AFA Newsroom

AFA NEWSROOM V16N34, Sept 29, 2021

W.O Parmer Students Learn About The Forestry Industry

Nearly 170 first-grade students at W.O. Parmer Elementary recently gathered to hear State Representative Chris Sells read to them.

Due to his visit being part of the Alabama Forestry Association’s fall “Lucy Tour,” Sells read Lucy Meets A Logger to the first graders to educate them about the forestry industry. Forest industry leaders also educated students on the many daily used products that come from trees and the importance of the forestry industry to the people of Alabama.

U.S. Housing Starts Rose By More Than Forecast In August

U.S. housing starts rose by more than expected in August, suggesting that the supply and labor constraints that have been holding back construction eased in the month.

Residential starts rose 3.9% last month to a 1.62 million annualized rate after an upwardly revised July print, according to government data released Tuesday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey called for a 1.55 million pace.

AFA Newsroom Weekly Special Feature: AFA Political Endorsements

Interested in who AFA has endorsed so far? Bookmark our AFA Endorsement Page, linked below, as more endorsements will be added soon.

AFA Endorsement Page

Costco Warns Customers Over Delays On Essential Household Item

Costco Wholesale is having trouble fulfilling toilet paper orders.

The membership-only warehouse retail chain is issuing a warning to customers that have purchased the common household item online, saying they may face delays in receiving their orders.

"Due to increased volumes, you may see a slight delay in the processing of this order," Costco's customer service team said in a purchase order confirmation email viewed by FOX Business.

Registration Is Open For The 2021 Alabama Loggers Council Annual Meeting - Oct 23rd

Don't miss the opportunity to meet with fellow professionals at the annual Alabama Loggers Council meeting in Prattville, AL. Gain 5 hours of PLM credit while learning more about issues directly impacting logging. Visit sponsors to see the latest options in equipment, trucking, and more. $100 registration through October 15th; $125 registration after October 15th - NO walk-up registrations.

Registration

Ask the Expert: U.S. Forest Service’s Steven Koehn Discusses the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program

In this Ask the Expert, Steven Koehn, Director of Cooperative Forestry with the U.S. Forest Service, answers questions about the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program (PATHH). PATHH, a part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, will provide up to $200 million in financial relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19. Signup for PATHH began late July and continues through Oct. 15, 2021.

Initial PLM Course - Prattville, AL

October 23rd

This course is an intensive one-day initial training class to obtain your Professional Logging Manager designation, with additional online coursework. You must attend the full class (8am-5pm) to obtain a PLM card. This training session is not permissible for CE credits to renew your existing PLM Card.

PRE REGISTRATION is required; space is limited to 25 participants and no refunds will be offered after 10/1/21. Due to Covid-19 restrictions there will be absolutely NO WALK-IN registration.

Click to Register

Supply And Labor Constraints Continue To Hinder Economic Growth, Home Sales

For the second month in a row expectations for near-term real GDP growth were revised downward – and outward – due to persistent supply chain disruptions and labor market tightness, according to the September 2021 commentary from the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. The ESR Group now projects full-year 2021 real GDP growth to clock in at 5.4 percent, down from its previous forecast of 6.3 percent, anticipating instead that much of the previously projected second-half 2021 growth will take place in 2022, for which it upgraded its economic growth forecast from 3.2 percent to 3.8 percent.

2021 ANRC Alabama Landowners Conference - October 21-22

Registration for the Alabama Landowners Conference is now open! Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn about:

management practices
agency updates
carbon credits
using private contractors
forest health

For conference details and registration click the link below!

More Information

Insurers Cut Back On Coverage For Sawmills

Sawmills, which saw demand for their products surge during the pandemic as DIY projects increased, are facing their own supply and demand issues in insurance.

Insurance capacity has shrunk as the lumber sector continues to experience significant losses, with large fire losses an ongoing concern, industry experts say.

Insurers in the sector have struggled with profitability, said Jay Hanna, president of Woodus K. Humphrey and Co. Inc., a Shreveport, Louisiana-based specialty managing general agency and a unit of Amwins Group Inc.

Many insurers have exited the market, and “now it’s a true supply and demand issue,” Mr. Hanna said.

Alabama Woods to Goods Week

October 17 – 23

To learn more click the link below!

Learn More

Timber Losses from Hurricane Ida Could Be Significant

On August 29, Hurricane Ida slammed into the coast of Louisiana as a Category 4 storm and became the second-most damaging hurricane to strike the state on record (Hurricane Katrina holds the top spot). Though not nearly as severe as the storm surge from Katrina, Ida also inflicted widespread flooding across the state and caused over $18 billion in damage.

The LSU AgCenter is now actively assessing the agricultural damage from Hurricane Ida. “Given the geographic area affected, the biggest economic impact is likely to be to agricultural infrastructure and timber,” said Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter region director and agricultural economist.

TimberCon 2021 - October 21

Hosted in partnership with the Mass Timber Institute, TimberCon 2021 will highlight exemplary timber projects across North America; identify best-case practices for their assembly; and spotlight emerging technologies within this exciting field. Forward this to your friends who are architects, engineers, and building construction professionals and encourage them to sign up. This is a great way for them to earn continuing education credit and learn about mass timber construction!

PLT Is Partnering With the Birmingham Botanical Gardens For An Upcoming Project Learning Tree Workshop - 10/11/21

Join other K-8 classroom and non-formal educators as we explore activities in the newly released Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide. Every participant receives a copy of this guide that includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment. The activities in this resource are aligned to Alabama’s K-8 Course of Study for Science, STEM, Math, ELA, and Social Studies.

Continuing education credits are available for educators, foresters, and loggers.