AFA NEWSROOM V10 NO. 18, SEPT. 15, 2015

AFA 2015 Annual Meeting the best attended ever!

The AFA 2015 Annual Meeting had over 350 attendees and featured something for everyone.

Kicking off on Sept. 13 with a series of informative continuing ed courses, day 2 on Sept. 14, featured breakfast keynoted by Attorney General Luther Strange, who was introduced by longtime AFA member, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey.

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer keynoted and served as moderator of a super discussion panel including Canfor CEO Don Kayne, Lanigan & Associates Founder and Managing Director Bernard Lanigan, Jr., and Rayonier CEO David Nunes.

Tuesday's half-day started at breakfast with former Auburn and Miami football great Mike Kolen giving a great keynote address. The program session that followed was moderated by AFA EVP Chris Isaacson and featured James K. "Jimmy" Lyons, CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority and Thomas Meth, Executive Vice President of Enviva.  Photos: TOP, AG Luther Strange; Middle, Rayonier CEO David Nunes; BOTTOM, Canfor CEO Don Kayne.    

After 6 months of trying, the LEGISLATURE passes a budget

After strikeouts in the regular session and the First Special Session of 2015, Gov. Robert Bentley finally found a pitch lawmakers could hit.  

The House and Senate, in the closing days of the Second Special Session of 2015, passed a $1.7 billion General Fund Budget which includes $166 million in new revenues, including: 

> $70 million from raising the cigarette tax by 25-cents a pack.
> $80 million from transfer of Use Tax money from education to the General Fund Budget.
> $8 million from a 15-cent increase on new prescriptions, for Medicaid program.
> $8 from a $400 per bed tax on nursing homes, also for Medicaid.

Court agrees with resolute in case against the USDA 

Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced that a U.S. federal court has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to try again to provide "a reasoned and coherent treatment" of its decision implementing an order to collect taxes on softwood lumber shipments in the United States.  Read more...

PLUM CREEK TO CREATE joint venture

Sep. 15, 2015-- Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. announced that it has formed a joint venture with several institutional investors to own and sustainably manage a portfolio of U.S. timberlands.

Silver Creek Capital Management, a Seattle-based fund manager and fiduciary to investors (unrelated to Plum Creek), will act as the managing member and independent fiduciary. The initial committed investors include the Washington State Investment Board, the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. The venture is expected to begin operations in January 2016. Read more...

plm opportunities in alabama

Now is a GREAT time to earn PLM continuing education hours.  Forestry field days and indoor course opportunities are listed on the AFA Calendar. For more info, go to: http://www.alaforestry.org/events/event_list.asp. New opportunities are constantly being added so check back often.  

tappi scholarship opportunities

ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 9 – Each year, TAPPI is proud to offer multiple scholarship opportunities to graduate and undergraduate students in the pulp, paper, packaging and related industries. The deadline to submit applications for academic year 2016-2017 Technical Division scholarships is Feb. 15, 2016. Read more...

CBD Settlement to assess pesticide use

AF&PA addresses truck weight legislation

WASHINGTON – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman has issued a statement supporting Rep. Reid Ribble’s (R-WI) introduction of the Safe, Flexible and Efficient Trucking Act (Safe Trucking Act), which will increase the weight limit for trucks traveling on federal highways to 91,000 pounds and require a sixth axle. Read more...

SAWMILL DAYS SET FOR NOV. 7, 2015

Stockton will celebrate "Sawmill Days" as home of the first sawmill in Alabama on Saturday, November 7, 2015, from 9 am to 4 pm in Bicentennial Park.

This event is a lot of fun for the whole family with living history demos, crosscut saw cutting, log rolling and many other features including musical entertainment for attendees. Click here for the event flyer. For the press release click here. 

LOG A LOAD has two events this week

Remaining Log a Load events include: 
• September 18. Kronospan will hold its Mountain District Golf Tournament at the Silver Lakes course in Gadsden. Tee off, 8 am.
• September 19. Piedmont District Annual Bow Shoot at Waverly, Alabama.
• November 6. Annual Charlie Hughen Memorial Sporting Clay & Skeet Shoot at Westervelt Lodge, Aliceville. Click here for flyer.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR FORESTRY BOOKS 

We now have two books that you can use to learn more about forestland management and the history of the forest products industry in Alabama. These books make outstanding gifts for birthdays, Christmas and any other gift-giving purpose. The book on the left, Green Gold: Alabama's Forests and Forest Industries, provides the first comprehensive history of forestry in Alabama, from when the Indians cleared forests for agriculture to the modern era.

The book on the right, Managing Forests on Private Lands in Alabama and the Southeast, is probably the best book every produced on managing forests for timber production and for preserving water and wildlife resources.      

If you are interested in owning either or both of these books, contact Liz Chambers at (334) 481-2135 or lchambers@alaforestry.org.