ELGIN, Ore. -- The national slump in housing construction has led to a temporary work curtailment at Boise Cascade's stud mill in Elgin.

The mill is scheduled to resume normal operations March 3, said Steve Lyon, human resources manager.

"This is obviously not something we want to do, but we are experiencing the most difficult market conditions our industry has ever been faced with," Lyon said.

Boise is the largest private employer in Union County, employing roughly 700 workers at the La Grande sawmill, the Island City particleboard plant and the stud mill and plywood plant in Elgin.

The particleboard plant has been running at 75-80 percent of full capacity; workers at the La Grande sawmill have had their schedules cut back.