LA Logger Inside - Louisiana Forestry Association
Transcription
LA Logger Inside - Louisiana Forestry Association
Breeland Logging Rock Solid VOLUME 20 • No. 3 • JULY 2015 Breeland Logging a steady team . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Training classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 Paper for this publication produced in the U.S.A. The Louisiana Logging Council P.O. Box 5067 • Alexandria, LA 71307-5067 Presorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 270 Alexandria, LA 71307 Large or small, Caterpillar® machines feature fuel-saving hydraulic systems that provide high swing torque, fast swing speeds and incredible lift capacity to reduce cycle times and lower cost per ton. At the same time, Cat engines, with ACERT™ Technology, provide power and fuel efficiency that’s unmatched in the industry, ensuring high performance in all forestry applications. Louisiana Cat is behind you all the way with reliable and unrivaled dealer support, factory trained technicians and fully equipped facilities. And don’t forget about the wide range of options that deliver performance in even the toughest logging jobs, whether it’s picking and sorting, bunching and loading, or pull-through delimbing. It’s game’s over for the competition! Call our toll free number below to learn more about our Caterpillar products and services. 866-843-7440 info@LouisianaCat.com www.LouisianaCat.com ALEXANDRIA 3575 N Bolton Ave. HAMMOND 42440 Jackson Rd. LAKE CHARLES 5415 E. Broad St. PRAIRIEVILLE 16613 Airline Hwy. BOSSIER CITY 5606 Industrial Dr. LAFAYETTE 100 Boyce Dr. MONROE 2201 Ticheli Rd. RESERVE 3799 West Airline Hwy. © 2013 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. www.cat.com www.caterpillar.com Legislature is over; what’s ahead? The 2015 Legislative Session is over and nearly $1 billion was raised to fund higher education and health care. Businesses will pay the $1 billion in a convoluted manner of loss of tax credits, higher utility bills, and reduction in economic incentives for expansion and creation of new jobs.Those who smoke will see the price of a pack of cigarettes rise by 50 cents a pack or $5 a carton. These revenue measures will take effect July 1 of 2015. The smoking revenue would raise $100 million for the State General Fund. Proponents of the revenue increase stated that for every 10% increase in the pack of cigarettes approximately 7,000 people would stop or not start smoking. With that logic, Louisiana should see about 70,000 people stop or not start smoking. This was directed more at young people who would not be able to afford the higher prices. At the beginning of the session we were concerned over losing the sales tax exemptions for forest products machinery, parts, and lubricants used by loggers and the forest industry. That did not happen and it is a victory for those in the logging and forest industry. There was much squabbling over whether the revenue increases were a tax or a revenue offset. The semantics raised questions of constitutionality and whether the raises would go into effect as planned. It looks like they will be uncontested since cuts to higher ed, health care, and state agencies are threatened if they don’t. We should probably ask ourselves how we got into this situation in the first place. Some point to the federal dollars coming into the state for Katrina recovery. This embarrassment of riches had “Essentially we spent more than what Louisiana could afford.” legislators and others falling over themselves figuring how to spend it. It is now coming back to haunt us on the 10th anniversary of Katrina reaching the Louisiana shore. Others blame the situation on business incentives, tax breaks, and economic development. The solar industry and motion picture industry took much of the attention but all industry was affected when the final motion was made to Louisiana Logger President Buzz Jenkins Robeline 318-472-6407 buzzjenkins@gmail.com Gracee Malone-Texada, Staff Assistant 318 443-2558 gmalone@laforestry.com Published quarterly by the Louisiana Logging Council P.O. Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 318 - 443-2558 Chapter Chairmen Chapter 6 - Malcolm Chapter 1 - Lawrence Hill Sibley Spearsville • 318-778-9900 Walker • 225-686hill_jclaw@yahoo.com 7935 Caskey Terrell kstimber@aol.com Farmerville • 318-368-8822 Chapter 7 - Ralph Roe Jr. terrallogging@aol.com Robeline• 318-481-4781 Chapter 2 - John Keith and Skeet ralphroe.rr@gmail.com Hodgkins For information about Haughton • 318-949-3672 articles or advertising, skeet@suddenlinkmail.com please call Janet Chapter 3 - Jack McFarland Tompkins at 318Winnfield • 318-727-9696 443-2558. mcfarlandtimber@aol.com Joshue McAllister For information on Winnfield • 318- 729-1727 classes or training jntmcallister@aol.com records, consult the Chapter 4 - Tommy Frazier website: Boyce • 318-793-8659 www.laforestry.com frzraie@att.net or call Gracee MaloneChapter 5 - Angie Bonner/Lisa Texada at 318-443McCain • Evans •337-286-9837 2558. bonnerlogging@yahoo.com adjourn the session. Essentially when all was said and done, we spent more than what Louisiana could afford. That doesn’t work in your personal finances and it certainly does- Vandersteen n’t work in government. What’s next? This year is an election for every member of the Louisiana House, Senate, and statewide officials. They will be coming to ask for your vote. We should be asking them how they plan to address the problem of state finances. It is a consensus among followers of the legislative process that a Special Session will be called early in 2016 to address the long-term question of funding state government. A new governor will have just taken office as well as a new legislature. This will be a very critical time in the history of Louisiana and we will definitely be involved. You may want to attend the Louisiana Forestry Association’s Annual Convention at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, August 25-27 to hear the gubernatorial candidates discuss how they will fix Louisiana’s financial woes and where they will find the revenue. Louisiana roads and bridges were a big topic during the session too. With over $12 billion in road and bridge repair needs, the legislature resisted raising gas taxes but directed money in the Transportation Fund be used for roads and not siphoned off to other agencies like State Police. So little of the gas tax money we pay at the pumps goes to roads. We agree to tax ourselves to pay for roads, not for pension funds to retiring Dept. of Transportation employees. This began to be addressed during this session with dedications of money only for roads. However, the dedication was only a fraction of the money generated by the taxes we pay at the pumps. This is a big issue for our us and our ability to move forest products. (Buck Vandersteen is the executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association and Louisiana Logging Council.) Third Quarter 2015 3 Breeland Logging, LLC George Breeland –– Thinning Specialist By Janet Tompkins The Breeland crew from left are Joseph Johnson, Philip McKinney, George Breeland and Catherine Breeland. Not pictured is Jackie Greer. Jonesboro contractor “keeps on keeping on” George Breeland, Jonesboro logging He started contracting under Kent shear is the first shear he bought and still contractor, was working a first thinning Greer for the first couple of years before on the job. Shear operator Jackie Greer is on a 135-acre tract for Plum Creek near signing on with Plum Creek to do first a master at the machine, Milner said. Farmerville in early June and was really thinnings. “We thin our tracts to a certain basal area glad to be working and not watching the “This crew is among the best for and he nails it on the basal area without rain. BMPs,” said Robert Milner, Plum Creek much instruction.” “This year we are down about 6,000 forester who works with Breeland. The logging crew has been working tons due to the wet rainy weather,” he Milner said when the crew is done the within 70 miles of his Jonesboro home said, a story told over and over sometimes almost to the again by loggers in both north and Arkansas line. The products typisouth Louisiana this year. They go to Graphic Packaging in “When the crew is done the creeks cally plan to work six days a week to Farmerville or West Monroe. A catch up for awhile if the rains will be clear and the water bars few logs might go to Huttig, Ark. hold off. His crew consists of Greer, will be fantastic.” Breeland hauled nearly 65,000 Joseph Johnson, and Philip tons last year with his crew of three McKinney. His equipment in the woods. His daughter, includes: Catherine, is also his new safety coordicreeks will be clean and the water bars • 2014 CAT D6 dozer nator and wife, Julia, is the office managwill be “fantastic.” The dozer, that • 2013 525C skidder er. Breeland usually runs himself, also helps • 2012 519 loader A native of Winn Parish, Breeland has with opening access for the jobs. • 2011 559 B delimber been working in the woods most of his When asked about the BMP work, • 2005 718 shear life. He logged on a few crews, then ran Breeland was matter-of-fact. “It’s time • 2 service trucks his own trucking company with a fleet of consuming but it’s got to be done.” After running a trucking business, three vehicles for 15 years before going Wife Julia said her husband’s greatest now Breeland prefers to contract trucks into logging on his own. That was 10 strength is his work ethic. “He just keeps with Bilberry Trucking of West Monroe years ago and he doesn’t regret it. on keeping on.” She added that her husand Malcolm Lee of Farmerville. band “can fix anything.” Breeland said he has been working in Breeland has worked clearcuts in the the woods since he was about 21 but his COVER PHOTO: George Breeland, 56past but said he’s happy with Plum step-father Floyd Weeks was a forester year-old owner of Breeland Logging LLC Creek and with the first thinnings. “It’s for Continental Can and he also had a runs a one crew thinning operation working with Plum Creek. (Photo by Janet easier on your equipment.” His TigerCat short wood operation on the side. “He Tompkins) 4 always said ‘if you get pine resin in your veins, it’s hard to get it out,” said Breeland. He credits one of his former employers—Bucky Franklin—with helping him learn some of the key things about managing people in a business. “You treat people how you want to be treated,” he said. Julia Breeland echoed his words as well. “We have to pay enough to make it worth their time. We know what it’s like to run out of money before the end of the week.” George recounts those first few years after he made his down payment on equipment and got into the business. “It was tough,” he said. But with the rise in the cost of equipment that would not have even been possible today, said both George and Julia. Julia handles parts, payroll, taxes and anything else that is needed. “Dad had a store for a time in Jonesboro, and I started keeping books early on.” She also took classes at Louisiana Tech and said the recent Business Management class she attended as part of the Master Logger core classes was very informative. Forester Robert Milner (right) with Plum Creek looks over the map of a Union Parish tract in early June with logging contractor George Breeland. Their daughter, 22-year-old Catherine, left her job as a beautician to come out to the woods as well. She attended the Master Logger Core classes and is the safety coordinator for the job. She hopes to get established and then can work with other contractors as well. “Catherine has a lot to learn but she’ll do it,” said her father. Breeland is safety conscious and has had no claims on workman’s comp in his 10 years in business. Breeland said he likes logging, “being outside and being my own boss.” He also said that Plum Creek is a good company to work for. Plum Creek has fiber agree- Alexandria and Baton Rouge Alexandria • 318- 448-6211 Baton Rouge • 225-923-3450 ments for both Graphic Packaging and for Drax Biomass, that is just getting started on its pellet production in nearby Bastrop. These guaranteed agreements mean a more stable environment for contractors. His daughter said the dining room conversation for most of her life has been all about logging—the good and the bad. “He’s put in the time; he’s put in the work, all for his family, for us,” she said. She and her sister Jennifer are both barrel racers and have always had horses. They also raise and show miniature cows. Hard work has built a close family that recognizes that the business has brought good things to them all. “God has blessed us to get us here,” said Julia. (Janet Tompkins is the editor of the Louisiana Logger magazine and Forests & People magazine.) Plan to attend the Louisiana Forestry Annual Meeting Aug. 2527 at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles. Information is on our website at www.laforestry.com. Six hours CLE credit for attending. 5 Billboards promoting the professionalism of loggers went up in June in both the Monroe area and on Interstate 12 in Holden. Logger Dennis “Scooty” Aucoin Jr.(shown above) is featured in the Holden ad and Kenneth Morgan of Natchitoches is shown on the digital board in Monroe. Committee works to revamp Core Classes; reduce them to 2 days It’s time for revamping the Master Logger Core classes and a committee is working on the new and improved sessions. “We looked to update the material to make it more relevant to today,” said Marty Toms, chairman of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) committee. “We needed more streamlined sessions with modern equipment displayed,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen. “We also heard loggers’ requests to make the time spent less than four days. We hope to present all the needed material in a two-day format for next year.” Work is ongoing with several company foresters working and Jack McFarland representing loggers in the discussions. The 2015 classes in the fall are still scheduled under the older format. Starting in 2014 there has been an increase in the number of people taking the Master Logger Core classes, a sign of better times in the industry. People must take 6 hours of continuing education classes after the core classes in order to get their annual card. RoyOMartin starts logger training program Five students are enrolled in a training course through the Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Alexandria. The apprenticeship program for log truck drivers and equipment operators is in partnership with Perforex, a subsidiary of RoyOMartin. The five students are employees of Perforex while completing the class. “We’re going to pay them as they go through the training,” said Bill McDermott of ROM. There is a 3-month truck driving segment that includes CDL training and experience shadowing drivers on the job. The second part of the training will involve timber operator training classes. 6 Trey Pike drives a logging skidder carrying residents of the flooded Knights Forest subdivision in Hardin, Texas May 28. Pike used the vehicle to transport residents, as well as needed supplies, in and out of the flooded subdivision. (Jason Fochtman/Conroe Courier via AP) Bob Wall named FRA SouthCentral Logger of Year The Forest Resources Association and STIHL Incorporated honored Bob Wall, owner of Wall Timber as the Southcentral Region 2015 Outstanding Logger at FRA’s Southcentral Region Awards Dinner in Morrilton, Ark. on May 13. FRA’s Southcentral Region Chairman Arnulfo Zendejas presented Bob Wall with a wooden crosscut-saw plaque, and STIHL Southwest’s Monte Woody presented him with a STIHL MS 461 chain saw and $250 check. Wall, who lives in Osyka, Miss.but works in Louisiana, was nominated by the Louisiana Logging Council for the regional award. He was also the 2013 Outstanding Louisiana Logger. Bob Wall started logging from scratch as a very young man and has now built his logging operation to encompass 9 crews, about 30 trucks, and approximately 80 employees. As with many other logging businesses, Wall Timber is a family operation, with Bob’s wife Kim managing the administrative work of the business as well as the trucking opera- Bob Wall (right-center), FRA’s 2015 Southcentral Region Outstanding Logger, is shown with FRA President Deb Hawkinson (far left), STIHL’s Monte Woody (left-center), and SCR Chairman Arnulfo Zendejas (far right). tion. Bob’s brother and his two sons-inlaw also play lead roles in the business. FRA’s Outstanding Logger Award program is designed to raise the visibility of professional logging contractors and to encourage other loggers to adopt the performance of the award winners. The Regional Award winner becomes a nominee for FRA’s National Outstanding Logger recognition. Moulton Logging Inc., based in West Charleston, Vt., was chosen as 2015 National Outstanding Logger at the Nashville meeting of the FRA. Technical writing award from FRA goes to 2 from La. The two Technical Writing awards given by the Fotest Resources Association both went to men from Louisiana’s forest community. First place award was Jesse Bolton of RoyOMartin who authored the piece on the company’s “Turnaround Time App for Smartphones “(14-R-16). Second place was David Cupp of Walsh Timber Company in Zwolle. His topic was “Truck Turnaround Time Improvement Opportunities at Mills” (14-R-14). Bolton’s paper described the smartphone app which he helped to develop that gives loggers current information on wait-times for unloading at both of the Martin mills. Following free installation on an Android or iPhone, loggers can obtain unloadng times, number of trucks waiting and average scale-to-scale turntimes for the past five loads a either mill. to help them make decisions about what porduct to load next. One feature of the app includes a serial publications from FRA’s quarterly magazine. Single copies of the winning publications are available at no charge on request from FRA at 202-296-3937. Refer to the stock number as seen in parentheses in this story. EPA still pushing on waters Jesse Bolton photo of the entrance road and scales, which is updated every 10 minutes. Bolton donated his $500 award to the Log A Load for Kids campaign. Cupp’s release describes many recommendations for woodyard managers, scale house operators and wood procurement strategists to consider for improving truck turn times. The annual award recognizes the best EPA published its final rule defining Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) that are subject to its regulations despite a bill passed by the House nullifying their enlarged regulations. In part of the new rule it seems to exempt normal silvicultural and ag activities but in another its enlarges its oversight to ditches, ephemeral and intermittent streams, and other water bodies that would require permitting. “If Congress passes these bills to stop the EPA enlargement of the definition of navigable waterways and the President vetoes it, we will be left with these unworkable permitting rules,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen, LFA executive director. 7 Mooreʼs Retread & Tire 409 Keyser Ave. Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 352-8354 Mooreʼs Retread & Tire 8901 Linwood Ave. Shreveport, LA 71106 (318) 687-7951 8 Stop by and see us today! Mooreʼs Retread & Tire 2600 N Medford Dr. Lufkin, Tx 75901 (936) 632-6706 Moore-Grant Goodyear 629 N 3rd St Alexandria, LA 71301 Mooreʼs Retread & Tire 15275 FM 968 West Longview, TX 75602 (903) 236-8883 Providing mineral supplementation for white-tailed deer include better antler formation and By Don Reed The 2014-15 deer season has come and gone and while most growth among bucks, along with better hunters have turned their thoughts to other pursuits, it’s impor- lactation rates among does. One mineral lick per 300 acres is gentant not to forget a management activity that is extremely imporerally thought to be sufficient and the tant to the health and productivity of any deer herd. Spring and summer are the time when mineral supplementations in the form greatest use occurs in early spring, dropping off somewhat in the summer and of salt licks are sought after by does and bucks. Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Zinc, and Cobalt are lacking fall. While not utilized to a great extent Don Reed in many of our soils throughout the southeast. Furthermore, cal- during the winter, licks should be constructed this time of year in order to give cium and sodium are highly sought after by deer which utilize these elements for many bodily functions of maintenance and the mixture time to soak into the soil and rotten logs for utigrowth. The attractiveness that deer have for sodium chloride lization in the spring. High salt concentrations are not neces(NaCl or table salt) can serve as a carrier in providing other sary as indicated by natural licks that are known to be very important (although less palatable) minerals into the diet of these attractive to deer when concentrations of sodium are only 200 animals. Studies have shown that deer need Calcium and to 300 parts per million. Salt will leach through the ground Phosphorus in a dietary ratio of 2:1. The mineral composition of however, especially when licks are constructed on sandy soils antlers and bone in white-tailed deer are composed of 20 percent or slopes. For this reason, licks should be recharged every year after their initial construction calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. with the same 150 pound mixIn order to provide this proper “The mineral composition of antlers ture. There is still much debate ratio, mineral licks should contain a and bone in white-tailed deer are over the benefits of mineral supconcentration of approximately 16 plementation in white-tailed deer percent calcium and 8 percent phos20 percent calcium and 10 management, with most biolophorus mixed into a well- balanced percent phosphorus. gists ranking it below overall habitrace mineral salt. Many commercial tat quality and population density mineral blocks are available that have calcium and phosphorus as ingredients but few at these recom- in maintaining a deer herd. It is however an inexpensive link in the management chain for providing a greater degree of mended concentration levels. For this reason, the distribution means for this proper ratio is quality in the antlered bucks and lactating does within that best provided in loose granular form. Commercially available herd. (Dr. Don Reed is a forestry and wildlife specialist with the granular trace mineral salts contain approximately 98 percent salt (NaCl) along with a number of important trace minerals such as LSU AgCenter. Email him at dreed@agcenter.lsu.edu.) zinc, iron, magnesium, copper and iodine. Trace mineral salt provides the salt that deer need and crave while calcium and phosphorus are provided by two products, easily obtainable from local By Niels de Hoop co-op’s and feed stores. The USDL Occupational Safety & Health Administration Calcium carbonate and dicalcium phosphate are used exten(OSHA) requires a particular poster (“Job Safety and Health sively as a nutritional supplement in dairy cattle feed mixes. – It’s the Law!”) to be posted at every job site where employWhen these components are mixed with trace mineral salt, deer ees will have a regular opportunity to read it. Basically, the are provided one of the best mineral supplementation formulas poster informs employees of their right to have a safe workavailable. place. The method for constructing these mineral licks varies widely OSHA issued a press release April 29 unveiling a new verfrom using rotten logs to simply pouring the mixture on the sion of the poster. It still contains the same worker rights ground. A method that I prefer and one that I have seen widely information, but it contains added employer information. used is to pile rotten logs up in a crisscrossing fashion up to a Namely, it reminds employers of the new reporting height of 3 to 4 feet. Mixed among the layers of rotten wood is requirement: any fatal accident must be reported within 8 soil, along with the loose mineral mixture. This provides a stable hours, and any accident that requires hospitalization, results base in which the salt and minerals will slowly leach down into in amputation (including tip of finger), or results in loss of the loose soil and wood by rainfall and gravity. Deer will literally eye must be reported within 24 hours. It also informs employeat the soil and rotten wood over time in order to obtain salt and ers of their responsibilities to train all workers, comply with when doing so will take in the needed calcium and phosphorus. OSHA standards, and post citations. A simple rule of thumb in constructing salt licks is to mix 50 Previous versions do not need to be replaced. However, I pounds each of trace mineral salt, calcium carbonate, and dicalcibet they will be one day. The new version can be found at um phosphate. Suggested benefits from mineral supplements https://www.osha.gov/Publications/poster.html . New OSHA safety poster 9 ! NOTHING TAMES THE FOREST LIKE A DEERE. C Call all or dr drop op by any any off our o Louisiana Louisiana loc locations ations ffor or ccomplete omplete of offer fer de details. tails. 318-442-0455 Alexandria 318-442 442-0455 Baton B aton Rouge Rouge 225-291-3750 225-291 291-3750 Covington 985-893-3005 C ovington 985-893 893-3005 504-466-5577 Kenner 504-466 466-5577 337-837-9481 LLafayette afayette 337-837 837-9481 Lake Charles 337-626-8502 La ke C harles 337-626 626-8502 318-343-8787 Monroe 318-343 343-8787 Shreveport 318-631-3090 631-3090 S hreveport 318-631 10 In 22015, 015, these these game-changing game-changing wheeled wheeled machines machines w will ill ta take ke llogging ogging to a nnew ew llevel evel ooff pproductivity. roductivity. Thanks ughest, m ost pproductive roductive Thanks to iinput nput frfrom om gguys uys llike ike yyou, ou, th they’ll ey’ll bbee th thee to toughest, most ever made. made. B ecause aatt JJohn ohn D eere, W e’re Fo oggers. equipment we’ve equipment we’ve ever Because Deere, We’re Forr LLoggers. www.doggettgroup.com www.doggettgroup.com CONTINUING EDUCATION Forestry Technology & Financial Freedom, $40*, 6 hrs. CLE Johnny Thompson of Landmark Systems will demonstrate the latest woods ready technology for loggers along with a second half class on making financial decisions that will help your long term quality of life. ______ July 15, Pineville, Country Inn & Suites, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., 2727 Monroe Hwy. ______ Nov. 17, Ruston, First National Bank, 2001 N. Trenton St., Hwy. 167 N. ______ Nov. 18, Pineville, Country Inn & Suites, 2727 Monroe Hwy. ______ Nov. 19, DeRidder, War Memorial Civic Center, 250 West 7th St. * All classes are $20 for La. Logging Council members if pre-registered. $100 if paying at the door. ONLY Business Management under the core classes may be taken for 6 hrs. CLE. Name: ____________________________________ Company: _________________________________ Address: _________________________________ City, State Zip: _____________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ Cell phone: _________________________________ ❑ Check here if La. Logging Council member company Make check payable to LA Forestry Association and mail to: LA Forestry Association PO Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 Or charge to credit card: AmEx ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa ❑ Discover ❑ Card Number ______________________________________ Expiration ______________________ Name on Card _______________________ Signature ______________________________ You can email this form to gmalone@laforestry.com or fax to (318) 443-1713 if paying by credit card. Other opportunities: Pipeline Safety Classes will be offered in August and September around the state. Each class is worth 2 hrs CLE. See our website under “Master Loggers” and “Classes” for a link. MASTER LOGGER CLASS Classes will be held at the Country Inn & Suites, 2727 Monroe Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360 For overnight guests, you can call (318) 641-8332, ask for Sarah Atwood and tell them you are with the LFA group. Pre-registration and payment required! Pre-register or pay double at the door. 6 hrs. CLE *Reduced to $20 for La. Logging Council members if pre-registered. ___ Best Management Practices Wednesday, Sept. 30 ___ Safety (TH/TS & OSHA Regulations) Thursday, Oct. 1 ___ Forestry Aesthetics/Erosion Control Wednesday, Oct. 7. ___ Business Management Thursday, Oct. 8 $40* $40* $40 $40* Or: Attend these classes at the Sabine Valley Technical College, 1255 Fisher Rd. Many, LA 71449. ___ Best Management Practices Tuesday, Sept. 8 8 a.m. ___ Safety (TH/TS & OSHA Regulations) Wednesday, Sept. 9 8 a.m. ___ Forestry Aesthetics/Erosion Control Thursday, Sept. 10 8 a.m. ___ Business Management Friday, Sept. 11 8 a.m. $40* $40* $40 $40* Name: ____________________________________ Company: _________________________________ Address: _________________________________ City, State Zip: _____________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ Cell phone: _________________________________ ❑ Check here if La. Logging Council member company Make check payable to LA Forestry Association and mail to: LA Forestry Association PO Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 Or charge to credit card: AmEx ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa ❑ Discover ❑ Card Number ______________________________________ Expiration ______________________ Name on Card _______________________ Signature ______________________________ 11 Travis Taylor Scholarship endowed; recipient is one of the THEO class each year,” said Vandersteen. The Louisiana Forestry Foundation is dedicated to advance, promote, develop and extend education in the field of forestry, A new forestry scholarship in honor of the late Travis Taylor of Brewton’s Mill in Winn Parish has been endowed to the Louisiana Forestry Foundation by friends and family. This year the Travis Taylor Scholarship will award $1,000 to the Timber Harvesting Equipment Operator Class in Many. Taylor was a forester, logger and entrepreneur in the forestry field. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a forestry degree in 1966. He owned his own contracting business and was awarded the Louisiana Logger of the Year award in 1997. He went on to serve as president of the Louisiana Logging Council and as head the American Loggers Council (2013). “Taylor was a leader in the forest industry who strived to moved the industry forward,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen, executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association. Taylor joined with a group to help found the Southern Loggers Cooperative and was in the forefront of alternative uses for wood fiber. He was also instrumental in helping to start the Timber Harvesting Equipment Operator (THEO) program that was offered through the technical school system. Taylor died Dec. 27, 2014 after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, two daughters, five grandchildren and other family and close friends. “His work will go on with the awarding of this scholarship WestRock new name after merger of RockTenn and MeadWestvaco We’ve got your number — LOGGING — — C R O S S I N G A P I P E L I N E R I G H T O F WAY — — IMPROVING DRAINAGE — — LEVELING LAND — Please call 811 first. That’s all it takes to notify LA One Call members so that they can mark their nearby cables and pipelines. If you’re moving dirt, it’s the law. And it’s free. 12 W W W. L A O N E C A L L . C O M WestRock Company will be the name for the new company when the two packaging leaders RockTenn and MeadWestvaco Corporation complete their merger. WestRock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WRK. “WestRock draws on the strongest elements from each of our legacy names,” said Steve Voorhees, who will be the chief executive officer of WestRock Company. The pending combination between MWV and RockTenn was announced in late January. The companies have received antitrust approval in the United States and are awaiting other regulatory and shareholder approvals that are expected in June. Join the Louisiana Logging Council today! The Louisiana Logging Council works for you – lobbying our legislature and working with regulatory agencies. Do you have time to make your voice count? All you have to do is join the council today. Membership in the LLC also automatically makes you a member in the Louisiana Forestry Association. The LLC is an affiliate of the American Loggers’ Council, the national voice for logging. Annual membership ❑ Logging Contractors $250 ❑ Wood Dealers $250 ❑ Trucking contractors $250 Associate membership ❑ Equipment Dealers $300 ❑ Insurance & Banks $300 ❑ Service and Supplies $150 Name ______________________________________ Address ____________________________________ City ________________________State ___________ Zip _____________ Phone _____________________ E-mail ______________________________________ Make checks payable to the Louisiana Logging Council. Mail to LLC, PO Boc 5067, Alexandria LA 71307 As I See It: The logger shortage is right here I have some breaking news! The much anticipated logger shortage is here…at least during times of peak production. It is hitting our industry in a couple of different ways. Across the country, the “surge capacity” in our industry has all but disappeared. That part of our industry used to be made up of many small operators who often only logged part of the year but could always be called upon to help out during times of peak production. Since the “Great Recession,” most of these companies have gone out of business, moved on to more profitable ventures, or become full-time loggers. With that surge capacity gone, we are all feeling tremendous pressure to meet our customers’ demands. As employers, we are in the midst of a crisis trying to attract and retain qualified employees. This fact was driven home recently by a logger friend whose son had been working for his company. Last year, his son took a job with a construction company, making considerably more money than he had been making working as a logger. His son felt badly about leaving but, as my logger friend told me, “he’s now making the kind of money that he could never make in logging.” When you think about it, what a sad statement about logging. If we can’t even afford to pay our own children enough to stay in logging, how can we expect to keep any qualified employees? When I was young, someone could buy a house and raise a family on a logger’s wage. Now, even with a working spouse, most employees struggle just to get by. It is not at all unusual for the spouse of a logger to be the bigger breadwinner with better benefits and retirement package. It is demoralizing, considering the high level of skill required to perform most logging In order to stay in business, loggers have had to become better, more professional businessmen. We have learned how to succeed in an increasingly regulated and volatile industry. During the same time, virtually every cost has skyrocketed (equipment and financing, commercial and health insurance, workman’s comp, fuel, regulatory fees and taxes) and we have had to absorb those astronomical cost increases. The only Turner items that haven’t risen at the same pace are the prices we are paid by our customers, what we logging operators earn in profit at the end of the year, and what our employees take home on their paychecks. Yes, we have managed to stay in business but it has been at great cost to our people. Ultimately, if we cannot increase our profits, we cannot increase pay to a level that more realistically reflects the value and skills of our people to our logging operations, a level that is competitive with other industries that require workers (318) 445-4561 (318) 872-1477 (318) 742-9888 (318) 356-8811 (318) 925-8811 (318) 687-1112 (Continued on page 14) 13 As I See It (Continued from page 13) with similar skills. A retired forester recently told me that “loggers would soon be in the driver’s seat” with regards to setting logging prices. The question is, just how accurate will that statement turn out to be? I do know that this is definitely not a place loggers are accustomed to being. Typically when there is a shortage of something (loggers), its price will go up. Unfortunately, the pressure to increase logging that we’ve felt from our customers hasn’t resulted in increased prices for our services. While we would love to be able to charge whatever prices we want, the reality is that wood products are commodities. Producers of wood products are not only competing against one another; they compete against other materials. If wood products become too expensive, they will be replaced by other materials and will ultimately lose market share. So where does this leave us? If we don’t quickly improve logger compensation, the logger shortage will 14 certainly continue getting worse. As the shortage gets worse, even fewer operators will be available to meet the increasing demands of the market. Less product availability translates into higher market prices. Higher market prices will result in lower market share. This death spiral has a simple solutionpay loggers more money for the work that they do. Without strong and more-profitable loggers, the future of the entire wood products industry is in serious trouble. We loggers are the backbone of this industry. We owe it to ourselves, our employees and the entire timber industry to make reasonable profits. To do anything less will jeopardize us all and result in what timber owners probably fear the most- out of control logging costs. (Mark Turner is the current president of the Associated Oregon Loggers and serves as an officer for the American Loggers Council. He and his brother Greg operate Turner Logging located in Buxton, Oregon. For more information, please contact the American Loggers Council at 409-6250206.) Southern Pine lumber exports jump in March Exports of Southern Pine lumber made a dramatic jump in March, posting a monthly record. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service recently reported SP exports to be just over 58 million board feet (MMbf) during March 2015. This volume represents a healthy boost of 26% above the same month last year, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 3% when compared with the first three months of 2014. Offshore shipments during March roughly break down as follows: 30.7 MMbf dressed, 9.0 MMbf rough, and 18.5 MMbf treated lumber. Softwood lumber imports to the U.S. during March were just over a billion board feet, up 19% from the volume imported during March of 2014. Year-todate softwood imports are up 14% when compared with last year. www.laforestry.com Logging incidents dominated by highway accidents By Niels de Hoop Logging accidents in Louisiana were different this year in that 69% of them were highway accidents – triple the normal rate. Most of them involved log trucks, but some involved service trucks and personal vehicles. Although the OSHA and Louisiana Logging Council Partnership has melded into an Alliance that covers all members of the program, the LLC still collects accident reports from the original partners. This report is a summary of those accidents. One-hundred and sixty-five companies were contacted to submit their accident reports for 2014. There were 165 companies contacted to submit their accident reports for 2014. Eighty percent of the companies reported that they had no accidents during 2014. This is about normal. There were a few slips during mounting/dismounting of machines and trucks, which is a perpetual problem, although the industry has been doing a good job of minimizing that. The outstanding characteristic of 2014’s accidents is the highway accidents. Ten years ago, the greatest hazards to truck drivers were outside the cab – binding/unbinding, walking on rough ground, mounting/dismounting and trimming the load. These hazards still exist, but this year it was nearly all highway accidents. Not that log truck drivers had a corner on the highway accidents. A few of the accidents involved driving service trucks or driving vehicles on move day. Some of these accidents could have been prevented by greater following distance. At a minimum, follow the 2-second rule. That is, no matter what your speed, you should be at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle you are following. Count them: when the vehicle in front of you passes a landmark, count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two. If you pass the landmark early, back off. Where conditions allow, a 4-second rule is better. And if you feel compelled to look down pipelines and side roads for deer, use the 6-second rule. Speed was a factor in several log truck accidents at intersections. These are log trucks, not Ferrari’s. In a couple cases, the trucker expected the cars in front to proceed through the intersection, but they stopped. The truckers were ticketed for careless operation. Nearly all the highway accidents involved members of the public. In many of these cases, the trucker was not at fault. But regardless of who is at fault, an accident involves lost time, lost revenue and ill-will with a public who already has a low opinion of loggers (even though they live in a wood house). Therefore, Defensive Driving training is important. Please ensure that everyone who drives at all is trained in defensive driving. This topic is important enough to repeat annually (maybe more often). Although most of the highway accidents resulted only in property damage, one of the reported accidents resulted in the death to a member of the public. Also, a highway accident not reported under the OSHA Strategic Partnership program resulted in the death of a 57-year-old Mississippi log truck driver in the Florida parishes, as he failed to negotiate a left hand curve on the highway, rolled, and burned. Of course, the usual dangers are still out there, especially while performing maintenance or while mounting/dismounting, so they should continue to be emphasized in safety Niels deHoop meetings. Over the last several years, I have seen an increasing number and proportion of log truck highway accidents. This year, there was an incredible spike in highway accidents. We can control the in-woods environment, so we have made good progress there. We have much less control over the roadway environment. In the short-term, we can emphasize defensive driving and driver training, but the real solutions are long-term and require a united effort. They will undoubtedly include better driver training for the public and improvement of public roads. For a logger, that means getting involved in public policy. (C.F. “Niels” de Hoop is an associate professor at the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, LSU AgCenter. Contact: cdehoop@lsu.edu; 225-578-4242. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, McIntire Stennis project 227333.) The majority of logging accidents in 2014 were actually highway accidents (including some in towns). Most involve some sort of excessive speed or being in a hurry. Some involve dealing with distracted drivers (or being distracted). Housing starts flat across country Single family home starts fell 5.4% in May and experts predict continued slow going on housing. Multi-family rental units make up the majority of new construction (35% of the total). An Urban Institute study indicates that rental demand may continue for a decade or more due to the demographics of those typically in need of housing. Weak income growth, student debt and a growing minority population in that age group all point to rental growth over housing ownership. 15 2015 THEO class held at technical school in Many The third session of the Timber Harvesting Equipment Operator (THEO) class started May 26 at the Sabine Valley Technical College in Many. This course consists of five weeks of instruction with field trips followed by hands-on logging equipment training. “The financial and personnel involvement support from our forest industry partners has been significant and very much appreciated,” said Mike Wolff with the Natchitoches Community Alliance. Wolff is assisting with the program in Many. “The involvement from John Deere providing the logging equipment is critical to the success of this course and very much appreciated,” he said. “Thanks also to Lott Oil and the Southern Loggers Cooperative for their contribution to provide the fuel for the logging equipment during the field instruction.” Field trips have included Walsh Timber thinning and clear cut sites in 16 Shown at a visit to a thinning site are (from left) Minous Lilly, Steve Chapman, Tyler Arthur, Charlie Edwards (forester with Walsh Timber showing the class the equipment typically used in a first thinning), Zachary Kennedy, and David Carhee. Sabine Parish; a tree, disease and insect identification tour of Mary Brocato's property in Many; the Weyerhaeuser Natchitoches engineered lumber manufacturing facility and the International Paper Campti paper mill. Instructors during these first two weeks of instruction included the Louisiana Forestry Association, Walsh Timber, Morgan Logging, U. S. Forest Service, Weyerhaeuser, Hancock, Boise, Almond Brothers, Pie Martinez, the Natchitoches Community Alliance and the Sabine Valley Technical College. New Master Loggers The following people completed the Master Logger Core Class sessions in May. Terry Avant Earnest Baxley Michael Bee Dana Bloome Julia Breeland Catherine Breeland James Carter Arthur Caston Mark Chenevert Brent Fitzgerald Jason Polovich Valerie Jarreau John Johnson Jr. Robert Lott William Mathis Judy May Morgan Meshell Rodney Miller Othel Tanner Lloyd Triche Christopher Welch Luke Williams Jerral Sullivan James Schmidt Frankie Gayle Jr. Frando Qutino Jerod Keith Bo Ezernack Kevin Michelle John Hoffman Teddie Garner Cotton Bryant Randal Quick Kendrell Williams Brandon Marioneaux Heather Martin Charles Acquistapace Mark Newsom Devin Wilson Shawn Vines Keith Ethridge Carl Perkins Mark Stephens Chris Wray Joey Simpson Bryan Ezernack Winnfield Winnfield DeRidder Livingston Jonesboro Jonesboro Pollock Walker Oakdale Dodson Winnfield Hessmer Farmerville Merryville DeRidder West Monroe Zwolle Hessmer Walker Greensburg Leesville Saline Tallulah Dubach Tallulah Zwolle Haughton Haughton Zwolle Lettsworth Winnfield Pineville Ashland Roseland West Monroe Shreveport Folsom Ponchatoula Oakdale Dodson Zwolle Covington DeRidder Converse Zwolle Zwolle Subscribe to the Louisiana Logger Only Active Master Loggers have free subscriptions, but you can order one for your crew members for $12 per year. (4 issues per year) Name: ___________________________________ Mailing address: ___________________________ City, State, Zip: ___________________________ Phone: ___________________________________ Mobile phone: _____________________________ Make checks payable to: Louisiana Logging Council Mail to : PO Box 5067 Alexandria LA 71307 EAB quarantine may be expanded The emergency order quarantining ash trees and green products in Webster Parish due to the presence of the emerald ash borer may soon be expanded. At presstime, early reports showed that the traps in Claiborne and Bossier parishes also showed the presence of the beetle. In the case of firewood, no hardwood may leave a quarantined parish. For more information, call Quarantine Programs of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture at (225) 952-8053. The practical application of the quarantine is tracts that may have enough valuable ash can go into mills in Arkansas that are located in other quarantined counties. Ash will probably not be cut on other tracts without much value in the resource. “This emerald-colored bug is responsible for leaving a trail of dead ash from the east coast and now to Louisiana,” said C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen, LFA/LLC executive director. “It is expected that soon the parishes of Claiborne and Bossier will be added to the quarantine with others in the northwest corner not far behind. This is serious. If you cut ash it can’t enter any parish not in the quarantine unless it is processed and dried into lumber.” Anyone wanting to read the complete Declaration of Emergency from the Louisiana Dept. of Ag and Forestry can go to the LFA front page to the news section at the bottom. Native to China and eastern Asia, the EAB is thought to have arived in North America hidden in wood packing materials used to ship consumer goods. Efforts to stop the spread of the insect have been unsuccessful. 17 Crimes and convictions A LaSalle Parish man was nabbed in Anchorage, Alaska while attempting to cross the border into Canada and now faces additional timber theft charges here in Louisiana. James Marcus Ainsworth, 39, of 254 Joiner Road, already faced eight felony timber theft counts. Ainsworth was charged May 22 with one more timber theft count in LaSalle Parish. In the most recent incident, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry investigators said Ainsworth cut 24 acres of timber in May and June 2014 for a landowner in Nebo, in La Salle Parish. After the timber was cut, forestry agents said the landowner did not hear from Ainsworth and went to his home and confronted him about payment. “During this meeting Ainsworth showed the landowner scale tickets and checks totaling $30,000 telling the landowner this was the amount of timber that had been cut off the property. Ainsworth also told the landowner he should receive $12,000 for his portion. Ainsworth was never able to provide the landowner with scale tickets specific to the landowner’s property,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain. Forestry investigators went to mills and wood dealers and recovered records showing Ainsworth cut 45 loads of timber valued at $41,234.13 but the landowner only received $3,400. Investigators reported in early April, Ainsworth, his wife and daughter drove to the Chicago area, put all of their belongings in storage and then flew to Anchorage, Alaska with the intent to cross the border into Canada and avoid prosecution. Ainsworth’s information was put in the National Crime Information Center, NCIC, and Ainsworth was arrested in Anchorage. Deputies from the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office drove to Anchorage and brought Ainsworth back to Jena. Ainsworth is currently in the LaSalle Parish Detention Center on $1 million bond. In all, Ainsworth has seven timber theft charges in LaSalle Parish and two in Catahoula Parish. Prior to the most recent arrest, Ainsworth is accused of stealing approximately $100,000 worth of timber from landowners. Forestry enforcement investigators also arrested 43-year-old Stephen Ray Foust of Walker March 25 for one count of theft over $25,000. “This arrest is the result of a four month long investigation by our Forestry Enforcement division into a timber theft that occurred between December 2013 and June 2014 in St. James Parish,” said Strain. Agents arrested James Lee Nelson of Vivian on May 28 and booked him into the Caddo Parish Detention Center. Nelson is accused of unlawfully selling 80 acres of property located in Rodessa, a community in north Caddo Parish. The agents recovered 15 timber cutting agreements that were all notarized in Texas indicating Nelson had permission to sell the timber. Six of the timber cutting agreements were allegedly signed by individuals who were deceased for many years. An additional timber cutting agreement which reportedly showed power of attorney for three more deceased individuals was also recovered. Records showed Nelson was paid $35,000 for the timber. 18 OSHA Safety Sheet Be on guard when working in hot temperatures! In the event of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, move the victim to the shade or an air conditioned vehicle and loosen clothing.Do not leave them alone but begin rapid cooling by fanning them or applying wet cloths.If the person starts to shiver, stop cooling. Call 911 in the case of heat exhaustion if no improvement. Call 911 right away in the case of heat stroke. and cool rapidly using whatever means you can–– spray with cool water, cover with a wet sheet, or immerse in a tub of cool water. While waiting for assistance place ice packs under arm pits and in the groin area. Lay him flat and elevate feet. Monitor airways and breathing. Administer CPR if needed During an interview, Nelson admitted forging the signatures of deceased heirs on the timber cutting agreements. Nelson’s bond was set at $20,000. Centennial Rose Stewart of Bivins, Texas was also arrested for notarizing 15 timber cutting agreements which ultimately resulted in the unlawful sale of the 80 acres. TTREADS READS SOFTLY SOF TLY LY AND A ND C CARRIES ARRIES TTHE HE BIG B IG STICKS STICKS. logging When it comes to strength, durability and an value, no other logging tire in world stands stands up up to to a Firestone Firestone tire. tire. More More rubber. rubber. in the the world More ssteel. teel. More tire to perform. perform. Works Works when when others others Patented compounds. compounds. Engineered Engineered to Patented fail. Pa ays when others cost. Pays A nd all all backed backed by by the the largest, largest, best-trained best-trained dealer dealer network network and and And outstanding nding warranty warranty.. R ely onn Firestone tires to carry your big sticks. s No other brand brand has has Rely No xperience in the forest. And no other tire is more trusted by those more experience who work ork there. MADE TTO O WO WORK. RK. BUILT BUILLTT TO TO LAST. LAST. T. PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE THAT THA ATT PAYS. PAYS. PA AYS. www.firestoneforestry.com www .firestoneforestryy.com GCR TTRUCK RUCK TI TIRE RE CENTERS CENTERS – TH THE HE FORES FOREST T INDUS INDUSTRY’S TRY’S ’S MOS MOST T EEXTENSIVE XTENSIVE TTIRE IRE LLINE. INE. MONROE MON ROE Wayne Kelly W ayne Carico Dudley Les GaryBarnes Branch John Kennedy Les Barnes Jason Correro Ray JeffSwanson Stites Stites 1-800-843-7171 1-8000-843-7171 Mgr./Sales M Mgr./Sales Mgr./Sales SalesSales Sales Sales Sales SalesSales Service/Sales Sales Sales PINEVILLE Ronnie Elkins Elkins RonnieBrown Brent Mike BrentPaige Brown Dale Despino Mike Paige Dale Dale Despino Despino no 1-800-932-2155 Mgr./Sales Mgr./Sales Mgr./Sales Sales Assoc. Mgr./Sales Mgr ./Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Similar documents
SKCI - Louisiana Forestry Association
or call Gracee MaloneChapter 5 - Angie Bonner/Lisa Texada at 318-443McCain • Evans •337-286-9837
More information