OFA Update
Ohio Forestry Association sets training schedule
Logging Cost Analysis Workshop: May 17, 2024 —8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This course will cover both principles and applications of logging cost analysis techniques from the perspective of logging business owners and managers. Course content will focus on methods for evaluating production and cost records within the context of the evolving wood supply chain. Spreadsheet models will be reviewed and provided to participants for hands-on training involving modifications necessary to assess and simulate a range of harvesting systems, techniques, and equipment mix variations. Upon completion of this course, participants should be well-equipped to better evaluate logging costs.
Sponsors Include: Southern Loggers Cooperative, Independent Stave Company, Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, Inc. Koppers, Inc. TTG Forestry Services, Southeaster Ohio Loggers Chapter
Location: The Ohio State University Extension Office—17 Standpipe Road, Jackson, OH 45640.
Registration Cost: OFA Member: $50 Non-member: $100
Lumber Grading Short Course: June 10 – 13, 2024—8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day
This 4-day course will cover the basics of wood and lumber characteristics. In addition, students will learn about different cutting methods, standard grades and species exceptions. There will be ample time for lumber grading practice and trouble-shooting unusual circumstances. This short course is taught by a certified instructor with the National Hardwood Lumber Association. Following this course lumber graders will be able to determine a profitable yield from the log and will gain a better sense of value of the lumber being handled. The NHLA Rules Book is the guiding document emphasizing the basics of hardwood lumber inspection.
Location: Yoder Lumber 7100 County Road 407, Millersburg, OH 44654
Registration Cost: OFA Member: $450 Non-member: $550 per
Kiln Drying Short Course: August 12 – 14, 2024—7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day
The first two days of this 3-day course will cover the basics of measuring and evaluating wood moisture and how wood drying impacts lumber conditions. During these first two days, students will be introduced to drying concepts such as relative humidity and circulating velocity. In addition, students will learn important calculations for proper drying and how to use Kiln schedules. Day three of this short course will focus on more advanced topics such as how to evaluate a kiln drying operation, wood boring/eating insects, defects, and tension/compression wood issues. Students can register for the full 3-day short course or for just Day 3.
Sponsorships: Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association, Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association
Location: Yoder Lumber 7100 County Road 407, Millersburg, OH 44654
3-Day Registration Cost: OFA Member: $650 Non-member: $850 per person
1-Day Registration Cost: OFA Member: $275 Non-member: $425 per person
Industry Update
Photo from USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
Ohio Department of Agriculture issues quarantine in southwest Ohio for invasive Box tree moth
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is issuing a quarantine for six counties in southwest Ohio to prevent the spread of an invasive insect – the box tree moth. Beginning April 11, 2024, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Greene, Montgomery, and Warren counties will have regulations in place restricting the movement of boxwood shrubs out of the area. ODA is encouraging landscapers and residents in these counties to check the quarantine boundaries and not transport the plants outside of the quarantined area. The box tree moth was detected in Ohio in June 2023, near the border of Hamilton and Clermont counties. More sightings have been confirmed in the quarantined counties listed above. Box tree moths are invasive pests from East Asia that pose a threat to boxwood plantings and the horticulture industry. Boxwood is an important ornamental shrub that is a valuable part of Ohio’s nursery stock economy. Federal and state officials are asking industry and the public to report suspected box tree moth sightings through ODA’s reporting tool. Department of Agriculture plant health inspectors and United States Department of Agriculture staff will be conducting inspections and placing traps to monitor populations. Box tree moths are not a threat to Ohio’s native plants.Landscape professionals, nursery, and others in the green industry can contact the Plant Pest Control Section if they have any questions about the new regulation at 614-728-6400. Please report any box tree moth sightings to ODA's Division of Plant Health.
Market Update
Hardwood Review Forecasting
With production down, supplies tight and margins thin, we project no price declines over the next two months for any of the 25 kiln-dried lumber items we forecast. Upper-grade White Oak prices are on pace to blow past previous record highs in a matter of weeks, though the next two months’ gains will likely not be as large as the previous two. Even Birch and Cherry will see additional gains. Price increases have been largely supply driven to date, but Feb export data suggest demand increases are now at least playing a part. UK, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai demand were particularly strong in Jan and Feb—with the latter three of those markets now among the top suppliers of hardwood moulding and flooring to the U.S. Stronger demand from several Middle Eastern markets also helped offset a Feb decline to Mexico.
Depressed home sales activity will continue to limit demand for domestically made furniture, keeping factory orders and shipments well below levels seen during the post-COVID surge in 2021 and early 2022. Even if mortgage rates reverse course and fall back towards 6%, rising home prices will negate the monthly out-of-pocket savings for buyers. Together with rising inflation and rising consumer debt, that will keep many would-be buyers sidelined for the balance of the year.
Legislative Update
Hardwood Federation Urges Administration to Recognize Variability, Science of Old Growth Forests
As the Administration moves forward with its climate policies, some federal regulators are embarking on a path to define “old growth” forests in a manner that undercuts science and sustainable forest management. In the face of these challenges, the U.S. hardwood industry continues to educate policymakers on the industry’s long history of practicing sustainable forest management, which maximizes environmental benefits while providing well-paying jobs in underserved and rural communities.
More specifically, the industry reminds federal agencies, especially USDA, that effective forest management, which acknowledges the carbon benefits of tree harvest, and the variability of regional ecosystems is essential to the Administration’s climate mitigation strategy. This is especially true when sizing up policies related to old growth forests.
In April 2022, the Administration released Executive Order (E.O.) 14072, a directive focusing on forest health and outlining a path forward to assess mature and old growth forests on federal public lands. Following the E.O., the Federation submitted comments on USDA’s Request for Information (RFI) in 2022 and Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in 2023. Within the petitions, the Federation urged the Administration to avoid a “one size fits all” approach to defining old growth.
In late 2023, USDA proposed an unprecedented nationwide Forest Plan amendment that would supersede existing Forest Plans to impose “consistent old growth policies” on all 128 forest management plans. This action effectively opens the door to impose a one-size-fits-all approach to classify old growth forests, removing more national forest acreage from sustainable forest management, while also creating complex, new management requirements.
The Federation joined forest sector allies in comments filed in January 2024 opposing the proposal on the grounds that action would:
Contradict established federal policy that no single definition of old growth forest represents the diversity of old growth ecosystems.
That the proposal violates the agency’s 2012 Planning Rule, which requires the USFS to engage stakeholders in a science-based process that acknowledges the need for local flexibility.
Impose requirements to manage forests “adjacent” to existing old growth for old growth characteristics, thereby undermining other Forest Plan goals, including multiple-use objectives.
The wood products sector has requested that USDA withdraw its proposal to amend all 128 forest management plans and continue to address the old growth issue through the locally led forest planning process, governed by the 2012 Planning Rule. This will ensure a thorough and transparent regulatory process consistent with established USFS policies grounded in the National Forest Management Act.
The hardwood sector also supports S. 3929, a bill sponsored by Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) that would prevent the USFS from moving forward with its forest plan amendment process. On the House side, Hill sources have informed HF staff that there is interest from at least one member in leading the charge for a companion bill. We anticipate that concerns around the old growth issue will be included in the key issues addressed during the upcoming Fly-In.
If interested in joining us for the Fly-in May 21-23, you can sign up here! The Federation will keep you posted on developments related to federal old growth policies as they unfold.
Safety Update
Warehouse safety
You may have seen, over the years, an increase in warehouse operations in your area. This is due to the industry’s significant growth since 2011. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), warehousing and distribution facilities have experienced a surge in employment from 668,900 to 1,713,900. The study included industries in warehousing and distribution centers, mail/postal processing and distribution centers and parcel delivery/courier services. Unfortunately, the increase in employment has also shown an increase in employee injuries. From 2017 to 2021, the average incidence rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses and the average days away restricted or transferred rate (also known as DART) were significantly higher than the private general industry rate. The Private Industry Rate showed a recordable case rate of 2.76 and a total DART rate of 1.6. The warehouse industry average showed a total recordable case rate of 4.17 and a total DART rate of 3.64. Check to see how your Injury and DART Rate compare.With the increase in injuries, it is essential to ensure you have implemented the appropriate safety programs and trained employees on hazard identification and resolution. To get an idea of what those warehouse hazards are, OSHA performed several inspections over the years and came up with the following areas of concern: powered industrial vehicles; slip, trip, and fall hazards; blocked aisles/means of egress; heat hazards; and ergonomic hazards. Although this is only part of the list, it can help provide a starting point for identification of hazards in your organization.Below are some potential solutions to those hazards.
Powered Industrial Vehicles (PIV’s) Hazards
All employees operating PIVs must be adequately trained.
Never exceed the rated load of the PIV and ensure it is stable.
Watch for pedestrians and observe the speed limit.
Use horns at cross aisles and obstructed areas.
Never, ever give rides to passengers.
Slips, Trips and Fall Hazards
Train workers on fall protection systems and ensure they are appropriately used.
Keep floors and aisles clear of trip hazards such as cords, pallets, boxes and hoses.
Ensure spills or wet areas are cleaned up as soon as possible.
Ladders should be inspected before use and always used properly. Do not allow ladders to be used as platforms or placed on boxes, barrels or pallets to obtain additional height.
Blocked Aisles/Means of Egress Hazards
Fire extinguishers, eye wash/safety shower stations and electrical boxes should always remain clear and accessible. Best management practices suggest three feet of clearance.
Ensure exit doors are kept clear in the event of an evacuation.
Check emergency lighting for proper functionality.
Heat Hazards
New and returning workers should gradually be acclimated into the workplace to build a tolerance to the heat.
Provide breaks that include water or electrolytes and cool/shaded areas.
Train workers on the symptoms and dangers of heat hazards, such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and the steps to take for proper medical assistance.
Ergonomic Hazards
Ensure employees understand proper lifting techniques and weight limitations.
Review and train employees on the need for material handling equipment to assist in lifting objects.
Train employees on the signs and symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). MSDs include injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and epicondylitis.
Employers can create a secure environment that promotes employee well-being and enhances overall operation efficiency by prioritizing warehouse safety through training, communication, and proactive measures. Regular reviews and updates to safety protocols are essential to adapt to changing circumstances and technologies.As final note, OSHA has placed warehouse safety as one of their National Emphasis Programs or NEP’s. NEP’s are designed to focus OSHA’s resources on particular hazards and high-hazard industries. Further information on the OSHA NEP for Warehouse Safety can be found here.
If you need help identifying potential hazards in your workplace, please contact Andy Sawan, Risk Services Specialist at Sedgwick at andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330-819-4728.
You can access the April Workers' Compensation article here.
Additional Links
Upcoming Events
Southern Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
5/14/2024
Location: Lucasville, Ohio
Time: 7:00 pm
Scioto River Valley Loggers Chapter Meeting
5/16/2024
Location: Scioto Township Fire Hall, Wakefield, Ohio
Time: 7:00 PM
Logging Cost Analysis Workshop
5/17/2024Location: Jackson, Ohio
Time: 8:00 AM
East Central Ohio Loggers Chapter
5/20/2024
Location: Fresno, Ohio
Time: 6:00 PM
2024 Camp Canopy
6/9/2024 » 6/14/2024
Location: Carrollton, Ohio
Time: 2:30 PM
2024 Lumber Grading Short Course6/10/2024 » 6/13/2024
Location: Millersburg, Ohio
Time: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
2024 Kiln Drying Short Course
8/12/2024 » 8/14/2024
Location: Millersburg, Ohio
Tree Farm of the Year Tour
9/7/2024
Location: Cadiz, Ohio
Time: 10:00 AM
2024 Paul Bunyan Show
10/4/2024 » 10/6/2024
Location: Lore City (Cambridge), Ohio
Time: 8:00 AM
Visit Community Calendar - Ohio Forestry Association for details on these and other events.
OFA Proudly Supports:
Comments