Lumber is at $500 per 1000 board feet. It reached an all time high of $1711.20 in May of 2021. See chart below.

With prices good, a mill should be making profits. But mills seem to close a lot. The news article below gives multiple reasons for that...

Another lumber mill to close in Grant County
[newstalk870.am]

"According to reports, the Malheur Lumber Company is closing for good, and with it will of at least 76 jobs. The company is based out of John Day, OR, and has cited a number of reasons it's closing this mill. It's the last lumber mill in Grant County, OR."

"The mill is the fifth one in Oregon to close in 2024. According to the Statesman, company officials gave a list of why mills are closing:

- Lack of a willing and drug-free workforce.
- Lack of housing to recruit workers from outside the area.

- Unfavorable market conditions for lumber in recent years.

- High manufacturing costs due to inflation.

- Low and inconsistent production due to workforce issues.

- Continued layering of government regulations on small business in Oregon"

"Oregon will still have at least 168 sawmills or lumber mills left, but the pace they are closing at is alarming."

Chart: Lumber (USD/1000 board feet)