Calendar

The Log Grading Short Course is designed to present a working knowledge of the U.S. Forest Service Grading System and its relationship to lumber grades and product utilization.

The class will be taught by Adam Taylor, Associate Professor and the Wood Products Extension Specialist at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  The class will begin at 8am and end at 3pm.

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The Hardwood Manufacturers Association will hold its 2012 National Conference & Expo at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans, Louisiana.  For more information please visit www.hmamembers.org.

This 4-day workshop will include a thorough study and explanation of the NHLA Rules Book, emphasizing the basics of hardwood lumber inspection.This popular workshop gives yardmen, sawyers, edgermen, sales and office staff and management level personnel an introduction to lumber inspection.

Class will begin at 6pm and end at 9pm.

The class will be held at Broadway Volunteer Fire Department and taught by Benji Richards, NHLA National Inspector.

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Energy expenses are the third largest cost for the US forest products industries, after raw materials and labor. Over the last decade, electricity prices have risen at an average annual rate of 1.4%, diesel prices by 9.3%, and prices for natural gas for industrial use by more than 100%. Natural gas and electricity account for about two fifths of total energy consumption of the wood products industry.

These higher energy costs undoubtedly negatively impact the industries profitability, which has also been significantly impacted by other issues such as hardwood stumpage prices, higher transportation costs, increasing government regulations, a challenging economic situation, and the ongoing globalization of markets. Given the trajectory of energy prices and the energy intensity of the US hardwood industry, energy consumption and the resulting costs, strategies to reduce energy consumption should be a priority issue in order for our industry to remain competitive. To learn more please visit the website.

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