Dec 08, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. U.S. lumber production through September totaled 17.515 billion board feet, down 24.2% from the first nine months of 2008, Random Lengths reported. Production in the West this year is down 24.7% compared to a year ago, while production in the South is down 23.8%. September production in the U.S. totaled 1.935 billion feet, up 0.1% from August and down 16.9% compared to the September 2008 total.