News & Events

WOLF MANAGEMENT: Groups go to court to get wolves relisted in Montana and Idaho. MORE HERE

OPINION: Natural forest management is forest mismanagement. MORE HERE

BROADER CONTROVERSY: Timber industry won’t concede defeat in national monument battle, experts say. MORE HERE

POTENTIAL BUYERS: Business, government leaders seek new buyer to save one of western Montana’s sawmills. MORE HERE

CUMULATIVE IMPACTS: The dismantling of the American timber industry: American Loggers Council warns of consequences. MORE HERE

DOWNSIDE: Missoula-area wood industry closures mean ripple effects for workers, tax base, forest management. MORE HERE

FEMALE LAND MANAGERS: ‘Women In the Woods’ returns. MORE HERE

QUESTIONS: Committee leaders call on administration to explain old-growth decision. MORE HERE

MARCH 29 CLOSURE: Pyramid Mountain Lumber discusses mill closure impacts in Seeley Lake town hall. MORE HERE

NEW OWNERS: Inland Forest Management officials discuss sale of consultation business. MORE HERE

ACTIVE ROLE: Crapo joins bill blocking Biden’s misguided forestry plan. MORE HERE

GEM STATE: A billion feet of timber. MORE HERE

TALENT PIPELINES: Investing in Idaho’s forestry workforce – Shawn Keough and Forest Products businesses in Idaho. MORE HERE

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY: PotlatchDeltic innovates to protect soil productivity amid timber harvesting. MORE HERE

VIDEO: Rick Dancer at Oregon Logging Conference, featuring U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. MORE HERE

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The US Forest Service rolls Ford F-150 Lightnings into the fleet. MORE HERE

DIGITAL TOOLS: University Of Idaho uses AI and other digital tools to improve forest health with ‘smart forestry.’ MORE HERE

EXPOSURE TO THE WOODS: Bringing Newcomers to the Forest Industry. MORE HERE

EYE ON CONGRESS: Here’s what’s in the first spending package. MORE HERE

WILDFIRE STRATEGY: USDA announces $500M for wildfire reduction. MORE HERE

TREATMENTS: USFS, BLM considering wildfire prevention work on 11,000+ acres southeast of Bonners. MORE HERE

STUMP PODCAST: Tim McEntire of the Montana Logging Association talks about his work and what MLA does for the forest products sector in Montana. MORE HERE

HUNGRY CRITTERS: Bark-eating creature had a feast on trees in Idaho. Can you guess the animal? MORE HERE

PAYING HOMAGE: Smokey Bear celebrates 80th birthday with new PSA honoring his legacy of wildfire prevention. MORE HERE

RESILIANT AND DURABLE: Grant supports research on cross-laminated timber. MORE HERE

COMMUNITY PROTECTION: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest launches Dixie-Comstock fuel reduction project. MORE HERE

RECOGNITION: Sonora woman named Associated California Loggers’ first-ever Lady Logger of the Year. MORE HERE

DEAR JOE: Coalition of governors ink letter opposing burdensome forest rules. MORE HERE

MELT RATES: Research shows that wildfires can have major impacts on snowpack. MORE HERE

The Idaho Department of Lands will hold its Log Scaling School March 12-14, 2024, at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel and a local log yard in Lewiston. Each day, time will be spent in the classroom and the log yard. This is an introduction to scaling for anyone interested in learning more about scaling, training to become a scaler, or preparing to take the state scaling licensure test.

To Register: Please send an email confirmation of your intention to attend the school, along with your contact information (name, phone, representing) to: SMcCormick@idl.idaho.gov and list IDL Scaling School registration in the subject. Scaling school will be offered free of charge this year. The registration deadline is February 26, 2024.

If you can, please provide your own hard hat and reflective vest. If you have any of the following, please bring them as well: scale stick, 50 foot logger’s tape, scaler’s hatchet, data recorder or scale sheets, clip board and a small calculator. We will have some supplies available to borrow.

This year’s course qualifies for up to 20 Idaho Pro-Logger credits through ALC.

For those needing accommodations, there is a block of rooms reserved at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel for March 12-14. Please make your reservations as soon as possible by calling the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel at (208) 799-1000. Reservations are available on a first come, first serve basis. To get the group rate, indicate you are with the IDL Scaling School.

Questions? Please contact Shannon McCormick at (208) 666-8641 or SMcCormick@idl.idaho.gov For those interested in pursuing a scaling career with the Idaho Department of Lands, additional training and/or internships may be available in preparation for the 2024 Idaho Board of Scaling Practices licensure exam. Contact Shannon for more information.

In addition, North Idaho College is offering an online self-study course that could be helpful to students seeking a scaling license. Find more information online: https://northidaho.augusoft.net/ or call: 208-769-3333

Inland Forest Management has opened registration for the Annual Wildland Fire Refresher RT-130 training classes! Head over to www.inlandforest.com/shop/ to take advantage of early bird rates and reserve your spot in the class. All classes will be held at the Ponderay Event Center in Ponderay, ID.

Class dates are as follows:

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 (early bird registration ends March 13th, 2024)

Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 (early bird registration ends March 26th, 2024)

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 (early bird registration ends May 22nd, 2024)

EVALUATING OPTIONS: Feds to draw up plan to return grizzly bears to Idaho, Montana. MORE HERE

CLEARWATER REGION: IDFG and USFS come together for elk and forest health. MORE HERE

BUREAUCRACY: As old growth forests burn, Biden launches misguided policy to ‘protect’ them. MORE HERE

COLUMN: Awake at the wheel, how fatigue impacts log truck driver safety. MORE HERE