Loggers call on Bronson for emergency help to rising fuel prices

I received the following information in my email and I thought I'd share it with the log-n-blog. It's from the FFA newsletter.

Elevated diesel fuel prices, which have caused a spike in the cost of wood fiber production, are leaving many Florida loggers concerned about their livelihood. Logger leaders met in Tallahassee on Wednesday to formulate a plan of action to seek political relief that some say is the only thing that will keep them in business. “Emergency situations call for emergency solutions”, says Patsy Nathe, who heads up the Florida Loggers Committee. The plan calls for emergency action by Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson to seek a 95,000-pound weight extension so more products can be hauled with each gallon of fuel burned. Efforts will be made by the Association to get other agriculture groups to join this initiative.

AX MEN coming to the History Channel

On Sunday, March 9, at 10:00pm, the History Channel will launch a new program from the creators of Ice Road Truckers. The idea of the show, AX MEN, is to examine the lives of loggers in the Pacific Northwest.

I had an opportunity to see an early screening of the first episode. It looks like it's going to be an interesting, and even exciting, TV show. As is the case with all shows of this nature, they certainly dramatized a few things. I also think a few of the guys on the logging crews did some things in front of the camera that they might not otherwise have done.

There is also a large focus on how dangerous logging can be. I think that, on the whole, that's a good things, as long as they don't end up painting the profession as too dangerous. I noticed that the program even mentioned that the area these loggers were in was practicing sustainable forestry and replanting after a cut. (And one of the crews is even moving felled trees out of a wind damaged area.)

On the whole, I think this will be a fairly positive show. If you want to see a short preview of AX MEN, follow this link.

Our nation's forests are growing

A press release from the Abundant Forests Alliance pointed me towards the USDA Forest Service's web page for their Resources Planning Act. Specially, it noted a recently released document concerning changes in America's forests (growth, removal, mortality). The document reveals that America's forests are still growing. Some key findings were:

• There are 750 million acres of forestland in the U.S. today, about the same as in 1907.
• 11 states had increases of over 25 percent over the last century, and nine had increases of over 30 percent.
• Overall, forestland in the northern U.S. has increased by almost 30 percent.

These findings match the Society of American Foresters 2007 State of America's Forests report.

All in all, this is encouraging news. It means that, as a country, landowners are working to keep our nation covered in forests. Of course, we know that we will have to keep working towards goals that let landowners maintain this land, such as a fair tax policy, freedom to practice timber farming (including control burning), a healthy economic environment for loggers and truckers, and a thriving forest products industry.

Maine passes bill to increase weight limits

To help fight the growing cost of diesel fuel, the Governor of Maine has signed LD 2155, Resolve, To Assist Maine’s Forest Products Industry. He signed it only a few hours after it passed in the House. The resolve allows for a temporary 5% increase in weight tolerances for trucks hauling forest products in Maine. The bill was also endorsed 13-0 by Maine's Transportation Committee.

“We know that our forest product industry and Maine’s truckers are being hurt by record high diesel prices,” Governor Baldacci said. “They are struggling right now; and they need help. With the quick action on this legislation, they’ll get some relief right now.”

Click here for the official press release from Maine.gov.

The Governor of Maine also announced that they would submit a new bill that would temporarily exempt truck drivers from the sales tax.

A similar measure in the state of Georgia could help breathe new life into the forest economy. If you have thoughts on this issue and what similar action we might take in Georgia, you are welcomed to leave them in the comments section.

It's Just Started! Welcome to the GFA Log-N-Blog

This website has been created by the Georgia Forestry Association to create a discussion forum on today's forestry issues. Our hope is that this website will quickly be viewed as a resource by Georgia's forestry community where ideas are shared that lead to solutions. I encourage you to visit often and to contribute as much as possible to discussion!

Frequent posts to this blog will be made by several contributors on a variety of subjects in the coming days, weeks and months. To become a contributor contact Alva Hopkins for approval.

May the conversations begin! Let us know what you think about the Log-N-Blog.

General Industry News

Is a news story developing in your local area? Post about it in the comments section here.

Local Ordinances

If you know of a local ordinance in your area that needs our attention, be sure to tell us about in the comments section of this post.