AFA Newsroom

AFA NEWSROOM V17N29, July 20, 2022

Public Policy Series - Forest Economics-

July 22

Check out the agenda for the Public Policy Seminar: Forest Economics that is being held this Friday in Opelika! There’s still time to sign up!

Forestry, McLaughlin & Associates Make Presence Felt In Alabama U.S. Senate Race

Trade associations can display political prowess through various means. This can be expressed in the form of campaign finance, fundraising capability, successful lobbying efforts, grassroots deployment, among other methods.

For the Alabama Forestry Association (AFA), the state’s most prominent landowner and timber industry advocacy organization, its influence in the U.S. Senate race was exhibited most effectively through well-timed polling.

Katie Britt, who was AFA’s endorsed candidate in the GOP primary contest and the frontrunner to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa), benefited from consistent polling commissioned by AFA from nationally-renowned polling firm McLaughlin & Associates.

Held in conjunction with our Public Policy Series Seminar the next day, we are excited to return to the Marriott Grand National for our Auburn/Opelika Area Regional Reception and Capital District meeting again this year. Come join us for a fun night and a chance to visit with some old forestry friends and hopefully make some new ones.

Thank you to our sponsors Alabama AG Credit, First South Farm Credit, Dadeville Pole Company, IFCO, IndusTREE UBS/OakRing Investments, The Wildlife Group, & Ziebach & Webb Timber Company. Interested in being a sponsor? Give us a call at 334-481-2135 or 334-481-2129

Have you registered for the Public Policy Series - Forest Economics seminar the next day? Make sure to check out the agenda and join us for part 3 of 4 in the 2022 Public Policy Series.

Paper-Polymer-Plastic: A New 'Rock Paper Scissors' Game For the Packaging Sector

A report from the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred Program estimates that new sustainable products and practice within seven biobased industry sectors reduced oil consumption by 9.4 million barrels in 2017. Those vanguard sectors are: agriculture and forestry, biorefining, biobased chemicals, enzymes, bioplastic bottles and packaging, forest products and textiles.

The report explains that this reduction was likely due to two main mechanisms: the use of biobased chemical feedstocks in place of crude oil derived chemicals, and the use of biobased materials as substitutes for traditionally petroleum-based products.

Join Us For The July Session of AFA Connect - July 21, 2022

Join AFA Connect on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 11:00 am as Dr. Paul Jeffreys with ArborGen brings his presentation on Regenerating Alabama's Sustainable Forests with Advanced. He will be speaking on creating value for private landowners in the state by planting better genetics with controlled pollinated seedlings. The presentation will cover how the seedlings are produced and the returns one can expect from planting their tree farms with the seedlings.

Since Pandemic Onset, Lumber Products Have Added $14K to House Price, $51 to Rent

Since the relatively low point at the onset of the pandemic on April 17, 2020, lumber prices have been volatile, with record setting spikes interspersed with periods of substantial declines.

On balance over the entire period, however, softwood lumber prices have increased enough to add $14,345 to the price of an average new single-family home, and $5,511 to the market value of an average new multifamily home, according to NAHB’s latest estimates. The increase in multifamily value, in turn, translates to households paying $51 a month more to rent the new apartment.

Auburn University Expert Discusses Wildfire Season, How Landowners Can Better Prepare

As most of the United States enters the wildfire season, Auburn University wildland fire expert Heather Alexander, associate professor of forest and fire ecology, comments on what can be expected and how landowners and managers can help reduce occurrences and damage.

Messenger of Mass Timber

Take a drive through Bentonville, Arkansas, and you may find yourself passing by the 350-acre construction site of the new Walmart headquarters. You’ll need to imagine for now the urban park ambition of the project – an active, sustainably-principled landscape surrounding offices and amenities – but the new campus taking shape might soon resemble a young forest.

No less than 1.1 million cubic feet of cross-laminated timber (or CLT) will be used in the construction of offices for an estimated 15,000 employees – timber harvested from Arkansas forests and finished in Arkansas mills. Cross-laminated timber is a form of mass timber, also known as engineered wood, created from a range of wood products and adhesives that is stronger and more durable than regular lumber. Usage of mass timber is rapidly changing the architecture, engineering and construction industries, with both major economic and environmental benefits.

Are You Ready For The Beach? We Are!

AFA Annual Meeting - September 11-13

Registration for the 2022 AFA Annual Meeting is in full swing! OUR ROOM BLOCK IS ALMOST FULL! Click the link below to learn more about our speakers, agenda, sponsors and hotel information. We look forward to seeing you in September!

2022 AFA Annual Meeting

Join us in thanking our amazing sponsors. Interested in being a sponsor? It's not too late, check out our 2022 AFA Annual Meeting website for more information!

First Annual Workforce Development Forum - September 10, 2022

Join our ForestryWorks partners for the first annual Workforce Development Forum down in Orange Beach, AL in conjunction with the AFA Annual Meeting! Topics include: apprenticeship programs, non-traditional workforce solutions, career promotion opportunities, customized training tools and much more! Have questions -contact Stephanie Fuller at sfuller@alaforestry.org

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Recyclable Packaging Design Competition with Versatile Paper

Pack It! The Packaging Recycling Design Challenge is a two-episode series hosted by Netflix’s “Nailed It!” winner, social influencer and art teacher, Cassie Stephens. Armed with their training and AF&PA’s Design Guidance for Recyclability, four contestants have 10 hours to design the best paper-based, recyclable packaging to replace commonly used legacy plastic packaging. One episode will feature beauty subscription boxes and the other, meal delivery kits. Each winner walks away with $5,000!