […]
Timber could make Oregon a leader in the fight against climate change
To help combat climate change, cities around the world are increasingly prioritizing use of wood over carbon intensive building products like steel and concrete. As a result, demand is surging for climate-friendly mass timber products such as cross-laminated timber, or CLT, which can be used to construct buildings up to 40 stories high. Here in […]
COVID-19 Crisis: Our Inherent Connections Revealed
It’s been over two months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. and nearly two full weeks since Governors in Oregon and Washington ordered people to stay at home. Restaurants have closed or reduced services. Amusement parks and theaters are closed and leisure activities have been cancelled. Schools and state and national […]
COVID-19 Crisis: Taking the Long-View
Of the lessons learned in my years working in the Pacific Northwest timber industry, the most significant has been the importance of taking the long-view. This way of thinking is an inherent part of an industry that takes decades to bring a product to market and requires large-scale investment in infrastructure, time, and people to […]
Hampton and the Arts
Perhaps “Arts Advocate” isn’t the picture you’d paint for a lumber company, but that’s exactly what we are here at Hampton. We believe that by investing in art-related programs and initiatives, we’re helping to create more vibrant communities and a stronger, more creative workforce. Our commitment to the arts began with John and Carol Hampton. […]
Rural Manufacturing Matters
You’ll have a hard time finding someone who doesn’t support domestic manufacturing. Manufacturing has the highest multiplier effect of any industry. It has long been the path to the middle class by providing good, year-round family-wage jobs that raise the standard of living. I think most people would prefer to buy things made domestically, if […]
