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ASSOCIATION NEWS
WWPA Reports Western Lumber Up
Slightly in ‘03
The Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) reported that lumber production in
the West totaled 17.3 billion board feet in 2003, 1.4 percent more than 2002’s
total. Production in December totaled 1.3 billion feet, which was 7.9 percent
higher than December 2002. Mill output in the Coast region rose 5 percent in
2003 over 2002. However, Inland output was off 0.8 percent, and production in
the California Redwood region dropped by 16.4 percent.
In-Woods Expo 2004
FRA will hold no annual
meeting this year, but instead will jointly sponsor the In-Woods Expo 2004 with
the Arkansas Timber Producers Association, April 30 – May 1, near Hot Springs,
Arkansas. It offers plenty to draw members together for a weekend of live,
in-woods immersion in harvesting and forest management technology, workshops for
loggers and landowners with in-woods lab components, and the historic resort
city of Hot Springs as base camp. Partek/Komatsu, Ponsse, Franklin, Barko,
Peterson, Morbark, Tigercat/JNS Equipment, and Bandit will exhibit live
operations within managed pine and mixed forests. And a large-scale Log A Load
For Kids“ fundraising event, with a buffet dinner and Ford F-150 truck drawing,
will cap the opening day on Friday evening, April 30. Look for preregistration
materials in the mail soon—and at www.in-woods-expo.com.
2004 AF&PA Board Members
George Harad, chairman
and CEO of Boise Cascade Corp., was elected chairman of the board of the
American Forest & Paper Association. Mark Suwyn, chairman and CEO of
Louisiana-Pacific, was elected first vice chairman, and Aubra Anthony, president
and CEO of Anthony Forest Products, was elected second vice chairman.
The Small Capacity Dry-Kiln Project Underway
Tim Coe of Burnt Ranch Juniper will provide on-site project management for a
small capacity dry kiln project. The object is to find cost-effective methods to
process Non-Traditional wood fiber such as Juniper, LLP, White Fir and
small-diameter Ponderosa Pine currently being removed from National Forest
lands. This project is sponsored by NWPA working in partnership with the Forest
Products lab in Madison, Wis. and the Oregon Economic and Community Development
Department. (OECDD). Call NWPA at (541) 385-9910 or Burnt Ranch Juniper at (541)
763-4100 if you would like to schedule some drying time.
AF&PA Manufacturing Resolution
In February, the
AF&PA stated in a resolution that, despite promising signs that the
manufacturing sector is recovering from the recent recession, many sectors
continue to struggle in the face of weak demand and the most intense global
competition in history. The cost of manufacturing in the U.S. has risen
steadily, with higher U.S. business tax rates than most competitor countries. At
the same time, global competition prevents manufacturers from raising prices to
offset these costs. Many manufacturers are finding no alternative but to cut
back production or stop producing altogether. In light of this, the AF&PA is
supporting The Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing, a broad-based
coalition of organizations committed to a strong U.S. manufacturing base.
Together they want to raise awareness, particularly among elected officials, of
the critical importance of manufacturing to U.S. security and prosperity, and to
advance pro-growth policy changes that strengthen the manufacturing base.
Specifically, AF&PA supports:
• Reducing U.S. tax rates on manufacturing
income.
• Creating environmental regulations based on results versus process.
• Creating energy legislation that increases access to natural gas on federal
land and removes barriers to quick permitting for liquefied natural gas (LNG)
facilities.
• Adopting legal reforms such as class action and asbestos
legislation.
• Leveling the international playing field by eliminating tariffs
and non-tariff barriers on manufactured goods.
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