LATEST NEWS
1.1-Billion: Estimate of Hurricane Laura’s Impact to the Louisiana Timber Industry
A view of some of the devastation in the Vernon Parish from Hurricane Laura . Photos published by the U.S. Forest Service.
Hurricane Laura ripped through Louisiana, twisting trees, and destroying timber. It is estimated that the total economic loss to the Louisiana timber industry as a result of Hurricane Laura is $1.1 Billion. Of that total value, $767.6 Million was attributed to pine timber while $346.9 Million was attributable to hardwood timber. Vernon parish was estimated to have experienced the largest economic loss at $359.7 Million. Rapides, Beauregard, Grant, and Allen parishes all were estimated to have experienced losses greater than $100 Million.
Michael Blazier, LSU AgCenter forestry researcher, stated that early estimates indicate Laura led to timber losses are “comparable to what Louisiana lost in hurricanes Katrina and Rita combined,”. Hutchins also mentioned that he knows several timber owners who have also lost their homes in addition to their timber and that “It is hard to understand how devastating this is”.
Komatsu Upgrades XT-5 Family of Tracked Feller Bunchers with Performance Improvements, Special Warranty Program
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., September 10, 2020 — To better meet customer needs, Komatsu is upgrading its XT-5 family of tracked feller bunchers, adding performance and operator improvements, as well as covering the machines with a special 2-Year/5,000-Hour warranty program. The XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 models were introduced in 2018, and these advancements were made based on customer feedback.
Komatsu’s upgraded XT-5 family of tracked feller bunchers features increased power, multi-functioning performance and nighttime visibility for improved productivity. A special 2-year / 5,000-hour warranty is available for new machines purchased by March 31, 2021. Photo may include optional equipment.
Komatsu XT-5 machines let customers travel, operate the swing, arm and tool simultaneously, for maximum usability. To further boost multi-functioning performance for its customers, Komatsu added 7% more horsepower (331 hp vs. 310 at launch) to the Cummins QSL9 engine and increased the hydraulic flow, while maintaining excellent fuel efficiency.
Additional lighting elements improve nighttime visibility of the right track and when using the rear camera, for a total of 13 LED lights brilliantly illuminating nighttime operations.
“Working with, listening to, and responding to customers is the cornerstone of our product development process, so when they said that our XT-5 machines would be even better with a boost in power, multi-functioning performance and visibility, we got to work,” said Todd Miyake, vice president, forest division, Komatsu America Corp.
“We have also added a special 2-year or 5,000-hour warranty for a limited time period to offer customers an exceptional combination of performance, efficiency and peace of mind.”
The special warranty program covers new XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 tracked feller bunchers purchased through March 31, 2021, as well as those purchased since launch. This coverage is in addition to the standard Komatsu CARE® coverage which includes 100-, 500-, 1000-, 1,500- and 2,000-hour maintenance services for the first three years or 2,000 hours, whichever occurs first. All of these services are performed using genuine Komatsu filters and fluids.
The XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 Komatsu tracked feller bunchers were introduced in 2018 and were totally reengineered. Highlights include:
Outstanding serviceability with all service points easily accessible and gull-wing hood engine access
Increased power, torque – even while using up to 5% less fuel
Increased lift capacities and the ability of the XT465L-5 to readily operate the Quadco 24-inch (610 mm) cutting capacity disc saw head
Left-positioned modern forestry cab with exceptional visibility and comfort
Customizable operator controls via IQAN-MD4 digital control system
Komtrax® remote equipment monitoring and management telematics system, which can improve operator productivity and monitor machine health, a valuable tool for scheduling preventative maintenance and service
For more information on the Komatsu XT430-5, XT445L-5 and XT465L-5 Komatsu tracked feller bunchers and the special 2-year/5,000-hour warranty, go to www.komatsuforest.us.
About Komatsu
Komatsu is an industry-leading manufacturer and supplier of equipment, technologies and services for the construction, forklift, mining, industrial and forestry markets. For nearly a century, Komatsu equipment and services have been used by companies worldwide to develop modern infrastructure, extract fundamental minerals, maintain forests and create technology and consumer products. The company’s global service and distributor networks support customer operations, tapping into the power of data and technology to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance.
All comparisons and claims of improved performance made herein are made with respect to the prior Komatsu models unless otherwise specifically stated. Up to 5% lower fuel consumption results are based on using the XT445L-5 prototype vs. the XT445L-3 model – each operator’s results may vary.
Warranty Terms: Complimentary 2-year or 5,000-hour standard product warranty coverage, whichever comes first, from the Machines First in Dirt (FID) Date. If the 5,000 hour limit is exceeded during the first year, coverage continues through the end of the first year. Cummins Base Engine Warranty, Extended Major Component Warranty and Emission Warranty will all be managed through Cummins. Please refer to the Cummins Warranty Terms document for coverage details.
Materials and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) FAQs
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. The provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.
In response to several common questions regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP have put together a document that contains the most common questions that they have received.
Save Our Loggers: Report Shows 1.83 Billion Impact Of Covid-19 To Loggers
A recent analysis generated for the American Loggers Council (ALC) shows that this year's decrease in raw wood material consumption has led to a $1.83 billion reduction in the value of logger/trucker-delivered wood.
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 - Countless businesses across the spectrum of industries have been impacted by COVID-19 and now can tell stories about how government assistance rescued them from the brink of collapse; but there are some stories left untold.
A recent analysis generated for the American Loggers Council (ALC) shows that this year’s decrease in raw wood material consumption has led to a $1.83 billion reduction in the value of logger/trucker-delivered wood. The report, conducted by the analytics firm Forests2Market, found that raw wood material consumption between January-July 2020 was 6.7% less than the same period in 2019 – dropping 21.4 million tons of material. This resulted in a 13% reduction ($1.83 billion) in value of the delivered wood.
While Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have provided funding for numerous agricultural categories, they have not yet classified timber within the category that qualifies for COVID-19 assistance. According to 7 U.S.C§1518.; timber and forest are described as an agricultural commodity along with fruits, vegetables, and other common agricultural goods.(7 U.S.C Section 1518) Danny Dructor, Executive Vice-President of the American Loggers Council, stated that, “Given the fact that wool, cut flowers, aloe leaves, and upland cotton are included in the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) it is a reasonable request to ask that timber and logging be covered under the program as well.”
The USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) received $16 billion to provide direct support to certain agricultural producers based on actual losses where prices and market supply chains have been affected. The program will assist producers with additional adjustments and changes in marketing costs that result from oversaturated markets and lack of demand for the 2020 marketing year as a result of COVID-19.
The ALC created SaveOurLoggers.com as a new website to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the logging and wood products industry. The website features testimonial stories and videos directly from those who have experienced difficult circumstances.
The current conditions loggers are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic have left them in dire economic straits. Many loggers have shared their stories of how COVID-19 is affecting their businesses on SaveOurLoggers.com (Logger Stories).
Bobby Goodson, star of the Discovery Channel’s hit show Swamp Loggers, describes how, as a fourth generation logger with over 35 years in the business, his company has never experienced a situation as threatening to their existence as an industry as during the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes how logging is essentially farming with harvesting trees as an agricultural commodity.
Dale Heil of Stratford, Wisconsin gives one example of how the pandemic is bleeding out a vital American industry, “The closing of the Verso mill caused by Covid 19 took away 70 percent of my market.”
Justin Yale of Gwinn, Michigan, who has provided trucking services for the logging industry for ten years, gives further insight into the peril the pandemic has sent the industry into, “I provide trucking services to the raw timber product producers. Tonnage hauled so far this year is down 72% from this time last year.”
Without assistance from the CFAP program loggers have turned to Congress and the Administration seeking help from the next COVID relief package through the Logger Relief Act.
Bipartisan Logger Relief bills were introduced in the Senate (S.4233) by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), and in the House (H.R. 7690) by Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) and Representative David Rouzer (R-NC). Specifically, the bills would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make economic relief payments to logging and log trucking businesses who experienced losses of greater than 10% in the first two quarters of 2020 (as compared to 2019). The program would be similar to others already enacted by Congress for agricultural producers such as CFAP. Members of Congress from 13 states have co-sponsored the Logger Relief Act.
2020 Timber Harvesting Logging Business of the Year, McManus Timber Company
8/25/2020 — McManus Timber Co. of Winnfield, La. is the 2020 Timber Harvesting Logging Business of the Year, named by Timber Harvesting magazine in its September-October 2020 issue. McManus Timber Co. is the 23rd logging operation to win this prestigious national award, which began in 1998, and the first logging company from Louisiana. The award honors contractors who operate top-notch logging companies in the woods, make an impact in their communities and work to build a better forest products industry.
Tony & Liz McManus
Owners Tony and Liz McManus have been leaders in the Winnfield community their entire lives, and McManus Timber has been one of the largest employers in Winn Parish over the years—with 30 currently on the payroll. The McManuses say one of the keys to their success over the years is the combined work ethic among the four family members—Tony and Liz, and their daughter Toni and her husband Josh McAllister. Toni broke it down for Timber Harvesting like this, “For everything to work right with McManus Timber Co., I am more concerned about my families and taking care of them and them being happy on the jobs, being appreciated and respected. Josh is straightforward, this is how the job works; my dad brings another element. It’s a perfect balance. Unlike where it is just one person’s business, it’s a like a family, so we all feel like we’re family.”
Toni, Landry & Josh McAllister
The company operates three logging crews and runs 11 log hauling trucks. Many employees have been with the McManuses for years, including a saw man with 37 years on the job and the trucking foreman with 25. Working primarily with Weyerhaeuser, the crews plan ahead for typically wet winter work, and all operations are fully compliant with state and federal environmental regulations.
A big part of the Timber Harvesting Logging Business of the Year Award is loggers who take the time to give back to the industry and work to create better relationships among the industry, landowners and the public. Politically active, the McManus family has long served the logging community in Louisiana: Tony McManus helped start the Louisiana Loggers Self-Insured Fund 25 years ago, and remains active today, serving as Vice Chair; while daughter Toni is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Loggers Association. Josh McAllister is President of the LLA’s PAC, and serves as the Police Jury President for Winn Parish.
For the McManuses, focusing on family first has led to success in the woods, leadership roles in the community and a better working environment for all Louisiana loggers.
Founded in 1952, Timber Harvesting is America’s only national logging magazine. Timber Harvesting is part of Hatton-Brown Publishers, the forest products industry’s leading publishing, media and event company.
For more information, visit timberharvesting.com. Contact Managing Editor Dan Shell, dan@hattonbrown.com.
Peterson Questions Data and Methodology Used in Making USDA CFAP Payments
WASHINGTON (August 21, 2020) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota sent a letter Friday urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to clarify how USDA determined the eligibility of different crops and livestock and poultry species for payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, or CFAP. In the letter, the lawmakers contend that the data used by the Department to calculate CFAP payments was limited to only the earliest parts of the pandemic, missing the full extent of damage to different commodities.
“Some would argue that the full agricultural market impact of the closure of schools, restaurants, catering, and agricultural processing facilities due to the COVID-19 public health crisis were not fully realized during the CFAP covered period, with losses for many commodities extending well into the second and third quarters of this year,” wrote Peterson.
Additionally, Peterson took issue with the reasons certain commodities were denied payments.
“Hundreds of commodities were denied CFAP eligibility for ‘insufficient data’ and ‘lack of information,’ though it would seem that the well documented shut-down of school meals, restaurants, and food service demand would have impacted those food crops, and the loss of export, landscape, and retail markets for the non-food crops (e.g., pima cotton) and livestock/poultry,” he wrote. “And, producers of processed food commodities (e.g., raisins) and aquaculture seem to have been completely excluded from the program.”
“Without consistent public clarity on what data USDA deems sufficient for use or how USDA is analyzing this data, the program is at risk of public distrust and other commodities seeking future program eligibility are placed at a disadvantage,” added Peterson. “Given this and the continued market uncertainty during the ongoing national emergency, I trust USDA is working to assist producers this summer who have suffered significant market disruptions and been denied access to CFAP to date.”
The full letter is available here.
TIGERCAT RELEASES H-SERIES SKIDDERS
Tigercat’s advanced, efficient and refined skidders just got a whole lot better with a completely redesigned operator station and numerous advancements to boost productivity and minimize downtime.
Tigercat H-series skidders introduce a new, larger cab, while improving serviceability, reliability, and efficiency. The new skidder line includes the release of the 620H, 630H, and 632H four-wheel models, as well as the 625H and 635H six-wheel models.
The redesigned operator station provides 20% more cab space than the previous E-series design. Window area has increased by 19% offering superior forward and rear visibility. Additional low side windows allow for better sightlines to all tires.
A new and improved Turnaround® system lets the operator rotate the seat 220°. Effortless pushbutton controls lock and unlock the seat in any position in the range. The operator has full control of all machine functions including drive controls. The 220° seat rotation improves operator visibility, greatly reduces neck strain, and allows the operator to easily exit either side of the cab.
A durable, heavy duty air ride suspension seat with heating and cooling keeps the operator comfortable all day long. The reclining seat is fully adjustable with seat angle and seat extension adjustment. Tilt up adjustable armrests along with adjustable lumbar support all contribute to operator comfort. A secure five-point harness comes standard for improved safety.
A completely redesigned HVAC system provides more efficient cooling capacity, 50% more air vents, infinitely variable fan speed, and an automatic defrost option. A ventilated cup holder with adjustable airflow keeps your drink hot or cold. Dedicated storage locations are set aside with space for a lunch box, hooks for a hardhat and jacket, along with a sturdy cell phone holder and convenient charging port.
The interior finish includes a state-of-the-art LCD touchscreen display. Interior walls are made of molded plastics and removable steel panels making cleaning a breeze. On the floor you will find an easy-clean rubber floor mat with checkered aluminum plates at high touch points for added durability.
Operator controls are now located on the armrests and include several new features. Independent differential lock buttons are easily accessible on the joystick with the ability to engage the front and rear separately. LED lights above the buttons illuminate making it crystal clear when they are active. A cruise control button is also available to maintain the drive command for the operator.
All H-series skidders feature load-sensing hydraulics with larger, more efficient valves. Hydraulic tank capacity has increased 20% for improved steep slope performance, along with improved level detection and more robust mounting. Horsepower has increased on the 620H, 630H, 632H, and 635H models. The 620H and 630H are now equipped with larger arch and boom cylinders. The 625H is equipped with larger arch and boom cylinders, along with larger steer and dozer cylinders – all to maximize productivity.
Engine enclosure doors have been reinforced to resist impacts. T-style compression latches ensure they stay securely closed. Belly doors now use pivot bolts to effortlessly swing open and a new smaller door makes accessing the fluid drain plugs a breeze. When tilting the cab is necessary, new ‘quarter turn’ locking pins, adjustable sweep brackets, and a larger tilt cylinder make the job much simpler. Batteries, drain hoses and fill hoses are now easily accessible within the left side step. A robust tire pressure monitoring system now comes standard on all models.
Vermont Forest Stabilization Grant Program
The Governor signed Act 138 on July 2, 2020, including funding and the framework for a Forest Economy Stabilization Grant Program (FESG), to provide $5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds available to qualifying businesses in Vermont's forest economy. The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is working with state agencies and the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) to deliver this program to provide economic relief to forest products businesses experiencing economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency.
FESG Program Eligibility
The eligibility criteria under which we’ll be reviewing applications are now finalized.
To be eligible for the Forest Economy Stabilization Grant program, a forest products business must meet the conditions below:
Be a forest products business primarily engaged in managing, harvesting, trucking, processing, manufacturing, crafting, or distributing forest or wood products[A] ("primarily engaged in means more than 50% of the annual gross revenue for the entity applying is derived from one of these types of forest products activities[B]); and
Any portion of the forest or wood products must be derived from Vermont forests; and
Your forest products business must have experienced economic harm, related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, that was $5,000 or more in cumulative revenue loss in the months of March, April, May, June and July of 2020, when compared to the cumulative revenue in the same months of 2019.
The applicant also…
Is domiciled or has its primary place of business in Vermont.
Was open and active before February 1, 2020.
Is open at the time of application, or is required to have closed due to COVID-19 restrictions but can certify to its intention to re-open when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Is not a business or organization, nor a subsidiary of a business or organization, nor owned by a business or organization, that reported more than $20,000,000 in total revenue.
Is not currently in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Is in good standing with the Vermont Department of Taxes.
Is in good standing with the Vermont Secretary of State.
Is compliant with local, state and federal labor laws.
[A] “Forest products business” include consulting forestry services and secondary manufacturers of wood products.
[B] Applicants that meet the two factors for eligibility are normally businesses that fall under these NAICS codes, which are advisory for applicants.
If you DO meet these FESG eligibility criteria, and plan to apply for an FESG grant in early August, you should begin organizing documentation (see below) that will be required to support an application. And sign up for our listserv to stay informed on when these grants will be announced and other related details. All documents must be in PDF format.
2020 Income statement (profit and loss), broken down by month
2019 Income statement (profit and loss), broken down by month
2019 Federal Tax Returns
2019 State Tax Returns
A summary of state and federal COVID relief program payments, including PPP, EIDL and other SBA backed loans, any insurance payments that covered revenue loss, and other state CRF grants.
If you DO NOT meet the eligibility criteria above, and have one or more non-owner employees, you should consider applying for ACCD's Economic Recovery Grants, or, for some working lands businesses, there will also be an announcement coming soon regarding funding opportunities from the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, for which you may be eligible.
Forest products businesses can potentially apply and be eligible for grants from other agencies; however, if funded, they will be ineligible to apply for the Forest Economy Stabilization Grant Program. Only one grant from Vermont's Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) will be awarded per business entity, identified by Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number.
What is the difference between the FESG Program and ACCD’s Emergency Economic Recovery Grants?
While the same basic criteria will apply across all state program (e.g. domiciled in the state of Vermont, good standing with state agencies, no duplicate awards to one FEIN or SSN for the same expenses or revenue loss covered by another program, in business or intend to reopen, etc.), there is not a requirement to have one or more non-owner employees but there are additional criteria specific to forest products businesses for the FESG Program. The language in Act 138 allows for eligible applicants to be reimbursed at a higher maximum dollar amount ($100,000 vs. $50,000) than other programs. You cannot receive a grant award from both and both programs will be first come, first serve.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Headquarters Officially Established in Grand Junction, Colorado
Relocation of staff resources enhances the Bureau’s ability to serve the American public
August 10, 2020Grand Junction, Colo. – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed Secretary’s Order (SO) 3382 formally establishing the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado. The formal designation completes the process of relocating the federal agency headquarters closer to both the land it administers and to its employees.
“This relocation strengthens our relationship with communities in the West by ensuring decisionmakers are living and working closer to the lands they manage for the American people. This effort will also save a great deal of money that can be reinvested in our field operations,” said Secretary Bernhardt.
“Day after day our BLM leadership team is called on to make decisions that impact the lives of families in the West. There are neither maps nor memos that replace the wisdom gained by putting your feet in the dirt of the land you manage and speaking face-to-face with the individuals who must live with the consequences of those decisions. This is how you build trust with those we serve,” said Casey Hammond, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management.
“The BLM strives to be a good neighbor and responsible steward of America’s public lands. Relocating our headquarters West furthers that effort,” said Deputy Director for Policy and Programs, exercising the authority of the Director, William Perry Pendley. “We also worked hard to ensure that each of those employees unable to move found a job in the Washington, D.C. metro area. And the folks who wanted to move West are—or soon will be—settled in various Western cities.”
By the end of August, most assigned staff will be on duty in the headquarters office.
BLM Headquarters Office Media Contact: blm_press@blm.gov
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In fiscal year 2018, the diverse activities authorized on BLM-managed lands generated $105 billion in economic output across the country. This economic activity supported 471,000 jobs and contributed substantial revenue to the U.S. Treasury and state governments, mostly through royalties on minerals.
Time to Act: Support the Logger Relief Package (HR 7690 and S.4233)
The American Loggers Council (ALC) and state logging associations are supporting bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Congress that provides economic relief to timber harvesters and timber haulers impacted by COVID-19.
Please urge your federal representatives to approve these measures (HR 7690 and S.4233) BY SUBMITTING YOUR LETTER TO CONGRESS NOW! (TAKES LESS THAN 5 MINS)
The ALC proposed the "Logger Relief Package" in May. Wood products manufacturers have reduced their consumption as a result of reduced or lost markets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ripple effect has been a reduction in the amount of wood fiber being sourced from the forest by the small, family-owned logging and log trucking businesses.
Assuming the country's economy reopens this summer, analysts predict it could take two years for log markets to recover. This amount of time will be a significant challenge for loggers and log truckers to survive and remain whole to continue their operations. Loggers and log truckers could go out of business and the entire value supply chain could be significantly disrupted as a result. With high operating costs, diminished markets and low returns on investments, logging capacity throughout the United States could be deeply reduced and new investments into the logging sector will be limited.
In order to sustain the supply chain, the Logger Relief Package would provide a grant program for those contractors that harvested or delivered wood to various mills across the country in 2019.
Contractors would be able to apply for a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist them with their ability to continue business operations for the next twelve months while their markets attempt to recover, much like the assistance already given to other producers of agricultural commodities.
Funds could be used for business operating expenses such as equipment loan payments, maintenance costs, consumables such as fuel and oil expenses, required insurance payments and other fixed and variable costs not already covered in existing federal payment programs such as the Payroll Protection Program and other Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.