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AFA NEWSROOM V17N44, November 3, 2022

AFA Health Care Plan Open Enrollment IS OPEN!                

Thru 11/23/2022

Convenient Blue Cross Blue Shield Options To Fit Your Company's Needs

Click the link below to learn more about the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan benefits, options, & how to enroll.

Rayonier Acquires 172K Acres in US South for $474M

Rayonier Inc. announced today that the company has entered into two separate agreements to acquire approximately 172,400 acres of high-quality commercial timberlands located in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana (the “Acquisitions”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $474 million from Manulife Investment Management, a leading timberland investment manager. The Acquisitions comprise well-stocked and highly productive timberlands located in some of the strongest timber markets in the U.S. South. Approximately 80% of the Acquisitions consist of fee ownership, and the remaining 20% consist of a long-term lease.

We receive complaints from loggers, truckers, and mills on an almost daily basis.


These tend to fall into one of three broad categories:

  1. Truckers who have received an “over-gross” ticket in which the state weight crew figure is higher than the mill scale, resulting in a ticket (which subsequently must be resolved in court);
  2. Truckers who were “under gross” but received a ticket for “over axle” or “over tandem.”
  3. Dangerous set-ups, long lines, and high frequency of state weight crew “visits”at specific locations.

2022 ALC Annual Meeting-Celebration of ALC 30th Anniversary & 2022 Logger of the Year

Loggers from around the state gathered in Prattville on October 29th for the Alabama Loggers Council annual meeting. This is the council’s 30th anniversary, and although our industry has faced many challenges the past few years we took time during the meeting to celebrate this milestone. All past Logger of the Year winners in attendance were asked to come forward and honored for their achievements. Speakers provided challenging information related to our trucking operations and highlighted the importance of a company’s culture, which is set by their leadership. A highlight of the day was introduction of the 2022 Logger of the Year, Smith Brothers Logging from Berry.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Species Status Assessment

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is beginning to evaluate the status of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), in an effort to determine whether the species is warranted for listing as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)(Act). In the Service’s National Listing Workplan, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is scheduled for a status review and determination during fiscal year 2024. The Service will begin to conduct a status review for the eastern diamondback rattlesnake across the entire range during fiscal year 2023.

Join AFA Connect, Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 11:00 am CDT as Leigh Peters, Alabama Forestry Association, shares information on using prescribed fire. Burning is a right of landowners here in Alabama, but there are a lot of details that need to be addressed before, during, and after you strike the match. In this presentation we’ll learn more about the how’s and why’s of using prescribed fire in the woods and what landowners can do to see the outcomes they desire. Please share with others who might be interested. One hour continuing education credit will be available.

Alabama Export Workshop - Know your Incoterms

Join the Export Alabama Alliance & Alabama State University for a workshop on Incoterms. 


“Incoterms®” is an acronym standing for international commercial terms. Incoterms, widely-used terms of sale, are a set of 11 internationally recognized rules which define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers. Incoterms specify who is responsible for paying for and managing the shipment, insurance, documentation, customs clearance, and other logistical activities. This seminar is presented by the Export Alabama Alliance & Alabama State University (ASU) and made possible by the U.S. Department of Education Business and International Education Program.

2023 Public Policy Series - The State Of Alabama Governance

February 26-28, 2023

Registration and Room Block are open NOW!

AFA Newsroom Special Feature:

AFA Political Endorsements

Check out our ForestPAC Voter Guide for the General Election on November 8! Find all of our endorsements here.

Wall Street Firm Makes a $1.8 Billion Bet on Forest Carbon Offsets

A major player in credit markets has made one of the largest U.S. timberland purchases in years, laying Wall Street’s biggest wager yet on forest carbon markets. Oak Hill Advisors LP, a subsidiary of T. Rowe Price Group that manages $56 billion and is best known as a corporate-debt investor, said that it led a consortium to pay about $1.8 billion for 1.7 million acres of forest.

AFA Young Leaders Returns in 2023

Applications are being accepted for the upcoming 2023 Alabama Forestry Association Young Leaders program. The professional development and networking program targets young professionals involved in Alabama’s forest community (landowners, loggers, foresters, wildlife biologists, and other natural resource professionals). In order to increase the influence of forestry throughout Alabama, the program strives to develop a community of forestry leaders. Program fees include five sessions in 2023 (including the AFA Annual Meeting) covering topics such as communications, education, outreach, law, forest products manufacturing, and more. The 2023 cohort will be the seventh AFA Young Leaders group.

Click below to register (Program fees include materials/resources, accommodations, and most meals during the sessions)

FutureMetrics Discusses Pellet Supply Shock in Europe

FutureMetrics on Oct. 31 published a new white paper explaining how reduced pellet supplies in Western Europe and the U.K. resulting from sanctions on Russia has produced a supply shock that has vastly increased prices.



In the paper, FutureMetrics President William Strauss explains that supply shock occurs when a significant portion of a good or service is no longer available in the market and substitutes are scarce or non-existent. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions placed on Russiahave created a supply shock in the European heating pellet market.

ForestPAC Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Dec 6, 2022

Mark your calendars for our ForestPAC Sporting Clays Fundraiser at Selwood Farm on Decembers 6! Help us keep and get quality candidates elected! Register now!

Time To Meet The Newest Member Of The Tiny Timber Crew, Travis! Pre-Order Your Copy of Travis Visits A Tree Farm Today!

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.

Calendar of Events

November 15 - Logging and Forestry Workshop in Goshen (5 PLM/CFE)


November 20 - 2022 AFA Connect - Prescribed Burn (1 CFE/PLM)


November 30 - Lee County Forestry PLM Workshop (5 PLM, CFE)


December 2 - Chilton County Forestry Workshop (5 PLM, CFE)


December 6 - 2022 ForestPAC Sporting Clays Fundraiser -Selwood Farm


February 26 - 28 - 2023 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

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