Email from Alabama Forestry Association

AFA NEWSROOM V17N42, October 20, 2022

‘Alabama Woods to Goods Week’ Celebrates $29B Forest Industry

A week-long celebration has launched across the state in recognition of “Alabama Woods to Goods Week.”

The celebration, led by the Alabama Forestry Association (AFA), aims to promote the industry’s economic impact on the Yellowhammer State. In 2020, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed the third week in October as Alabama Woods to Goods Week to coincide with National Forest Products Week.

The forest and forest products industry contributes more than $28.9 billion to Alabama’s economy, according to AFA. Additionally, the employment of 119,272 Alabamians is a direct result of economic activity generated by the state’s forestry industry.

Take a look at all the ways we have celebrated Woods to Goods Week so far! From one end of the state to the other, all aspects of Forestry have come together to celebrate Alabama's $29 BILLION Forest Industry. Keep checking back all week as we add more events.

Flickr Album

Toilet-Paper Supply at Risk as Russian Bans Cause Pulp Shortage

Add toilet paper to the list of products facing higher costs and fragile supply chains in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A ban on Russian birch exports, whose wood consists of the short fibers that make sanitary products softer, has touched off a scramble for pulp, paper’s primary ingredient. The cascading effects are rippling around the globe in the form of slimmer, more expensive rolls of toilet paper.

Join The October Episode Of AFA Connect As We Discuss Group Health Insurance -

October 20 -TODAY @ 11:00 AM

Join Matt Cate and Patrick Pittman of Cobbs Allen Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 11 am CST for the October AFA Connect Session. They will discuss the importance and value of Group Health Insurance for all companies, small & large.

Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom access link. Earn one hour PLM and CFE credit.

Builder Confidence Down 10 Straight Months as Market Continues to Weaken

In a further signal that rising interest rates, building material bottlenecks and elevated home prices continue to weaken the housing market, builder sentiment fell for the 10th straight month in October and traffic of prospective buyers fell to its lowest level since 2012, with the exception of two months during the Spring of 2020.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes dropped eight points in October to 38 – half the level it was just six months ago — according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the lowest confidence reading since August 2012, with the exception of the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.

AFA Health Care Plan Open Enrollment Starts TODAY! Oct 20th - Nov 23rd

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.

More Information

Alabama Loggers Council Annual Meeting October 29, 2022

Join Loggers from all over the state. Special keynote speaker, Wendy Ferrand and a celebration of ALC's 30 year anniversary. This year's program focuses on Transportation:

Main Topics

Loggers - Don't Leave Culture to Chance
Commercial Auto Insurance -What About the Future
Alabama Motor Carrier Safety Unit Update
Understanding Log Truck Gross Weights

Housing Forecast: Lower Prices And Less New Construction

Home prices and rents will decline in the next year, on average, though different parts of the country will experience somewhat differing paths. In the aggregate, housing prices will decline for both homeowners and tenants. Before getting too glum, though, homeowners should acknowledge the 45% appreciation they have had, on average, over the last three years. Giving back a bit of that won’t be so terrible. And landlords have increased their rents by 30%

LAST Initial PLM for 2022

The Initial Professional Logging Manager (PLM) course will be offered on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 7:30 am in Prattville at the Marriott Capitol Hill (same location as the Alabama Loggers Council Annual Meeting). The October 29 Initial PLM will be the LAST Initial PLM course offered in 2022. Please note the Initial PLM course is for NEW PLM numbers only.

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.

AFA ForestPAC Voter Guide

Forest Carbon Markets: Forests’ Role in Climate Change

Forest carbon markets are quickly evolving as the importance of forests in tackling climate change is increasingly recognized and rewarded – something we are pleased to see and are very excited about.

Almost 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions are now covered by pricing mechanisms, with market value of more than USD 80 billion in 2021. Nature-based credits, such as forestry projects, often sell at a significant premium. In the rapidly growing market for voluntary offsets, forestry projects represent 50% of all credits issued in Q1 2022, with an expected value of almost USD 1 billion in 2022. This is the first of a series of blogs about forest carbon markets as we try to understand what is happening, and how it can impact global forest product markets. The focus of this blog is the role of forests in addressing climate change, and how that reflects the types of projects providing forest carbon credits.

Woodrow Reynolds & Son Timber Celebrates 50 Years

Alabama ANRC Landowner Conference -

October 27 - 28, 2022- Next Week

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!