Two Arkansas politicians start #Seed2Sawmill tour in Arkansas

Congressman Bruce Westerman and Senator Boozman spent day two of their forestry tour at the Del-tin Fiber Plant, learning how the company takes tree waste, like wood chips, and turns them into usable products.

Their tour of the Del-Tin Plant was part of their bigger tour of the state, called "#Seed2Sawmill." It was a chance to see exactly how forestry works. It's an industry responsible for $3 billion, and 28 thousand jobs, just in Arkansas.

"It's part of our great natural resources here, and it's always been important," Rep. Westerman said. "And I think it'll continue to be important."

They also got to see the industry's biggest challenge - manpower. The plant's Vice President says qualified workers are hard to come by, which could cripple them.

It's a problem Sen. Boozman says he hears all the time.

"Again, learning things like we learned today about this particular plant about getting skilled workers is a problem," Boozman said. "We hear that all over the place. And certainly, that translates into trying to figure out how we can do a better job of doing that."