Bark is neglected in typical timber production. It is split from the logs using a long sharp tool and manual force.

The bark is central to the spread of the Dutch Elm Disease. The disease is a fungus carried by beetles that lay eggs in the cambium, the layer located between the bark and the wood.

To stop the spread of the disease, the sawmill must follow strict protocols, the bark is destroyed as soon as it is removed.

When the bark is stripped away, bugs and larvae that fall out feed the chickens roaming the plot of the sawmill.