New pulp mill will generate big demand for field straw

Mark Lewis, Columbia Pulp chief technology officer, at the August ground-breaking for the new facility.

Whitman County farmers may have a new way to deal with straw. Columbia Pulp broke ground on its 40-acre mill at Lyons Ferry in August. The mill will create pulp from straw which can be used to produce a variety of products like tissues, paper plates and take-out containers. The construction project is forecast to cost $184 million.

“Their construction has been pretty unreal,” said Whitman County farmer Kevin Mader. Mader is one of a number of area farmers already providing straw to Columbia...