News & Events

Here’s your Weekly WrapUp of industry news! Stay informed! Stay Logger Strong!

FOREST HEALTH: The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest will use a mix of logging and prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on about 2,100 acres north of Elk City. MORE HERE

GOOD NEIGHBOR: Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce bill to fully extend good neighbor authority eligibility to counties. MORE HERE

INSECTS AND DISEASE: The Idaho Department of Lands provides technical assistance and training to private landowners and forest managers, designed to minimize insect and disease risk. MORE HERE

REFORESTATION DEMANDS: Nearly $10M invested for reforestation through forest nursery and native seed partnerships. MORE HERE

Stay informed with this week’s roundup of industry news!

LOGGING CAREERS: Here’s a great video, “Why Am I A Logger?” from the Montana Loggers Association that explores why people choose logging as a career, and includes helpful tips for those looking for advice on how to get into the industry. MORE HERE

AGENDA-DRIVEN SCIENCE: Scientists push back against anti-forestry misinformation in the courtroom. MORE HERE

TIMBER REVOLUTION: The world’s oldest building material is making a comeback. MORE HERE

MODERN MACHINERY: If you are thinking about unplugging and breaking free of the four walls closing in on you and want to learn more about the equipment used in modern timber harvesting, check out these logging operation videos. MORE HERE

NEW TRAINING RESOURCES: The Idaho Department of Lands provides fire training to allow loggers skilled at using equipment to qualify to assist IDL-managed wildfire. MORE HERE

Stay informed with this week’s roundup of industry news!

CONIFER CATASTROPHE: Hotter and drier conditions are destroying the ability of many Western conifer forests to spring back after wildfires, a new study has found. Read MORE

WRANGLING WITH WOTUS: The White House is formally threatening to veto a Republican resolution to undo President Joe Biden’s rule to clarify the Clean Water Act’s reach. Read MORE

FUTURE OF FORESTS: U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced bipartisan legislation to convene a federal advisory panel tasked with making recommendations to secure the health of America’s forests. Read MORE

TIMBER TIME: The world’s oldest building material is making a comeback. Read MORE

GRIZZLY DELISTING: New legislation from Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) could direct U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to remove the Yellowstone area’s grizzly bears from the federal endangered species list. Read MORE

THINNING SPOKANE: Fire officials are working together to thin at least 1,000 acres of urban forest in and around the city of Spokane. Read MORE

The application deadline for the Intermountain Logging Conference Future Logging Workforce Scholarship is March 20, 2023. The scholarship is open to students enrolled in a forestry related program in Washington, Idaho, Montana or Oregon, and pursuing future careers in logging, forest products and the many trades that support the logging workforce. This includes, but is not limited to, technical degrees, certificate training, 2-year programs and 4-year programs in forest operations and technology, diesel technology, industrial maintenance/millwright technology, welding technology or related programs, as long as the student is planning to pursue a career related to the logging and forest products industry. The $1,500 scholarship will be presented on behalf of the Intermountain Logging Conference. Applications will be evaluated based on academic performance and career focus on  working in logging, forest products or supporting services we rely on in the region.

The scholarship will be presented to the chosen applicant at the 82nd Annual Intermountain Logging Conference and Equipment Show at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center in Spokane Valley, Washington, on April 12-13. In order to be selected and receive the award, the applicant must attend the ILC to receive the award in person as part of the program at lunchtime on April 13.

More info and the application can be found HERE

Here’s your Weekly WrapUp of industry news! Stay informed! Stay Logger Strong!

TROUBLING TREND: Experts say the recent closure of R-Y Timber of Livingston, Montana, is another huge blow to the industry which has lost 33 mills in the last 31 years in the Treasure State. MORE HERE

INDUSTRY IN TRANSITION: 85^th Annual Logging Conference highlights the evolving industry. MORE HERE

UKRAINE INVASION: Did steep U.S. tariffs on Russian plywood actually cut imports? MORE HERE

DEFINING MATURE AND OLD GROWTH: Society of American Foresters weighs in on mature and old-growth forest management. MORE HERE

Here’s your weekly WrapUp of industry news! Stay informed! Stay Logger Strong!

TAMARACK SAWMILL: Fire breaks out at Evergreen Forest Products sawmill south of New Meadows on U.S. Highway 95. MORE HERE

CLEVER CHEMISTRY: Some researchers argue the lumber industry has largely overlooked the potential of the chemical makeup of its raw material. MORE HERE

AMERICA’S HAPPIEST (AND DEADLIEST?) JOB: Columnist says loggers love their work, but the job comes with its own set of difficulties. MORE HERE

WOOD WEAR: A British clothing brand has developed a simple black t-shirt that’s made from wood and even the color used is also made from wood. MORE HERE

Online sign-up is available for those planning to attend the 2023 RT-130 annual fire refresher training, with three classes scheduled this year in March, April and June.

Inland Forest Management is offering the Annual Wildland Fire Refresher RT-130 training (in person) and work capacity testing on three different dates in an effort to accommodate everyone’s schedule, according to IFM.

The cost of the four-hour training is $65 if pre-registered online. Registration will also be accepted at the door for a higher fee.

Classes are planned for Wednesday, March 29; Wednesday, April 12; and Tuesday, June 6. All classes will be in Ponderay, Idaho.

Visit www.inlandforest.com to sign up by clicking on the “WILDFIRE/FUELS” tab at the top of the page and following the “online firefighter training registration” link.

For more information, visit www.inlandforest.com, email Amber@inlandforest.com or call (208) 263-9420.

Space is running out for an upcoming course on calculating logging costs and anyone planning to attend is encouraged to complete their registration.

If you are looking for a refresher on calculating your logging costs, this course will cover that topic and help you succeed!

As you know, to be in a strong negotiating position, knowing your costs of operation are key. This course will cover aspects of logging cost analyses from the perspective of logging business owners and managers. The class will focus on methods for evaluating production and cost records. Spreadsheet models will be reviewed and provided to participants for hands-on training involving modifications necessary to assess a range of harvesting systems, techniques and equipment mix variations. After the class, participants should be well-equipped to better evaluate their logging costs using a range of techniques.

Logging business owners and managers involved in management and administration of their business will benefit from this course.

The instructors for the class are Dr. Joe Conrad and Dr. Chad Bolding from the University of Georgia. They are familiar with logging operations across the country and will focus their expertise on Idaho-based operations. Logging contractors in other parts of the country who’ve taken this class have commented that their time was well spent. The class will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 24 at the ALC office in Coeur d’Alene.

The cost is $100 per person and includes lunch. Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 40 people. Reserve your seat today online HERE or call Jolene at the ALC office at 208-667-6473.

The Associated Logging Contractors-Idaho is excited to offer an upcoming negotiations skills workshop.

Now more than ever, ALC members need to brush up and sharpen their negotiation skills. The ALC has arranged for Allan Tsang, an international negotiation coach, trainer and mediator, to conduct a workshop for the ALC’s logging and trucking contractors.

The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at the ALC office at 10589 S. Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene.

Check in begins at 8 a.m. and the class will start promptly at 8:30 a.m. The class will end between 3 and 4 p.m.

Cost of the workshop is $125 per person and includes the workshop and materials, morning coffee, snacks and lunch.

Allan is a negotiation coach with more than a decade of experience helping clients with more than 10,000 negotiations ranging from $10,000 to $250MM. Allan has negotiated against Microsoft, Google, Verizon and many more. Allan has helped more than 500 clients.

“Are you tired of being out-negotiated, making unilateral concessions, or being taken advantage of? Let me show you how to negotiate with integrity and: Make better decisions, resolve conflicts and disputes, improve your deals,” Allan said.

Seating is limited to ensure a quality workshop so please register today!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Click HERE for more information about the workshop.

For more information about Allan, visit https://www.88owls.com

Here’s your Weekly WrapUp of industry news! Stay informed! Stay Logger Strong!

UP IN SMOKE: New Mexico, Idaho among states with most acres burned by wildfires in 2022. MORE HERE

‘NEAR MISS:’ Officials from Boise National Forest’s Cascade Ranger District are meeting with the public to hear their concerns and talk fuel reduction and forest restoration after the Four Corners Fire burned roughly 13,700 acres in the area last year. MORE HERE

WOOD IS THE NEW CONCRETE: In the first project of its kind in North America, cellulosic nanomaterials (the building blocks of a tree) were mixed with concrete to build a bridge in Siskiyou, California. MORE HERE

THE 411 ON 511: Idaho 511 App users need to download a new version to their mobile devices. MORE HERE