Wisconsin’s Forestry Industry is a $42-billion industry providing more than 126,000 jobs, many in the northern portion of state. But, as WXPR has previously reported, the industry also faces many challenges. Disease, pests, climate change, and loss of mills are a major concern. There’s been a decline in harvesting since the closure of several mills starting in 2020—including the Verso Mill in Wisconsin Rapids and the Park Falls Paper Mill. …“We’re growing, at a minimum, two times more than we’re harvesting,” Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Executive Director Henry Schienebeck said at a press conference in Madison Monday. Because of the decline, Scheinebeck supports legislation being introduced that would incentivize the building of an aviation bio-fuel facility in Hayward. …The plant would take low quality wood and convert it to aviation fuel.