Posts Tagged ‘Wood’
Tiny mountain beetle eating up the lumber industry
The lumber industry is seeing their forests ravaged by the tiny mountain beetle. The Wall Street Journal online reports that the insect, dendroctonus ponderosae, which is only five millimeters long, has created an worsening lumber shortage that is acute in places such as British Columbia, Canada, a major source of wood for U.S. builders.
The U.S. Forest Service estimates that in the past 12 years, the beetle, which thrives in the mountain forest areas of the West, has chewed through between 40 million and 45 million acres of timber, or about 12 percent of the forested land west of the Mississippi. The infestation, which first became serious in Colorado, has moved to other states, including Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
A recent report by lumber-industry consultant International Wood Markets Group estimates that the beetle will have killed as much as 58 percent of the pine in the region by the time the infestation has run its course over the next decade.
The infestation has decreased saw timber, and there are fewer trees suitable to be milled into lumber, according Cynthia West, an ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service.
“If you lose your entire inventory in one year, what you have to do is wait for the trees to regrow,” West told the site. It is presently unclear how much the beetle has caused priced to rise, but the cost of framing lumber is up 27.4% in the past two years, according to the site.
Beetles typically target lodgepole pines, a common lumber source. They deposit clusters of eggs under the bark which block water flow and nutrients from getting into the tree, essentially killing it.
“Twenty-four sawmills have shut down in British Columbia because there’s just no wood,” Jim Girvan, one of the authors of the lumber industry report told the site.
Analysts at U.S. Trust wrote in a research note that the harvest in British Columbia could decline 50 percent in the next half-century because of the pine beetle.
The infestation began in the late 90s but a string of mild winters has caused the beetles to build larger colonies.
But although there may be an expansion in Canada, it is starting to decline in the U.S. because the beetles are “running out of things to eat,” according to Robert Mangold, a geneticist with the U.S. Forest Service.
Large forest fire rages in Colorado
On Saturday a massive fire broke out in northern Colorado consuming 41,140 acres of the High Park area near Fort Collins, The Denver Post reports.
The fire is believed to have started from a lightning strike at about 6 a.m. It grew to more than 31 square miles within a day of being reported. At least 18 structures have been burned or damaged and multiple other structures remain under threat.
“That number is going to go significantly higher,” Larimer County executive officer Nick Christensen said.
As winds shifted, they forced the blaze to blow back on itself in at least some areas. Roughly 600 firefighters were sent to battle the flames Tuesday morning.
“We are making good progress and in some cases, the fire has died down and moderated,” Christensen said.
Areas where homes or structures have been burned include Rist Canyon, Stove Prairie, Paradise Park, Poudre Canyon and Poudre Park.
About 2,600 telephone notifications on the fire have gone out since it started, including mandatory evacuation orders to the area south of Larimer County Road, according to the High Park Fire website. But the fire is moving rapidly in the direction of the latest evacuation order area, fire officials warn.
Larimer County Road 38E is now closed from Masonville to Harmony Road at the junction of Taft Hill Road.
The Denver Post reported that Lou DeAngelis, a sculptor, said he evacuated his home in Rist Canyon on Saturday night and has been trying to find out the status. So far he’s not been able to get any specific information.”To me it’s very frustrating,” DeAngelis said, “We have the technology to see if a man is living in a cave in Afghanistan, but you can’t tell me if my home is intact. I just want a simple answer.”
AWC president supports Forest Products Fairness Act
American Wood Council President Robert Glowinski applauded U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) for introducing H.R. 5873 – the Forest Products Fairness Act of 2012. The act would modify the definition of “biobased” materials to specifically include wood products in the United States Department of Agriculture Biobased Markets Program initiatives.
“I applaud Reps. Thompson and Schrader for recognizing an obvious deficiency with the USDA’s Biobased Markets Program and taking action to address the issue by introducing legislation to identify wood products as biobased,” said Glowinski. “This bill has broad, bipartisan support, because our legislators understand that wood is among the most ‘biobased’ products out there. We urge others to give their support to H.R. 5873 to help protect our industry and the tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs it provides.”
The Biobased Markets Program (also known as the BioPreferred program) was originally enacted as part of the 2002 Farm Bill to increase the identification and use of biobased products. The program is comprised of two separate initiatives: Product Labeling, which allows companies to affix certification labels to products the agency identifies as biobased, and a Federal Procurement Preference, which gives preference to pre-selected biobased products for purchase by the federal government.
“We believe excluding traditional wood products from a program touting the benefits of biobased products is misleading to the public, and we ask that wood be recognized for its inherently renewable properties,” said Glowinski.
AWC supports USDA study on using wood in green building
American Wood Council President Robert Glowinski issued the following statement regarding the study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service on the benefits of using wood in green building construction.
“This study supports what we in the industry have long-advocated about the use of wood as a responsible choice for green building. Engagement by USDA and the Forest Service on issues related to green building is extremely welcome, and we commend Secretary Vilsack’s commitment to sound scientific study on the matter.
“The study, Science Supporting the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Using Wood and Wood Products in Green Building Construction, calls for supporting three industry initiatives that further USDA’s climate change mitigation and job creation objectives. We strongly endorse the support of the Forest Service for additional LCA research, technology transfer for wood use in the nonresidential sector, and to demonstrate the significant carbon-reducing benefits that accrue from wood product use.
“Life-cycle assessment has revealed significant environmental benefits associated with the use of wood, such as reduced greenhouse gas air emissions and the sequestration of carbon. Working forests are functional carbon sinks for communities across the country and provide economic incentives for landowners to maintain healthy forests rather than selling the property for development. The resulting wood products store carbon for life and net much lower air and water emissions than other building materials whose production is fossil-fuel intensive.
“Perhaps one of the most important findings is related to the current state of the economy and how using wood supports jobs. In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of maintaining working forests and producing wood products, the industry provides well-paying rural jobs, from forests to lumber yards. We hope that others in the industry and government will take note of these findings and support policy and regulations to protect the health of the industry.
“We appreciate all the work that the U.S. Forest Service has done and will continue to do in support of green building. The projects the Forest Service proposes to undertake can only serve to further enhance rural jobs and communities, and we will look forward to seeing the follow-up work related to this study.”
USDA study finds wood is a top green building material
The American Forest Foundation welcomed a new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing that wood is a superior green building material, with environmental benefits that outweigh many other common building materials.
The study, “Science Supporting the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Using Wood and Wood Products in Green Building Construction,” analyzed a life-cycle assessment of green building materials. The USDA study found that growing, harvesting, transporting, manufacturing and using wood produces less air pollution – including greenhouse gasses – than concrete, steel and other material options.|
“Giving the green light to wood as the green building material should dramatically impact the market for sustainably grown wood in this country,” said AFF President Tom Martin. “Healthy forests need healthy markets, and the green building market is expected to grow to a $173 billion industry by 2015. Secretary Vilsack is a champion for working family forests and understands their importance to America’s rural economies.”
Timber Products to acquire Panel Products Division from Penrod Co.
Timber Products Co. reached an agreement to acquire the assets of the Panel Products Division from The Penrod Co.
Mike Clausen, Timber Products’ vice president of sales for the company’s Hardwood Plywood and International Division, will merge the Penrod Division into the Timber Products International Division.
“We are excited to expand our International Division with the Penrod acquisition which includes their sales team. We are enthusiastic about what this means to our customers and the tremendous growth potential this acquisition will bring to Timber Products. We look forward to providing Mike and his team with the resources necessary to realize Timber Products International’s full potential,” said Joe Gonyea III, chief operating officer at Timber Products.
“The sale to Timber Products of the assets of the Panel Division allows Penrod to refocus our energies in serving the clients of our Hardware Division, Engineered Wood Products Division and the international marketplace via our Export Division. We are delighted that our Panel Products Division will remain intact as a result of this transaction and I wish all the best for our former employees and to Timber Products,” said Carl Gade, president of The Penrod Co.
N.C. A&T wood residue survey underway
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Department of Biological Engineering is conducting a voluntary survey that is intended to provide a general assessment of the amounts and types of wood residues being produced. Participating in this research is voluntary. By completing and submitting this survey, the subject is giving his or her consent to participate in this study.
In which state/county is your company located? __________________________________
1. Which of the following types of wood waste do you produce and in what quantity?
Mixed Sawdust
< 1 ton/year
1-10 tons/year
10-20 tons/year
20-50 tons/year
50-100 tons/year
100-250 tons/year
250+ tons/year
Solid Wood Sawdust
< 1 ton/year
1-10 tons/year
10-20 tons/year
20-50 tons/year
50-100 tons/year
100-250 tons/year
250+ tons/year
Solid Wood Scrap
< 1 ton/year
1-10 tons/year
10-20 tons/year
20-50 tons/year
50-100 tons/year
100-250 tons/year
250+ tons/year
Manufactured Panel Scrap
< 1 ton/year
1-10 tons/year
10-20 tons/year
20-50 tons/year
50-100 tons/year
100-250 tons/year
250+ tons/year
2. What are you currently doing with the waste streams listed above?
Paying to dispose of in landfill
Paying for pickup to be re-used/recycled
Free pickup for re-use/recycle
Receiving income for pickup of recycle/re-use material
3. Do you currently use any of the waste streams listed above for any purpose?
Yes
No
4. If yes, please indicate which of the following catagories:
Heating
Power generation
Bedding for animals
Mulching/Composting
Manufacturing
Others
5. If you have other uses for waste streams please list them here:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. If you are currently paying for the removal of wood wastes please list the amount you are paying.
_______________ dollars per ton
_______________ dollars per week
_______________ dollars per year
7. If these wood wastes are mixed with other trash, how much of the total waste is wood waste (by weight)?
Less than 50%
50-80%
80-90%
90-95%
More than 95%
8. Please provide any additional information and comments you would like to share regarding wood residue streams including usage, market identification, company or government policy, and management issues.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
As a participant you will receive a summary of the results of this survey as a token of appreciation for your cooperation. If you would like to receive a summary of the information collected in this survey please include your name and address below. If you wish to request receipt of summary at a later date simply send a letter of request or an e-mail to the contact listed below.
For questions and concerns contact us at:
Phone: 336.334.7787
Fax: 336.334.7270
E-mail: ash@ncat.edu
Mail to:
Dr. Abolghasem Shahbazi
Room 107 Sockwell Hall
N.C. A&T University
Greensboro, NC 27411
Woodcraft accepting entries to ‘Rough Cut Uncut’ sweepstakes
Woodcraft Supply will fly one winner and a guest to the set of Tommy MacDonald’s new show as part of the “Rough Cut Uncut – Win a Day with Tommy Mac” sweepstakes.
The contest winner and guest will travel to Canton, Mass., in July to meet Tommy MacDonald and watch one day of filming for his new public television show, “Rough Cut – Woodworking with Tommy Mac.” The show, which first aired in October 2010, follows MacDonald to New England landmarks for project inspirations and then back to his workshop to create the woodworking projects.
Woodcraft will accept contest entries online, at stores or by mail until April 30. The contest is open to U.S. residents at least 18 years old with an entry limit of one per household. The winner and guest must be available to travel to Canton, Mass. between July 11 and July 29.
American Wood Council disappointed in District Court’s extension for Boiler MACT ruling
American Wood Council president Robert Glowinski expressed disappointment in the D.C. District Court’s decision to grant a one-month extension for final rulemaking on the Maximum Achievable Control Technology for Industrial Boilers (Boiler MACT).
“EPA had clearly stated that they received a much greater than normal response in the comment period and in that process gathered data they had not previously had when drafting the initial rule. Given the volume of comments and data received, EPA made the sound decision to ask for more time. It is disappointing that the Court did not see fit to grant EPA’s request for a 15-month extension, forcing EPA to quickly put out a rule,” Glowinski said. “The American Wood Council worked diligently to help EPA achieve a sound regulation, and we hope EPA is able to issue a final rule that protects jobs and the environment.”
Custom cabinetry trends 