Association News

RCRC Installs 2017 Officers and Presents Rural Leadership Awards

The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) installed its 2017 Officers and presented its Rural Leadership Awards at their annual reception in Sacramento.

Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams was installed as Chair; Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn was installed as First Vice Chair; and Tuolumne County Supervisor Randy Hanvelt was installed as Second Vice Chair. Glenn County Supervisor John Viegas remains an Officer as Immediate Past Chair. The newly installed Officers will lead the organization in championing policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. 

The Washington DNR February 2017 Revenue Forecast

Timber Sales Volume.  Given current timber sales plans, the sales volume forecast for FY 17 has increased by 15 mmbf to 500 mmbf. Sales plans in outlying years have not changed, so absent a new sustainable harvest calculation, sales volumes in those years are forecast to remain at 500 mmbf. 

Timber Sales Prices.  Industry analysts expect higher prices in CY 2017.  FY 17 auction prices have averaged $335/mbf to date; while stronger than the bid prices through the same period last year, these results are a bit weaker than assumed in the November Forecast.  

Timber Removal Volume and Prices. Accounting for changes to purchaser plans and the timing of contract expirations, DNR is lowering FY 17 harvest volume expectations by 15 mmbf to 565 mmbf.

Timber Revenue.  The above changes to timber sales prices, sales volumes, and harvest timing have shifted projected revenue down in all forecast years. Revenues for the 2015-2017 biennium are forecast to total $328 million, down three percent ($9 million) from November’s forecast.  Forecast revenues for the 2017-2019 biennium are decreased by two percent ($10 million) to $393 million.

Softwood Lumber Agreement. In previous forecasts, it was noted that the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement posed a major downside risk to the forecast: the expiration of tariffs might allow a flood of cheaper Canadian lumber into the U.S., suppressing domestic prices. This doesn’t seem to have happened. Current expectations are that recent filings with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission will result in countervailing and antidumping duties on Canadian lumber starting at the end of the first quarter of 2017. 

The entire forecast is available at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/fiscal-reports/quarterly-economic-and-revenue-forecasts.

AFRC Welcomes Staff Attorney Sara Ghafouri

AFRC is pleased to announce that Sara Ghafouri has joined our team as Staff Attorney based out of the Portland office. Sara will work closely with AFRC President Travis Joseph and AFRC General Counsel Lawson Fite to support AFRC’s legal and policy initiatives. Sara has a passion for natural resource issues and for helping rural communities thrive.

Sara joins AFRC after practicing for the past three years as an associate at the Portland firm Haglund Kelley LLP. During her time at Haglund Kelley, Sara focused her practice on complex civil litigation, environmental and natural resources law, and Indian law. She helped represent several timber companies and timber associations, including AFRC in the Westside Project and other cases. She also worked on amicus briefs submitted by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho on the East Reservoir Project on the Kootenai National Forest.

FRA Recognizes Terry Conley as 2016 Outstanding Logger

The Forest Resources Association’s Western Region has recognized Terry Conley of TC Company, as the Region’s 2016 Outstanding Logger. The award was recognized at the New Mexico Forest Industry Association’s Board Meeting held in February. Terry now becomes a nominee for FRA’s National Outstanding Logger recognition.

Jose Varela Lopez with the NM Forest Industry Association nominated Terry for the Regional Award and said, “Terry’s resilience and ability to diversify are some of the reasons he has remained successful in a dwindling industry.”

72nd Annual - Olympic Logging Conference

The 72nd annual Olympic Logging Conference will be held April 26-18, 2017, at the Fairmount Empress Hotel in Victoria B.C. The conference brings together people involved throughout the forest products industry in Western Washington State.

Roughly 275 people attend the conference, all having various industry backgrounds: timber purchasers and sellers, log conversion representatives, logging and log trucking contractors and private and public landowners. The attendees also come from both the private and public sectors. The conference offers a forum where people within the industry can network. Attendees can enjoy a variety of luncheons, dinners, as well as a golf tournament and tour—all hosted by the Olympic Logging Conference during the 3-day event.

There will be presentations on issues affecting the forest products industry. And, the conference offers credits toward the Accredited Logging Professional certification.

The Olympic Logging Conference is one of many regional logging conferences and associations that meet annually within the United States and British Columbia. Representatives from the Olympic Logging Conference also participate in the Pacific Logging Congress, which is an umbrella conference to the regional conferences.

To find out more about the conference, as well as registration information, visit http://www.olympicloggingconference.com/