According to LSU AgCenter’s forestry experts, the Louisiana’s forestry industries losses from hurricanes last year — $1.5 billion — was double the amount of the revenue the industry generates yearly.
News in timber
China’s Ban on Imported Logs from Australia Creating Hardship on Australian Timber Industry
Diplomatic ties between Australia and its largest trading partner deteriorated last year after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the source of the coronavirus, angering China. Any hopes of a quick reconciliation have been dashed as Canberra and Beijing have now ensnared bureaucrats, who would usually stay engaged during a temporary disagreement.
Poland Announces Plans to Resume Logging in the former Bialowieza Forest
Poland sighting the need to clear roads and protect trees from the spruce bark beetle has announced it plans to resume logging in the former Bialowieza Forest.
Northeastern Minnesota Loggers Dealing with a Challenging Year
For loggers in Northeastern Minnesota, this has been a very difficult year. First came the closure of Verso’s paper mill in Duluth which slashed demand for several species of wood, and then there was the mild winter which has shortened the prime logging season.
Aftermath of Hurricane Michael Continues to Pose Wildfire Threat in Northwest Florida
More than 2 years later the aftermath of the storm is still visible and continues to pose a wildfire threat, which according to State Forester Erin Albury could continue over the next five to eight years.
Weyerhaeuser Company Announces the Purchase 69,200 Acres of High-Quality Alabama Timberland
Weyerhaeuser Company today (2/25/21) announced that they had reached an agreement to purchase 69,200 acres of high-quality Alabama timberland from Soterra, a subsidiary of Greif, Inc., for approximately $149 million.
German Forests Deteriorated at Record Levels in 2020
According to Germany’s Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner, the condition of German forests has deteriorated to record levels due to a combination of fire, drought, windstorms, and a bark beetle infestation. More trees died in 2020 than ever before and only 21% of trees under observation had an intact canopy, an indication of how healthy a tree is, an annual survey on forests found.
Oregon Logging Companies are Racing the Clock Trying to Harvest Damaged Logs from the Archie Creek Fire
Logging throughout most of Oregon and especially in Douglas County is bustling as logging companies rush to harvest whatever damaged lumber they can from the 131,542-acre burn scar which was the Archie Creek Fire. Log decks at Douglas County sawmills have not been this full since the late 1980’s.
Berthoud Colorado Company Takes Wildfire Residue and Creates Carbon-Rich Charcoal That Helps Soil Retain Water and Nutrients
As Colorado recovers from its worse wildfire season on record, many foresters are looking for products that could provide the financial motivation for fire mitigation products, which reduce fuels but also create massive piles of unwanted timber. It is difficult to overstate the size of the problem.
Brazilian Exports of Wood-Based Products Increase 22% Year-Over-Year in November 2020
According to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) the value of Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) in November 2020 amounted to $299.3 million (USD), an increase of 22% when compared to November 2019 (when the value was $245.1 million USD).