Impact of EAB

Economic Impact

(Fact Sheet: Potential Economic Effect of EAB Activity on Ohio's Economy and to Homeowners Could Reach $3 Billion)

Ash wood is used for all traditional applications of hardwood from flooring and cabinets to baseball bats. A viable portion of the market for ash in Ohio is centered around the tool handle market. Ohio has two major tool handle plants: Ames/True Temper (Dexter City, Noble County) and Crook Miller Co. (Hicksville, Defiance County). The Crook Miller Co. gets approximately 25 percent of its ash from Ohio.

The nursery/horticulture and the wood/paper/furniture manufacturing industries contribute a combined $15.5 billion to the state's economy. The horticulture and nursery segment employs 96,000 Ohioans, according to the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA). According to Tom Sporleder of the Ohio State University, 81,680 are employed in wood, paper and furniture manufacturing.  

Ohio's nursery growers in 2003 estimated that ash trees contribute $20 million (wholesale value) to Ohio's economy each year, not to mention the dollars generated at retail garden centers and landscape contractors. [Economic impact calculated based on (Yearly lineouts) x (number of crops in production) = (total number of ash trees currently in production) x $ (Your average price).] (ONLA Survey, Spring 2003.)  

According to the 2003-04 Nursery Stock Survey, 17 different varieties of ash trees are currently in production in the state.  

Ohio has approximately 2.1 billion board feet (the usable lumber within a log) of standing ash timber (between 11 and 29 inches in diameter) that is worth almost $1 billion at the sawmill. (USDA Forest Service)

Environmental Impact

There are about 3.8 billion white ash trees growing in Ohio, according to a 1991 forest survey, and green ash are just as popular.  Ash trees are found in every Ohio county, but most are found in the elm/ash/red maple forest that covers more than 850,000 acres in northern Ohio (Ohio Department of Natural Resources).

Before any eradication procedure can take place, the USDA must conduct an environmental assessment to determine the effect of cutting and removing trees on native species.