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The only thing that is constant is change … and isn’t that the truth. Not only do we face uncertainty with our businesses linked to COVID-19 at the moment but changes for our own wood products industry over the last 12 months have been significant. Every two years Australasia’s wood processing and manufacturing industry is[…]

A new federal mandate is expected to come into effect next year making electronic logging devices (ELDs) mandatory for federally-regulated motor carriers and their drivers. With few exceptions, anyone who currently uses paper logs to keep track of their hours behind the wheel will need to use ELDs beginning in June 2021. Transport Canada included the[…]

Canfor Corporation is undertaking additional temporary reductions in production capacity due to the impact of COVID-19 on the price of lumber and demand. The following changes to Canfor’s operating schedule are in addition to the capacity reductions announced on March 26. Effective April 13, Canadian lumber production will be curtailed by approximately 100 million board feet[…]

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Carrier Group of Companies have made decision to temporarily suspend operations at its Tabor Planer in Prince George, and the entire operation in Big River, Saskatchewan. Tabor Sawmill will continue operations, as will Carrier Manufacturing and the Bar K Ranch. Shipping will continue at both the Tabor and[…]

Covid-19: Supporting essential services by continuing essential activity across the forestry sector. (Also see: www.teururakau.govt.nz) Wood processing, sawmilling, forest harvesting and forestry management are NOT essential services. However, MPI is working on a phased restart of some businesses to ensure essential service supply is maintained. Businesses will need to register as an essential service and can[…]

Strict limits as some wood processing resumes – Some wood processors will be cleared to resume limited operations this week in order to ensure supplies of key products during the current lockdown or to avoid costly damage to plant. The Ministry for Primary Industries’ forestry arm – Te Uru Rakau – will oversee a phased increase[…]

Tumut – Salvage operations in softwood plantations impacted by this season’s fires are well underway, with local crews working at a significantly higher rate of production than normal, planting programs ramping up to restock plantations and preparations underway for some export operations. Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Regional Manager Dean Anderson said Forestry Corporation is placing[…]

New Zealand foresters are saying that log supply to domestic and export markets is inextricably linked and can’t be separated, as Forests Minister Shane Jones now seems to be advocating. Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor says a harvest of just about any forest will produce higher grade logs for domestic construction, some logs for[…]

A good news story – and they’re rare as hen’s teeth right now. Whanganui father says he is rapt to be spending so much time at home with his kids, after years of working 80-hour weeks. The lockdown has seen logging company owner Harley Pomeroy trade his 3am wake-up and trudge into the dark forest[…]

NZ forest industry organisations are planning how to get back to work when restrictions on non-essential work are lifted for the industry. Organisations, representing forest growers, transport, processing and contractors have set up a working group to develop risk assessment protocols in readiness for start-up of the industry sector. The National Safety Director of the[…]