Roseburg Closes Weed Veneer Mill

Roseburg Forest Products has recently announced the closure of its veneer plant in Weed, Calif. The company is focusing on veneer production at its Oregon mills, where it has installed new veneer manufacturing equipment. The company says the move strengthens its long-term competitiveness in engineered wood and softwood plywood markets.

Roseburg Lumber purchased the Weed facilities and land in Siskiyou County from International Paper in early 1983 for $5 million. IP had shut down the aging operations in 1982, including a sawmill, box plant and plywood facility, which at one time was a big producer but was ultimately “run down into junk” by IP. Roseburg auctioned off the sawmill and some plywood mill equipment and built a veneer mill.

Forest products operations at the site began in the late 19th century and passed to town namesake Abner Weed and his company Weed Lumber, who would sell to Long-Bell Lumber in the first decade of the 20th century, which sold to IP in 1956.

Roseburg’s closure at Weed, along with the company’s decision in September 2025 to exit the hardwood plywood market, enables Roseburg to concentrate resources on a more focused product portfolio and optimize its position in increasingly competitive wood products markets, according to the company.

“With the investments we have made in our Riddle and Coquille, Ore. veneer and softwood plywood mills, we have repositioned these operations as well as our Riddle Engineered Wood mill to be among the most cost-competitive mills in the industry,” comments Stuart Gray, Roseburg president and CEO. “These actions are essential for Roseburg to remain a strong producer and competitor against significant volumes of low-cost imported products that continue to affect North American wood products markets.”

The Weed plant’s 140 team members will receive compensation and health care coverage for 60 days following the closure. They’ve been encouraged to apply for open positions at other Roseburg facilities. Roseburg will continue to fulfill active contracts for renewable power generation from the site’s biomass power plant.

“We recognize the impact this decision has on our team members and the Weed community and appreciate the contributions our people have made during nearly 40 years in Weed.” Gray says. “We are actively evaluating options for the facility that would allow it to continue serving as an economic driver and employer in the region.”

Roseburg says it remains committed to the Weed community, including its $7 million contribution to establish a foundation to benefit the community, continuation of the company’s Weed Community Scholarship Fund, and providing the City of Weed Fire Dept. with a rent-free firehouse on plant property.