FOREST TALK

Chinese log demand still strong, for now...

THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (MPI) MOST RECENT

report prior to the latest COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, predicts log exports will reach $3.6 billion in the year ending June 2021, led by demand from China raising prices and incentivising harvesting. This is an increase of 25.5% compared to the previous year, following four consecutive quarters of growth. This strong demand has pushed log export prices near the record levels observed in 2018-19.

The strong demand for logs has been driven by increased construction activity and further supported by supply constraints such as the ban on Australian logs, and a reduction in global shipping capacity. New Zealand remains the largest supplier of softwood logs to China followed by Germany, Russia, the US, Uruguay, and the Czech Republic. China’s log imports from most countries have been growing, including New Zealand, and accounted for 83.3% of New Zealand’s total volume of log exports in the year ended March 2021. Log export revenue is forecast to reach $3.8 billion in the year ending June 2022, on the back of continued strong demand as China ramps up infrastructure projects.

But Chinese buyers are finally pushing back on the prices being asked for by NZ exporters. The outlook for log prices is expected to decline slightly due to increased supply from other countries. In-market prices have eased after peaking at about USD194 per JASm3. The value of a log delivered to China is now about USD10 lower than this, and further downwards price pressure is expected.

European and South American foresters anticipate increased log shipments to China, which is likely to put downward pressure on New Zealand log prices. It’s not clear whether Russia’s proposed log export ban in early 2022 will be a complete or phased-in ban, but nevertheless, the ban is expected to partly offset the impact of increased supply into China and support New Zealand log demand and prices in the medium-term.

The annual slowdown during the winter months (China’s hot summer), as well as an oversupply caused by the high prices from earlier this year will also influence the softening of the demand for logs in China. The closure of some of China’s mills has further eroded short-term demand for logs. The strength of the domestic market, combined with the challenges and cost of getting product to export markets, may mean more home-grown timber stays on NZ shores. Added to this, forestry owners, particularly wood lots, are more reluctant to harvest with prices undetermined and the usual winter slowdown. There are hopes that prices will start to rise again around springtime, leading to more harvesting and renewed work for contractors. However, the influence of the new COVID remains to be seen.

As New Zealand’s second largest log export market, accounting for 8.0% of total log exports, demand for logs from South Korea slowed over the past few years as economic growth has weakened, says MPI. In addition, importers are forced to compete on price with Chinese importers, so while volumes have decreased, the value of exports has remained relatively steady, as rising Chinese demand has lifted prices. Export volumes to South Korea are expected to remain low as Australian logs are being rerouted following China’s ban on them, placing further downward pressure on demand for New Zealand logs.

India’s demand for New Zealand logs plunged due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is yet to rebound. Export volumes are down 69.5% in the year ended March 2021 compared to last year. India now accounts for only 2.0% of total log exports. Demand from India is expected to remain subdued for the rest of the calendar year, as COVID-19 cases remain high. In addition, Australian logs have been redirected to India after China banned them, putting pressure on this market. Over the medium-term, demand from India is expected to increase as the pandemic wanes and conditions improve there. NZL

Government says it won’t limit timber exports

MATERIALS SHORTAGES, LABOUR

shortages, supply delays and increased costs are now all part of the everyday experience of those in the building industry. The postlockdown housing market boom has seen house prices skyrocket, with the lack of supply cited as one of the main reasons.

Government has backtracked on its cited intention to put limits on timber exports as one option to protect domestic supply, with Minister for Building and Construction, Poto Williams, recently saying Government would not be interfering in timber exports.

Just as well, with word from the industry strong on delays: • Merchant shelves are almost empty of timber framing, plywood and engineered timber beams. Concrete can take weeks to arrive. Window joinery takes months. • Imported items have even longer delays due to shipping, container supply and transport hold ups. Claddings can now take 18 weeks if you are lucky enough to get your order in on time. • Some major contractors will not quote for work involving structural steel due to the uncertainty of supply and pricing. Prices can change within the day, up or down by 20%. • With design, planning, and consenting, there are delays. Council staff are overloaded and seldom meet their 20 day processing targets. Even bookings for a building inspection can be weeks out. • Electrical components and whiteware can also be months out, if even available.

Not surprising then that Minister Williams had received advice that some suppliers were already increasing structural timber production over the next six months, reducing exports, and moving stock from the South Island to the North Island where demand was higher.

“This government has already signalled our intention for building products to be the subject of a market study by the Commerce Commission.”

In March, Carter Holt Harvey stopped supplying wood products to major retailers. Carter Holt, the country’s largest producer of structural timber, said at the time there had been “short-term industry-wide” supply issues.

Julien Leys, chief executive of the Building Industry Federation, says the structural timber shortage is the worst in living memory.

COVID-19 related shipping delays disrupting imports, declining relations between Australia and China, less domestic sawmill production (and local sawmill shut-downs), big domestic demand, more structural timber exports and strong export demand in general, have all contributed to the shortage, which he says is likely to continue for at least another year.

Solutions from industry players include increasing output, bringing back timber from export markets to supply locally and managing supply with careful movement of stock.

Supply constraints are expected to be tight into the new year. These shortages are not a domestic issue, as increased demand for building materials is occurring globally.

Suggestions to Government to facilitate the building industry’s growth and meet housing demands include: • Allow in more skilled immigrants. • Provide incentives for companies to set up local manufacturing of building products. • Establish a system whereby sufficient logs remain in New Zealand for the local market at a reasonable price. • Allow councils to be more flexible during consenting. • Allow insured builders and designers to self-certify their work. NZL

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

Port build-ups highlight concerns

Napier Port.

IN RECENT MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN MOUNTING PRESSURE

on the entire forestry supply chain, with strong export demand causing build-ups at major New Zealand ports. While the immediate crisis appears to be subsiding, the Forestry Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says the situation is far from over and the sector needs to work together to find solutions in the event of a further build-up of the recent pressures. That build-up may well be here in the form of the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta variant on our shores, though the article below bodes well.

“I don’t think we have ever tried to deliver the volume of wood that we are, and we are finding out our infrastructure just can’t cope,” says FICA CEO, Prue Younger.

During the recent crisis, the growing number of ships waiting to dock at multiple ports across New Zealand were a visible indication of the building supply chain pressure. Starting with Gisborne, build-ups reportedly spread to Tauranga and Napier. In the case of Gisborne, delays were compounded by infrastructure upgrades to add a second berth and weather conditions. With port storage full, logging contractors have had to keep jobs on site, with volume backing up on forestry jobs. Of course this has a knock-on effect on creditors and overdrafts. Then there’s cash flow, keeping workers employed and machines working.

The diversion to other ports was putting pressure on them. A spokesperson for Napier Port says they were aware of delays but were not facing a backlog of vessels.

“Infrastructure across the New Zealand supply chain is increasingly under pressure and this has been compounded by the COVID-19-related global shipping issues.

“At Napier Port we are investing to support the industry with the addition of six wharf, mobile harbour cranes and debarking which will support future requirements of the forestry industry as volumes increase.”

Ms Younger says it’s not only ports that were affected; the entire forestry supply chain has been under pressure for some time.

“The delays are evident everywhere, from slow deliveries of imported gear such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and vehicles, to harvesting, trucking and shipping backlogs. The entire supply chain is being stretched,” she says.

“While pressure mounts, forestry contractors are caught in the crossfire. They’re not receiving any compensation, with lost revenue mounting, though the article below bodes well. Many are being stretched to the absolute limit financially.”

Representing the Log Transport Safety Council, Warwick Wilshier adds, “Logs were transported around to other ports, but it feels like money is being wasted moving the problem around, when it could be used more productively and wisely supporting the industry.”

He adds that this approach takes a lot of time and effort, and depends on a depleted workforce.

“All our borders are closed, we’re not allowed to bring people in from overseas, we’re training as many as we can but we’re all struggling, which is not helping things; we’ve got trucks parked up. When you get really busy like this, you do get under pressure.”

Ms Younger adds: “The issue is that as an industry we are lacking a coordinated strategy. We’re just reacting without a plan of response. It’s like the weather – sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad, but if we know the forecast, we can make appropriate plans.”

“We talk about the need for a pan-industry strategy, but we don’t have one. We need to be coordinated and work together to better manage our supply chain, so we don’t get pulled into this boom or bust mentality yet again,” she says.

“There needs to be a change in the way contractors are subject to the peaks and troughs of the industry. There just needs to be the realisation that major decisions made at one end of the supply chain affect the other end, and there just needs to be greater respect for trying to maintain a workforce. NZL

Ports to continue loading under COVID Level 4

THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT

(MBIE) has given clearance for Eastland Port, and a number of other ports around New Zealand, to continue loading ships during the Level 4 COVID Lockdown.

Eastland Group Chief Operating officer, Andrew Gaddum, says, “This means we will be bringing in wood from our off-site storage. This wood is already scaled and will go straight into Eastland Port so no checkpoint is required, keeping everyone separated.

“The ability to continue to clear wood from the East Coast forestry supply chain ultimately helps everybody, particularly the harvesting crews and trucking companies, reducing shipping costs and ultimately getting our industry back on its feet.

“We would not consider starting up any port operations unless we were 100% confident we can do so safely.

“Although forestry crews will not be able to bring new logs in at this stage, we can clear space on our log yards, and prepare for the forestry industry to start up again under Level 3 without any delays.

“All Eastland Port staff, ISO Limited and contractors have stringent COVID-19 protocols in place, and we follow all requirements set by the Ministry of Health, Health Protection staff and Maritime New Zealand. We maintain strict cleaning regimens and adhere to all PPE requirements, and frontline border workers are regularly tested.

“We are working with the DHB to ensure the vaccination process runs seamlessly when we are given the greenlight to resume.” NZL

Cancel coal but think twice about oil, say stakeholders

SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL’S DECISION TO GRANT AN

access arrangement to New Brighton Collieries Limited (NBCL), an overseas owned company, for coal exploration in the Ohai forestry area has raised concern.

Environmental NGOs have written to the Council urging them to reverse the decision and decline the access arrangement sought by NBCL. It also puts forward an alternative vision for Southland, proposing a decline from coal and a move towards clean energy alternatives.

The NGOs include: Forest & Bird Youth, Forest & Bird, Greenpeace Aotearoa, 350 Aotearoa, Generation Zero, WWF-New Zealand, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, School Strike 4 Climate NZ, and Parents for Climate Aotearoa.

The letter states:

“It is absolutely inappropriate for Aotearoa New Zealand to continue exploring for coal in the midst of a climate and ecological emergency. We strongly believe that Southland, and Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole, should undertake a just transition towards sustainable energy methods and away from fossil fuels, in a way which ensures that both people and nature benefit.

“Mining is often touted as being an important part of the local Southland economy, including by Southland District Council officers. However, despite coal mines being a prominent feature of Southland’s landscape, the Ohai-Nightcaps area has a deprivation index of eight, where ten is the worst. The money from mining does not demonstrably help local people, and if NBCL is granted mining consent, an overseas- owned company will profit off the negative impact of mining.

“Coal contributes directly to the climate crisis through creating emissions, as well as being responsible for furthering other emissionheavy parts of our society. Additionally, approving exploration for coal threatens Aotearoa’s endangered native species. SDC can and must show leadership by speeding up the transition away from coal rather than enabling a continued reliance.

“We are calling on the Council to recognise the contribution that further coal exploration will have to intergenerational threats, and agree that young people deserve a future which is not threatened by sea level rise, biodiversity loss and extreme weather events.

“Additionally, it is deeply worrying that the Council has refused to undertake genuine community consultation on the decision to approve NBCL’s access arrangement. The decision to allow further exploration has an immediate impact on community members’ lives, and they deserve the chance to have their voice heard.

“We have known for decades that the coal industry does not have a place in a low-emissions, sustainable future, and we have a responsibility to workers, their families and our communities in Southland to manage a decline from coal towards clean energy alternatives.”

Fonterra exiting coal

In a similar vein, as Minister for Energy and Resources, Dr Megan Woods, officially opened Fonterra’s wood pellet boiler at its Te Awamutu plant, the co-operative announced details for its next site to exit coal – Stirling cheese plant in Otago.

Otago’s ‘fantastic little cheese plant’, will be coal-free and using wood biomass to fire the site by August next year.

This will make Stirling Fonterra’s first 100% renewable thermal energy site, a significant step towards the co-op’s goal of getting out of coal altogether by 2037.

By switching to wood biomass, the site’s annual emissions will reduce by 18,500 tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of taking more than 7,000 cars off the road.

Fonterra General Manager Operations Lower South Island, Richard Gray, says it’s another huge decarbonisation milestone for the co-op.

“As well as the site being coal-free there are additional environmental benefits the new boiler will bring, including reduction in wastewater, noise, solid waste to landfill and air discharge emissions.

“There are also economic benefits for the community – the installation will contribute more than $10 million into the region, along with supporting an estimated 10 jobs in the wood biomass industry.

“Our Stirling site exports to customers in more than 10 countries, including Japan and South Korea.”

Stirling is the third significant fuel switching project the co-op has undertaken in as many years. The conversion of Fonterra’s Te Awamutu site to wood pellets resulted in a 10% reduction in the co-op’s coal use, and at Brightwater at the top of the South Island, the team is co-firing wood biomass.

These three projects, when combined with other energy efficiency work, will reduce the co-op’s emissions by 135,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking close to 52,000 cars off the road.

With this latest announcement, eight out of Fonterra’s 29 sites remain to be removed from using coal.

Keep the oil flowing

Meanwhile, on the back of the decision to shut down the oil refining operation at Marsden Point, Social Credit leader Chris Leitch is calling on Government to declare the Refinery a nationally strategic asset, and to compulsorily purchase all the shares from the private owners

and turn it back into a state-owned enterprise which continues to refine crude oil.

A petition to this end states: “While we need to transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, the decision to shut down the refining operation at Marsden Point has been made by the shareholders purely in the interests of generating larger profits and not in the interests of New Zealand’s strategic fuel needs.

“This decision means we will still be burning the same amount of fuel, but become even more reliant on imported products controlled by overseas-owned conglomerates.

“The majority shareholders in the refining company are the oil companies who own refineries across Asia and who want to ensure those refineries run at full capacity to maximise their profits.

“Approximately 600 jobs will be lost if the refining operation shuts down. With an economic loss of about 8% to the Northland economy many small businesses will close with further catastrophic job losses.

“In the event of a natural disaster or a geopolitical conflict situation, the shipping routes to New Zealand could be cut off and the supply of fuel to major sectors of the New Zealand economy severely compromised.”

“If the refinery was still in operation and crude oil was not able to be shipped to New Zealand for whatever reason, it could use New Zealand’s own oil supplies and at the very least keep all major essential transport, freight, air and defence operations going.”

The sectors the petition cites as potentially being affected, include: • Agricultural machinery including forestry, farming and horticultural equipment. • The country’s trucking fleet that moves goods around New Zealand. • Heavy construction machinery and infrastructure and road-building equipment. • Goods and passenger rail operations. • Air transport into and out of and around New Zealand, including all our air freight exports. • Helicopter rescue services. • Coastal shipping, inter-island ferries and shipping to the Pacific

Islands. • New Zealand’s Army, Navy and Air Force, including rescue and disaster relief operations. • All fishing boats and pleasure boats, including short distance ferries. NZL

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Afforestation report raises questions

THE FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION (FOA) SAYS THE Beef+Lamb commissioned survey on forest planting rates is nowhere near robust nor detailed enough to draw a conclusion that the government should impose controls over the rate of forest planting.

FOA President, Phil Taylor, says the report is a worthy contribution to the land use debate, but it raises more questions than it answers.

“Government data is contradicting the report. Official figures clearly point to a decline in the area of the exotic plantation forest estate, and so new planting is not keeping pace with the land area going out of forestry,” he says.

“The plantation forest estate has shrunk by 162,000 hectares in the past 18 years, mostly to dairy farms. There has always been changing land use.

“Our concern on current figures, would be that the Climate Change Commission’s reliance on an expansion of the exotic forest area by another 380,000 hectares by 2035, to meet the 2050 greenhouse gas target, is going to fall well short.

“On top of that, the Climate Change Commission anticipates there will need to be more use made of wood in construction, and its extensive utilisation in biofuels to replace fossil fuel.

“That means any government restrictions on afforestation will risk New Zealand not meeting its carbon targets. By the time that shortfall becomes clear it will be too late to fix it.”

The National Exotic Forest Description, which is published by the Ministry for Primary Industries, recorded a reduction in the net stocked area in the year to April 2020 of 31,347 hectares, after allowing for 19,000 hectares of new afforestation.

The President of the Farm Forestry Association, Graham West, says farmers should be free to continue to make economic decisions on whether they want to use their own land to plant trees and on what land classes.

A recent Ministry for the Environment study has shown that there is currently 313,000 hectares of plantation forests on farmland.

“And that makes sense for farmers. The recent PwC report was clear that forestry stacked up very well as a land use and so forestry benefits the economies of local communities,” says Mr West.

“There is between 7.5 and 10.4 million hectares of hill country farm land, and if a conversion of a mere 380,000 hectares is a threat, then the meat and wool industries have more serious issues to deal with than just a few profitable trees.”

He adds that the report is actually positive about the integrated use of trees on farms and that land sales to forestry are giving better capital gain, which allows movement up the farming ladder or retirement.

BakerAg, the report’s author states: ‘If farmers already have experience with trees and forestry, or are confident of the support available in what may not be core business to date, then indicators are this will provide further confidence to consider investing in forestry as part of the land-use mix.”

Phil Taylor says Beef+Lamb automatically assumes that farming will always be a better and more productive land use than forestry.

“On the tougher hill country, Beef+Lamb is now demanding that even if livestock can barely survive on that land, tree planting should still be restricted.”

Mr Taylor says the report shows that very little is known about the extent of carbon-only forest planting in recent times.

“The Beef+Lamb report estimates this non-harvest forest planting is about 30% of the total planting. But nobody has any real idea at the moment.

“If this carbon planting is on land which could be productive for timber or livestock then we would have concerns that the land should be used better.

“After all, there’s at least a million hectares of land in New Zealand which is too remote or erosion-prone for farming or for production forestry and so is ideal to use for locking up carbon, but not useful for anything else.”

He adds that it is important to realise that while forestry is hugely important in sequestering carbon produced by industrial emitters over the next three decades, trees do not offer a continuing longterm answer to greenhouse gas emissions through offsetting.

“We have no issues with either Beef+Lamb or the Climate Change Commission in their same view that the only effective long-term response to the threat of climate change is to reduce those source emissions, wherever they come from.

“And I’m sure also that the sort of argument over land-use is distracting from the task of achieving primary sector-wide goals, and in particular export targets across the sector in the next ten years, under the Fit for a Better World programme.

“The government is counting on an extra $2.6 billion in extra earnings from forestry, leading an increase in the total sector export value of $44 billion.

“Farmers who are expected to produce this extra value strongly demonstrated against regulations recently. They don’t need more restrictions.” NZL

New head for Te Uru Rakau

JASON WILSON HAS BEEN APPOINTED

Deputy Director-General of Te Uru Rākau (New Zealand Forest Service) at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

As the current Director – Sector Investments within Te Uru Rākau, Jason leads the development of the Industry Transformation Plan for the forestry and wood processing sector, partnering with multiple Government agencies and stakeholders.

The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says the appointment is “absolutely appropriate for the huge challenges and opportunities facing the forest industry in its key role of enabling New Zealand to meet both climate change and economic targets”.

FOA President, Phil Taylor, says Mr Wilson’s current role of leading the Forest Industry Transformation Plan demonstrates the government appointment is “not a ‘business as usual’ selection, but is based on a sharp appreciation of the combination of imminent rapid economic growth of the forest industry, driven by climate change combating products on one hand, and the carbon sequestration ability of plantation forests on the other.

“That said, our key industry role is to produce logs for processors here and overseas. We need to know we have Te Uru Rākau watching out for our priorities and interests, to helping us communicate the virtues and possibilities of forestry to the public at large.

Phil Taylor says he wants to pay tribute to the contribution made by the acting head of Te Uru Rākau Henry Weston: “In our Association dealings with Henry, we always found him to be an exceptionally able industry champion who got things done. I hope that he will be available to continue to make his valuable contributions to Te Uru Rākau and the industry.”

Prior to joining MPI, Mr Wilson spent over 27 years in the commercial sector, holding various leadership roles in the forest and wood products industries largely in Australia. This included nine years in the leadership team of Carter Holt Harvey’s Australian business, where he led the corporate strategy for a cultural change programme across 2,500 employees.

He then held three General Manager roles across a range of Australian commercial entities with larger scale and complexity, with the most notable being the ASX-listed company Brickworks, a building products manufacturer.

Before making the decision to return to New Zealand in 2019, he was the Chief Deputy Director-General of Te Uru Rākau, Jason Wilson.

Operating Officer of Timberlink Australia, a forestry company that was part of a $5 billion investment fund, focussed on environmentally sustainable investments in the Asia-Pacific region and the USA.

Mr Wilson’s broad-based networks and commercial exposure, particularly across the Trans-Tasman forestry environment, will be invaluable for Te Uru Rākau’s next phase of development. NZL

Ban on methyl bromide aboard ships

A TOTAL BAN ON METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION ABOARD SHIPS

in New Zealand is part of a comprehensive suite of new rules imposed by a decision-making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Methyl bromide is a toxic and ozone-depleting substance, which India and China require to be used on logs they receive from New Zealand. It is a biosecurity tool, used internationally to kill pests.

“The EPA’s role in regulating hazardous substances involves carefully balancing environmental, health, economic, and cultural factors,” says Dr Chris Hill, General Manager of the EPA’s Hazardous Substances group.

“The decision released today sets a roadmap to full recapture of methyl bromide. It provides a clear and structured pathway for industry to reduce the amount of methyl bromide emitted. The decision recognises the benefits associated with methyl bromide use, while also protecting human health and the environment.

“Ship hold fumigation will be banned from 1 January 2023. This rule change is significant as the amount of methyl bromide used is much higher than elsewhere, and it is not currently possible to recapture methyl bromide during ship hold fumigation. Therefore, in this setting, the risks to human health and the environment outweigh the benefits.”

Stepped increases will apply to the recapture of methyl bromide from containers and covered log stacks, starting from 1 January 2022. This phased approach will be more achievable than a single target, allowing the EPA to ensure that requirements are being met by industry at each stage.

The decision also introduces much stricter accountability and reporting measures. Revoking the approval for methyl bromide (in other words banning it outright) was not in the scope of this reassessment, but the decision released today sets far more stringent controls on its use.

While methyl bromide use is being phased out globally, in New Zealand its use increased by 66% between 2010 and 2019. We are currently out of step with most other countries which are turning away from this ozone-depleting substance.

However, the combined controls imposed by this decision will result in methyl bromide emissions being reduced significantly over the next five years. The aim is also to disincentivise the use of this fumigant. NZL

On pride and passion

PRIDE AND PASSION IN FORESTRY WAS

the theme for this year’s New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) conference held in Masterton. It certainly spoke to the resilience of the industry, with this being the third time the conference had been organised and ready to go, delayed by Coronavirus lockdowns each time, and narrowly missing the latest one.

The conference was about communication and people, integrating forestry back into our communities, taking ownership of all the industry has achieved, bringing in the new generation and taking positive steps forward.

Topics were wide and engaging, including how to get the industry noticed in the school system and the support that would require; the role of Future Foresters in continuing to provide information and incentives to school leavers; the very real challenges posed by climate change; the role of Government in the forestry industry; the benefits, and accompanying challenges, of the Emissions Trading Scheme for smaller forest owners; MPI’s intentions with the Forestry Advisers Act; and a successful school’s programme run by the wood councils in the capable hands of CEO, Erica Kinder. Te Uru Rākau’s new head, Jason Wilson, tackled his vision for the organisation with just five days on the job behind him. Day 2 took a look at growing regional economies through natural capital and, finally, Professor Tim Payn tackled the myths and misconceptions we are up against as a forestry industry and how to combat and dispel them for a sometimes-gullible public.

Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash, gave his two cents on ways to promote and enhance the sector at the conference dinner, where Paul Millen graciously took the Forester of the Year Award, and a number of student scholarships were given out.

The academic section of the conference was followed by a selection of fascinating field trips with options to eye out Rewanui Forest Park, the recently upgraded rail-side log yard and the local sawmill among others.

Somewhere in all that, this passionate bunch of organising volunteers fitted in an inspiring Women in Forestry breakfast, highlighting the strong role women play in our industry while managing to keep most of those balls in the air.

Watch this space for more on the NZIF conference. NZL

Southern North Island Wood Council CEO, Erica Kinder.

(Photo: FCNSW)

Resurgence of interest in mechanised planting

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RESURGENCE OF INTEREST BEING

shown by forestry companies in Australasia in mechanised or automated operations for planting and silviculture. The economics is starting to stack up. The technology also goes some way to addressing the growing issue of labour shortages being faced by the industry over the planting season. Mechanised or machine planting is already successfully being used across Scandinavia and in South America. Operational trials have been undertaken in the central North Island of New Zealand and in NSW last planting season with more extensive plantings (both trials and commercial planting operations) being planned for this year.

Early planting trial results

Each of the main mechanised planting manufacturers; Sweden’s Bracke and Finland’s Risutec, as well as M-Planter, presented at ForestTECH 2020. Timberlands outlined trials using the M-Planter for ripping, mounding, fertilising and planting. Around 53ha of cutover in the central North Island had been planted with between 80 trees (cutover) and 200 trees per hour (in line rake without mounding) being planted.

Forestry Corporation NSW also spoke on early trials that it, together with a local reafforestation contractor had undertaken in September 2020. Over 40ha in two compartments using the Risutec ASP-150 planting head and Komatsu excavator had been planted. It was the first time this equipment had been used in Australia.

Initial results showed that the quality of the seedlings planted wasn’t as consistent as first hoped, but much of this was put down to limitations on the equipment and the site. Trials planned for this planting season were to be aimed at improving productivity (with modifications being made to the mechanised planting head) and some supplementary site preparation for planting second rotation sites.

Mechanised planting trials from 2021

One year on and results from more extensive commercial mechanised planting operations in both New Zealand and Australia will be presented as part of ForestTECH 2022. Lessons and results from two seasons of mechanised planting in Kinleith Forest will be given by Hancock Forest Management. Results of New Zealand’s first trial of applying a hydrogel at the time of planting by one CNI forestry contractor will also be discussed. The gel was applied at the beginning and end of the usual planting season to test options of extending planting using mechanised planting. FCNSW and Pentarch likewise are planning to extend their operational trials in NSW this year, both with pine and eucalyptus plantings.

And internationally; from Europe, Stora Enso will be providing an insight into a new planting machine that’s being developed in Sweden; and Risutec will provide an update on GPS advancements that have recently been made with their planting heads showing seedling and mound locations, areas planted, planting densities and planting progress in real time.

Aside from addressing the shortage of planters and increased labour costs, some of the advantages already being seen with mechanised planting using planting heads mounted on an excavator, are better soil cultivation (ripping and mounding) for the young trees and greater consistency in the quality of the tree planting. Fertiliser granules and hydrogel can also be integrated into the planting process, along with herbicides or insecticides if required.

The case for mechanised planting on flatter terrain in New Zealand and Australia will form an integral part of this year’s ForestTECH 2021 event in Rotorua on 23-24 November. Full details of the programme for both days can now be viewed on the event website: www. foresttech.events/ft21 NZL

Academic scholarship for forestry student

NORTHLAND STUDENT, CAMRYN STEWART, has received an academic scholarship from Waipu-based timber manufacturer, Northpine.

In her fourth and final year of a Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury, Camryn says the financial grant from Northpine is a huge help to put towards her course fees and costs.

“As a student you don’t really have a lot of money, and it is such a massive help financially. I am putting it towards my course fees and extra course costs like field trips,” she says.

As a Northlander born-and-bred in Kaitaia, Camryn has spent some of her practical course work interning for another Northland company, Summit Forests, completing practical experience in plotting and helping with trials.

After graduating from her Bachelor of Forestry Science, she hopes to work in forestry management or forestry marketing and supply chain operations.

“The variety and flexibility of the forestry industry appeals to me, and I enjoy being outdoors on the job,” she says. “I’m excited about the possibilities and what my future holds.”

The scholarship was presented to the industry at the Northland Forestry Awards in September 2019 and was endorsed by the Northland Wood Council. Applicants can apply via the Northpine website.

“I’m extra grateful to receive this support from a company in Northland. I extend my thanks to Northpine for their generosity,” says Camryn.

Employing over 60 people, Northpine is a privately-owned timber manufacturer based at Waipu (Northland), with a distribution centre in Silverdale (Auckland).

Northpine General Manager, Bruce Larsen, says supporting forestry students in their studies is part of the company’s commitment to the industry and fostering the next generation.

“We’re committed to encouraging each individual to achieve their full potential, and this extends to our next generation who are currently students,” he says. NZL

UNBEATABLE IN THE FOREST

Valtra – Made in Finland. Designed for the forest.

When you choose Valtra, you do not have to compromise on anything. Valtra is the only tractor manufacturer that offers superior foresty features directly from the factory such as:

- Guarding and cab protection - Forest tyres - Twintrac reverse steer - Ground speed PTO for driven wheel trailers Valtra is at home in the field or forest, and can handle any task such as forwarding, mulching, lifting & loading, trailer work and track maintenance.

Valtra is your solution for efficiency in small woodlots, or as part of your fleet in the forest.

valtra.com.au

VALTRA® is a worldwide brand of AGCO. © 2021

Available through your local Valtra dealership

Tough trio

WARATAH FORESTRY EQUIPMENT’S TRIO OF NEW RUGGED

harvester heads – the H425, H425HD and H425X – are built for tough jobs. With a powerful control valve and four-roller feed arm geometry, each high-performance head is productive on wheeled or tracked carriers.

“These models are built for durability and performance,” says Brent Fisher, product marketing manager for Waratah. “Among other updates, new hose protection and servicing enhancements make them even better.”

The standard H425 (1360kg), H425HD (1390kg) and hefty H425X (1426kg) each offer increased reliability with new feed motor hosing routings and new covers. For quick and easy servicing, each head features a new hinged valve cover and improved access to greasing points.

H425

Optimising performance, productivity and delimbing, the H425 is suited to large diameter regeneration harvesting. A powerful control valve and feed roller arm geometry ensure a solid grip and agile harvester head control for all diameter classes. For increased uptime and lower daily operating costs, the H425 offers improved hose routing from boom to harvester head and from the valve to feed motors, keeping hoses well protected from limbs and understory interference. The H425 offers optional saw motor sizes, standard (narrow stem) or buttress (wide stem) saw frames for challenging applications, and processing knives for picking stems from the ground or bunch piles.

H425HD

Built to work on the toughest jobs, the H425HD features a heavyduty tilt frame, feed motors and guarding to provide even more durability. With a powerful control valve and a top saw option, the high-performance head offers great productivity, especially for wheeled carrier applications. For ease of maintenance, the H425HD now has easy filling of saw chain oil. Likewise, daily maintenance can be performed without changing the position of the harvester head. The valve block and grease points are also easily accessible. The H425HD offers optional saw motor sizes, standard (narrow stem) or buttress (wide stem) saw frames for challenging applications, and processing knives for picking stems from the ground or bunch piles.

H425X

The H425X features an extreme duty main saw box with heavier steel plating, extra feed motor component guarding, heavy-duty tilt frame, hose protection and increased drive arm durability for demanding applications in mixed stand harvesting. Its four-roller feed arm geometry ensures rollers grip solidly in all diameters, improving responsiveness with strong tree-processing performance – especially in large timber. Purpose-built for tracked harvesters, the H425X offers options for many applications with multi-tree handling, an integrated top saw and processing knives for picking from piles or hardwood applications, and many feed wheel options to suit numerous applications.

“The H425, H425HD and H425X are reliable heads for heavy-duty applications,” says Brent. “With each new head generation, we’re providing our customers with the solutions they need to maximise productivity and uptime.”

The Waratah H425, H425HD and H425X are currently available to customers in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia, Africa, Asia, Brazil and Latin America. NZL