Industry News Roundup

As We See It: ALC Provides Great Return on Investment

By Scott Dane

First and foremost, when the logging industry is successful, all other sectors of the forest products industry succeed. Without a healthy and stable logging and trucking industry, the rest of the supply chain is compromised, as well as public and private forest management efforts. That is why all sectors of the timber and forest products industry need to be partners with the American Loggers Council.

American Loggers Council is primarily composed of 30 state associations. The average annual dues from these organizations is $5,000 per year. Aside from the national representation and the “strength in numbers,” an example of the return on investment can be demonstrated by the value of the ALC Truck Rebate Program. This program provides a direct monetary benefit annually of approximately $500,000 for the loggers and truckers that are members of state associations participating in the program. To learn more about the ALC Truck Rebate program visit www.americanloggers.com/rebates. These truck rebates range from $2,000-$4,000 depending on the manufacturer and model. One $4,000 truck rebate nearly pays for the average state association ALC annual dues and is typically 10 times the state association membership dues paid individually by loggers and truckers.

American Loggers Council was instrumental in securing the $200 million Pandemic Assistance for

Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH). Based on simple math, each timber producing state would receive approximately $5 million for loggers and truckers that qualify.

This is a return on investment for the states that are members of the

American Loggers Council, based on annual dues average of $5,000, of 1,000%!

The American timber industry is more than just loggers and truckers—it takes equipment manufacturers, insurance services, fuel vendors, parts suppliers, tire companies, financial institutions, other associations, landowners and land managers. Working together the timber industry can be more effective and successful. In order to broaden the partnerships and support, the American

Loggers Council has developed the

Associate Membership category that will allow for membership opportunities for manufacturers, timber consumers, suppliers, other organizations and landowners at various levels. To learn more, and become an Associate Member of the American Loggers Council, visit the American Loggers Council website at www.amloggers.com or by email at scott.dane@amloggers.com. Additionally, the American Loggers Council has a logger/trucker individual membership option if you are not a member of a state association, or in a state that does not have a state association. These levels of membership range from $100-$400 per year. However, the

American Loggers Council supports our state association members and encourages all loggers and truckers to become members of their state associations. All business investment must be weighed against the return on that investment. The American Loggers

Council has proven that the return

Dane

on investment of membership, support and sponsorship provides a direct positive impact to loggers and truckers, and the timber industry as a whole. Join today and invest where it makes a difference!

Scott Dane is the Executive Director of the American Loggers Council. ALC is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing the interests of timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses across the United States. For more information visit www.amloggers.com.

Andrew Pitts, right, with son, Jeff, in 1991

Pitts Enterprises founder and former CEO, Andrew Pitts, Jr., who led the company’s tremendous growth in the log trailer manufacturing business based in his hometown of Pitts view, Ala., died July 16. He was 90.

Pitts grew up in Pittsview and at tended Auburn University. He work ed in his family’s businesses for several years, and formed East Ala bama Trucks for hauling byproducts for saw mills in the area. He built his first logging trailer in 1976 and it turned out so well that the company soon found itself building a couple of trailers per month. By 1981 the trailer business was producing 100 trailers annually and was soon up to 300 per year and expanding its dealer network, while bringing Andrew’s son, Jeff, into the business.

“I think we boomed because the time was right for us and because we know how to market our products,” Pitts stated in an article in Southern Loggin’ Times in 1991. “Most anyone can build a pretty good product, but marketing is the thing.” The com pany ultimately became one of the top 10 trailers manufacturers in the country.

“Andrew Pitts was a pioneer who moved the industry forward with his innovations,” says Pitts Trailers President JP Pierson. “He leaves behind a strong legacy of hard work and belief in doing the right thing that will im pact his family, his hometown, his company and the overall industry for decades to come.”

Pitts will continue as a family busi ness with Andrew’s son, Jeff Pitts, who has led the company as CEO since 2002. “My father never forgot his roots,” Pitts says. “He in vested in people—from his family and friends to his employees and customers. He built this business on innovation, quality and value. He instilled those ideals in Pitts Enterprises, and they will live on.”

Andrew Pitts served his community as a member of the United Metho dist Church, Chairman of the Republican Party of Russell County and a founding member of the Pittsview Civic Society.

He enjoyed rooting for the Auburn Tigers and playing golf in his free time.

Pitts is survived by his wife Jean Pitts, his three children and seven grandchildren. A graveside funeral service was held at the Pittsview Cemetery on July 21. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pittsview Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 127, Pittsview, Alabama, 36871.

Pandemic Assistance For Loggers, Truckers

Loggers across the U.S. learned they can immediately apply for U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) pandemic assistance through October 15. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) is administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. The program is part of USDA’s overall Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

Loggers and truckers can apply for PATHH by completing form FSA-1118, Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program application, and certifying to their gross revenue for 2019 and 2020 on the application. Additional documentation may be required. Visit farmers.gov/pathh for more information on how to apply. Applications can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery, or via electronic means. To find a local FSA office, loggers and

truckers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator. They can also call 877508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.

The PATHH provides up to $200 million in total to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced losses due to COVID-19. Timber harvesting and hauling businesses that experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10% during the period of January 1 to December 1, 2020, compared to the same in 2019, are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible for payments, individuals or legal entities must be a timber harvesting or timber hauling business where 50% or more of its gross revenue is derived from one or more of the following: cutting timber; transporting timber; or processing of wood on-site on the forestland (chipping, grinding, converting to biochar, cutting to smaller lengths, etc.). Payments will be based on the applicant’s gross revenue received from January 1, 2019, through December 1, 2019, minus gross revenue received during the same period in 2020, multiplied by 80%.

FSA will issue an initial payment equal to the lesser of the calculated payment amount or $2,000 as applications are approved. A second payment will be made after the signup period has ended based upon re maining PATHH funds. The maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive directly is $125,000.

“Like many facets of the agriculture industry, the logging industry has experienced its share of financial hardships throughout the pandemic,” says FSA Administrator

Zach Ducheneaux. “We’re happy to work with the U.S. Forest Service to develop this new program to provide critically needed support.”

Astec Consolidates Product Branding

Astec Industries, Inc. is launching a new modern look with a re branding initiative to coincide with its business model. The re brand in -

cludes a new logo, color palette and web site. The launch comes while the organization streamlines its in ternal structure and operations to improve efficiency and drive growth.

The organization’s former brands, including Peterson, Astec Inc., As tec do Brasil, Astec Australia, BMH Systems, Breaker Technology, Carlson Paving, Con-E-Co, Heatec, KPI-JCI and Astec Mobile Screens, Osborn, RexCon, Roadtec and Telsmith, will no longer operate as separate subsidiary companies and will all take on the ASTEC name. The unification is a significant part of the company’s OneASTEC business model including its “Simplify, Focus and Grow” strategy.

The new web site (www.astecin dustries.com) replaces the previous subsidiary web sites. Dealers, customers, suppliers and consumers will be able to find information about the company, its product offerings and other resources in one location.

Forest Services Names Moore As 20th Chief

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Randy Moore will serve as the 20th Chief of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service. Moore will serve as the first African Amer ican to hold the role of Chief of the Forest Service.

Current Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen is retiring and will collaborate with Moore on the leadership transition.

Moore has been serving as Re gional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region in California since 2007 where he has responsibility for 18 national forests, covering onefifth of the state on 20 million acres. Additionally, he oversees state and private forestry programs in Hawaii

and the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands.

Previously Moore served as the Regional Forester for the Eastern Region headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis.

Moore started his career in conservation in 1978 with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in North Dakota. His Forest Service career began on the Pike and San Isabel national forests in Colorado and the Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands in Kansas. He served as Deputy Forest Supervisor on the national forests of North Carolina and the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri before serving as Forest Supervisor of the Mark Twain National Forest. Moore also has national-level experience in Washington, DC, serving as acting Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System and the National Deputy Soils Program Manager.

Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil science from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.

Christiansen announced her retire-

Oregon’s Roseburg Plans Sawmill In NC

Roseburg Forest Products continues to expand operations in the South east U.S. with the recent an nouncement it will build a 400 MMBF annual production capacity, 375,000 sq. ft. facility on 200 acres in Weldon, NC in Halifax County.

The sawmill operation, which will be called Roanoke Valley Lumber, is expected to begin site work in early 2022 with startup expected in the fourth quarter 2022.

“Low interest rates, a surge in home remodeling, and growing de mand for single-family housing are pushing the industry to increase domestic lumber production capacity as quickly as possible,” Roseburg President and CEO Grady Mulbery says.

Roseburg is already the largest private timberland owner in the

Roa noke Valley area, following its 2017 purchase of 158,000 acres of timberland in North Carolina and

Virginia. Once completed, the mill will also make Roseburg a significant em ployer in the area, with 137 new jobs anticipated over the first two years.

Bagasse-Based Pellet Facility Is Possible

Delta Biofuel CEO Philip Keating is evaluating Iberia Parish, La. for a $70 million residual sugarcane fiber-based pellet plant. It would create 126 direct jobs in the Acadiana region.

Keating says Delta has secured long-term supplies of feedstock ba gasse, which can be processed into pellets and used alongside, or in lieu of, industrial wood pellets in power generation. Bagasse fuel pellets are lower cost alternatives to typ ical wood pellets, Keating says, and also result in greater reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs. The Jeanerette facility would produce up to 300,000 metric tons of bagasse fuel pellets annually.

The company would source all excess bagasse from four nearby sugar mills in Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes. Additionally, Delta has engaged European and Asian energy production facilities for multi-year commitments to purchase the fuel pellets.

Westervelt Sells Pellet Interests

Drax is acquiring Westervelt’s 20% minority interest in Alabama Pellets, LLC—the joint venture that owns pellet plants in Demopolis and Aliceville, Ala.—for $29.7 million. The acquisition increases Drax’s interest in Alabama Pellets to 90% and provides Drax with economic control over a further 130,000 tonnes of pellet production capacity per year.

Drax gained majority control of the two pellet plants when it purchased Pinnacle Renewable Energy

earlier this year. Westervelt, a substantial timberlands owner and operator of two sawmills, had originally built the Aliceville plant and subsequently sold the majority control of it to Pinnacle, while maintaining a 20% arrangement with Pinnacle in both the Aliceville and Demopolis plants, which carried over when Drax purchased Pinnacle.

Drax has been in discussions with Alabama Pellets joint venture partners regarding future working relationships, including their minority interests. The remaining joint venture partner, Two Rivers Lumber Co., LLC, still holds a 10% economic interest.

Morbark Gains Sourcewell Contract

Morbark, LLC and its affiliated brands Rayco Manufacturing, Denis Cimaf, and Boxer Equipment have been awarded a cooperative purchasing contract with Sourcewell in the Tree Maintenance Equipment, At tach ments, and Accessories category.

Sourcewell is a self-sustaining government organization offering a cooperative purchasing program with more than 400 competitively solicited contracts to government, education and nonprofit entities throughout North America. By utilizing Sourcewell contracts, participating agencies save time and money by capturing the buying power of more than 50,000 organizations.

Morbark’s contract with Source well includes the complete lines of Eeger Beever brush chippers, Rayco stump cutters, horizontal and tub grinders, forestry mulchers, mulch ing attachments, as well as Boxer miniskid steers, Rayco articulated wheel loaders, and attachments. Mor bark’s network of approximately 300 North American dealer and distributor locations, as well as nearly 700 combined Morbark employees, work diligently to provide exceptional customer service and after-the-sale support.

Learn more about Sourcewell and its contract with Morbark at source well-mn.gov.

Gray Logging Is FRA 2021 Winner

The Forest Resources Assn. and Stihl Inc. honored Gray Logging, LLC from Madison, Fla., as the National Outstanding Logger at FRA’s 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting on May 19th. A large group of family, friends, and colleagues attended the virtual meeting to watch former FRA Chairman Lee Alexander of International Paper honor Jerry Gray during the Zoom session. Gray received an honorary wooden plaque and a $1,000 check from Stihl. Gray Logging was one of five regional finalists for the prestigious national award.

Jerry praised his father, W.C. Gray, who started the business in 1971, and his wife, Ginger, who is active in the business’s day-to-day operations. “I’ve always said that I have the best employees in the Southeastern U.S., and now I can say that I have the best employees in the nation,” Jerry said. “It is a great honor, and I’m so proud and humbled.”

Jerry is a 40-year veteran of the timber industry, a Florida Master Logger, and a Certified Tree Farmer. He is the current Vice President of the Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. and a member of both the Florida Forestry Assn. and the American Loggers Council. The entire Gray family is active in their local community by sponsoring a college scholarship fund, a week-long hunting and fishing trip for combat marines and their children (including a tour of local logging operations and consuming mills), and routinely sponsoring Fellowship of Christian Athletes and little league ball teams. Furthermore, Jerry was the driving force behind the creation of a CDL Driving School at a local community college, and he actively contributes to the Log a Load for Kids program.

Gray Logging, LLC was Florida District Logger of The Year in 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2010, Florida Logger of the Year in 2010 and FRA Southeastern Region Outstanding Logger in 2010 and 2020.

Hunt, Tolko Plan Second Sawmill

Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries Ltd. announced they will build a $240 million sawmill in Bienville Parish, near Taylor, La. Construction is expected to start in early 2022, and the new facility will employ 60 when operations begin in the first half of 2023. The sawmill will employ 130 when it is operating at full capacity.

“We are excited to be bringing our second high-tech sawmill, and the skilled jobs it will provide, to Louisiana, and to provide a local outlet for the massive inventory of southern yellow pine that exists in this state,” says James D. Hunt, coowner and vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Hunt Forest Products.

The mill will prioritize buying timber locally, and it is estimated that the mill will require 1.3 million tons of wood annually to produce 320MMBF of lumber annually. The facility will be located on 255 acres including the existing Taylor sawmill site and some adjacent timberland.

Tolko Industries, based in ➤ 45