Senator Ron Wyden addressed the Medford Rotary Club yesterday and pledged to boost the federal timber harvest in Southern Oregon, something he does have influence on as the new chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

After being told Rough and Ready Lumber in Cave Junction had been forced to close for a week and lay off workers because of lack of logs the Senator responded by saying the cut level in southwestern Oregon has been unacceptable.

The Senator noted overstocked stands are magnets for fire and material from thinned forests including salvaging trees killed by drought, disease or wildfire, can produce biomass energy while reducing the threat of catastrophic fire.