Reports From The States

[Ron Scott]

Minnesota

New Report Results Mirrors Minnesota's Controversial 1994 Timber Yield Potential Report

Agweek.com Online Article Published on October 21st by John Myers

In a recent report with similar conclusions to a controversial 1994 timber volume report, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced that the state could double the current annual timber yield and still maintain healthy forest stock. The report estimates that cutting 5.5 million cords of wood from the 16.3 million acres of forests in Minnesota is possible using innovative forest management techniques, thinning and selective timber harvesting, tree plantings, and aggressive marketing of timber products to significantly boost the current harvest of 2.7 million cords per year without significant impacts to the timber stock or habitat loss and related concerns.

 Link to Article: http://www.agweek.com/articles/?id=6848&article_id=48386&property_id=5

SAF Policy Update

[Ron Scott]

Ohio

Ohio Offers Options for Fuel Cost Relief 

ODNR Press Release Published in the Chillicothe Gazette October 26th

Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that they will offer $10 dollar one day firewood cutting permits to Ohio residents searching for cheaper fuel options during difficult economic conditions expected for this winter in Ohio. Contact the Scioto Trail State Forest for information about the private use only permits and locations where firewood cutting is permitted. For more information, visit www.ohiodnr.com. Link to Press Release: http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20091026/NEWS01/910260303

SAF Policy Update

[Ron Scott]

Louisiana

Louisiana Forestry Association Optimistic Despite the Closing of IP Mill

The Town Talk Article Published on October 26th by Brett H. MCcormick

The Louisiana Forestry Association executive director, Charles A. "Buck" Vandersteen, acknowledges that International Paper's decision to leave the Pineville paper mill will be a blow to the economy of central Louisiana. However, he believes that the forest products available in his state can sustain another mill to replace the International Paper operations. Governor Bobby Jindal said during a visit to Pineville that International Paper is assisting the state in efforts to attract another user for their existing mill facility, but unfortunately the new occupant at the IP plant site will not be another pulp or fiber producer due to IP's competition concerns. Link to Article: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20091026/NEWS01/910260312/1002/Despite-closing-of-International-Paper--forester-sees-hope-for-mill-workers

SAF Policy Update

[Ron Scott]

Wisconsin

XCEL ENERGY ASHLAND (WI) PLANT TO GO 100% WOOD

Wisconsin's Public Service Commission has approved the plan for the Xcel Energy facility in Ashland, Wisconsin to "go" with wood as for its primary fuel.  Biomass gasification technology will be installed in the third generator, according to a note in the newspaper.  The Bay Front Power Plant will be the largest biomass plant in the Midwest, producing 60 megawatts from wood fuel, according to the news report.  The first two generators already burn wood. 

Bill Cook, MSU Extension

[Gary_C]

I have been watching the progress of that plant for some time. I saw the preliminary estimates and it looked like they were expecting to pay around $25 per ton for biomass. There are a number of loggers that I know of that are planning to supply chips for that plant. But I also saw this in a write up about biomass in the Wisconsin Wood Marketing Bulletin.

With the current interest in alternative energy and in particular wood energy, most logging contractors are looking at whether than is an area they want to expand into, if they don’t already have the capability. The prices being quoted by many biomass chip users, presently, do not make woody biomass chip production very attractive. Many of the companies that are looking into utilizing biomass chips are unrealistic about the price they will have to pay for a sustainable supply of chips.

If you want to see the entire article here is the link:
http://www.dnr.wi.gov/forestry/Publications/Newsletters/wood_market/Spring09.pdf

That very good newsletter called Wisconsin Wood Marketing Bulletin is now going to e-mail delivery only. So if you have an interest you can also subscribe here:
http://www.dnr.wi.gov/forestry/newsletters/

[Ron Scott]

Oregon

From the Baker City Herald, in Northeast Oregon, comes this editorial about climate predictions that may affect the growth of forests. 

Warming forests

Written by Baker City Herald Editorial Board November 04, 2009 11:40 am

It turns out that a warmer climate might not be a universal disaster. Turning up nature’s thermostat could help trees in some Northwest forests grow faster, according to researchers from Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service. Which sounds like a good thing in several respects — more timber to harvest and more acres of the old growth habitat that certain animals prefer, to name two examples. We wonder, though, whether we will glean the full range of benefits from faster-growing forests. Specifically, we’re skeptical of the notion that we have, collectively, the political will to revive Oregon’s moribund timber industry, even if the supply of raw material gradually rises along with average temperatures. This worry seems to us especially trenchant in Northeastern Oregon. The researchers predict the biggest increase in tree growth rates will happen in the Blue Mountains. Trees grow relatively slowly here now in part because winter temperatures are much lower than in the temperate forests of the Western Cascades and Coast Range. So far so good. The key question, though, is what do we do with our more fecund forests? Because if we continue the policies of the past two decades — that is, to favor leaving trees over cutting them even when stands become overcrowded — then our forests could fall victim to the same warming trend that spurred their growth. Warming, after all, won’t be limited to winter. Scientists predict that summers will be hotter, too. And that means wildfires are likely to burn hotter and move faster. Mix in hundreds of thousands of acres of dense forests and you have a volatile concoction. We’re not advocating for reviving clearcut forestry in the Blues. But in the warmer future, a hands-off forest policy might be a curse rather than a blessing.

[Ron Scott]

Florida

R8: Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway Corridor Celebration

The Ocala NF helped celebrate the newly designated Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway as a nationally designated Florida Scenic Highway on Oct. 24. The corridor was designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and is now part of the America's Byways collection of distinct and diverse roads in the nation. The day-long celebration was held at a 4-H camp on the forest. The Byway provides access to a mosaic of natural lands and communities that includes the Ocala's Juniper Springs Wilderness Area and Florida National Scenic Trail. The National Forests in Florida are involved in the Byway program with other federal, state and private organizations including the Florida Department of Transportation, County offices, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Division of Forestry, Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts and St. Johns Water Management District.

The Chief's Newsletter

[Ron Scott]

Kansas

Walnut Council, Tree Farm Committee Form Forestry Association

The website Kansas Farmer reports that, after two years of debate and planning, a new Kansas Forestry Association has emerged from the combined memberships of the Walnut Council of Kansas and the Kansas Tree Farm Committee.

Bob Atchison, rural program coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, said the single voice for forestry created by the merger allows the new group to aggressively compete for funding opportunities and facilitates complete access to information.

For more information, visit the Kansas Farmer website.

[Ron Scott]

Oregon

$2.2 Million Grant to Put Loggers Back to Work in Forests

December 17 – The East Oregonian reports that the federal government has awarded the Oregon Department of Forestry a $2.2 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to create about 40 to 50 jobs in northeast Oregon forests.

The funds will put idled workers back to work conducting non-commercial thinning operations on more than 3,000 acres of private forestland.

For more information, visit the East Oregonian website.

E Forester

[Ron Scott]

Mississippi

Decline in Housing Market Hits Forestry Industry Hard

December 18 - According to researchers from Mississippi State University, the overall value of Mississippi’s 2009 timber harvest failed to reach $1 billion for the first time in 16 years, but unlike other crops, extreme weather was not the reason. The estimated 2009 harvest value for timber is $817 million, down a steep 24 percent from 2008’s value of $1.08 billion. Blame one of the worst years ever for forestry and forest products on the dismal housing market.

For more information, visit the Mississippi State University website.

E-Forester