AFA NEWSROOM V17N26, June 29, 2022 |
Public Policy Series - Forest Economics- July 22 |
Register today for the Public Policy Seminar: Forest Economics on July 22! Get your room now – room block closes June 30! |
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. |
I think it’s safe to say that the timber supply chain is facing unprecedented challenges in 2022.
The logging world was understandably shocked back in May when Bobby Goodson and his wife Lori announced (on YouTube) that he had decided to shut down his logging business after 37 years.
For those of you who may not know, Goodson was the star of “The Swamp Logger,” a TV show that followed his logging business in the swamps of North Carolina. Unlike a lot of other “reality” shows about logging (think “Ax Men”), this show was a fairly accurate depiction of what logging is really like: the attempt to make a profit in a difficult profession in which so many factors are simply beyond control. Things like weather, quotas, breakdowns, fuel costs, labor, and trucking. Goodson faced these challenges with a positive attitude derived from his faith in God and his determination to succeed, and I think that is what made his business and the show popular and successful. |
This Little Piggy: Wild Pigs Impact in Alabama |
This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef and this little piggy…caused major damage to agricultural crops and the environment. Okay, so that is not exactly how the children’s nursery rhyme goes, but this is a true story for farmers and landowners. In fact, wild pigs cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage each year. |
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.
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Alabama Volunteer Firefighter Saves Man’s Life |
Michael Chupp’s life was saved by the quick thinking and action of Jeremy Robinson on December 29, 2020. Robinson, who owns and operates Robinson Equipment Service, also volunteers as the Fire Chief of Oak Bowery Fire and Rescue near Lafayette. He was repairing equipment on Chupp’s logging job in Clay County when a log penetrated the cab of the loader that Chupp was operating. It ripped and partially severed part of Chupp’s arm, trapping him inside the loader with severe bleeding from a ruptured artery. |
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. |
Mass Timber Provides a Sustainable, Efficient and Cost-Effective Approach to Educational Spaces |
In 2019, construction of educational facilities in the United States totalled $98 billion, accounting for more than 101 million square feet of construction and one fourth of non-residential construction. As school districts look to improve the sustainability of their schools and cut costs in the construction process, mass timber provides the perfect solution.
In a recent Keeping Forests webinar, Bruce Lindsey, Senior Technical Director at WoodWorks, discussed the sustainability and cost-savings of wood construction and mass timber in education buildings. As organizations look for ways to advance markets for wood products, educational buildings may be the low-hanging fruit. |
What A Wonderful Night In Florence! |
Thank you to everyone who turned out for AFA's Shoals Area Regional Reception at the Sweetwater Depot. We loved returning to Florence after a two year absence. It was an evening filled with great food (Jill's Sweet Memories if you are looking for a fantastic caterer), old friends, & some new friends to boot!
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Sawmill Investment Update: Map of U.S. South Expansions |
Building products firms continue to add and acquire capacity, and firms are looking forward to the next phase of investment to put additional capital (from higher lumber and plywood prices) to work. Much of the sawmill capacity increases in North America are happening in the U.S. South due to low wood costs and ample timber supplies and regional proximity to end markets. In total, firms announced 4.5 BBFT in additional capacity to come online by 2024, which is an increase of 17% above current capacity in the region. This includes seven (7) new sawmills and two (2) reopenings. Most firms plan to add capacity by expanding existing infrastructure: 26 mill projects will add capacity to existing mills, making up 2.2 BBFT (50%) of the announced capacity. |
Alabama Named Association of Consulting Foresters’ Large Chapter of the Year |
Alabama's ACF chapter has been awarded its Large Chapter of the Year Award. ACF is a national organization of forestry professionals that help landowners address their land-use and forestry challenges.
“We hosted one of ACF’s first regional conferences for the Gulf/South region in Huntsville in October 2021,” said Arthia (Billy) Rye, ACF, president of Forest Management Specialists, Inc., Florence, Alabama, and ACF Alabama Chapter Chair. |
What’s Going to Happen When All This Announced Containerboard Capacity Hits the Market? |
Earlier this year, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its preliminary 2021 data from US paper and paperboard mills. According to this report, total containerboard production in 2021 increased 5.6 percent compared to 2020—the ninth increase in the past 10 years. Containerboard has demonstrated the highest rate of growth for any major paper grade over the last six years, and paper producers are making large investments to keep up with growing demand. |
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 FILLING UP FAST! Click the link below to learn more about our speakers, agenda, sponsors and hotel information. We look forward to seeing you in September! |
Lumber Price Crash Good for Homebuilding Stocks |
One thing that consumers are likely less bothered about is the lumber price, since the economy is well on its way toward opening up and we’re not sitting at home building our decks and repairing stuff. Not as many of us as have been doing this in the last couple of years anyway.
But guess what? When prices of a key input declines, there is a ripple effect on various other segments, which is great. Just that investors would be avoiding lumber around now, but that’s OK. |
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 |
WRI Market Insights: Global Forest Markets In 1H2022 |
Global sawlog price changes were mixed in 1Q/22 with quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) increases in North America and Eastern Europe, while prices declined in Central and Northern Europe.
The European Sawlog Price Index (ESPI) increased slightly in the 1Q/22 and reached a new all-time high, 27% higher than just a year ago. |
Tree Forks Bring Structural Stability |
In the world of lumber and construction, it’s the long straight parts of a tree that matter. Buildings and other structures require planes and right angles, so the junctions where trees branch get tossed in the chipper.
For Caitlin Mueller a professor of architecture and of civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, every lost tree fork is a lost opportunity. “As structural mechanical systems, they are incredible, actually much more impressive than the straight part of the tree,” she said. “They achieve three-dimensional load transfers through this incredible internal fiber structure.” |
11th Annual Sunburn Classic Golf Tournament -September 12 |
Woods to Goods Week will be here before we know it! Want to get involved in the celebration this year? Join us! |
Online CE Available For PLM & CFE |
Foresters and loggers, a reminder that AFA offers online continuing education. Now is a great time to go ahead and handle continuing education hours.
Click below for a list of classes. |
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Thank you to our sponsors |
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