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Breaking News: China to Remove Tariffs on U.S. Hardwoods
Based on reports from the Agricultural Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as well as the Chinese Ministry of Finance, the Chinese government will remove U.S. hardwood lumber import tariffs starting on February 28, 2020, for one year. The list of products that could potentially have tariffs removed starting next Friday can be […]
Breaking News: China Accepting Applications for Tariff Exemptions
China’s Ministry of Finance announced today that China’s tax authority will begin accepting applications from Chinese domestic firms for the exemption of additional tariffs imposed on some U.S. products, including U.S. hardwoods starting March 2, 2020. Applications for the one-year waivers must be submitted by Chinese firms; U.S. companies are not eligible to submit requests […]
Why I Love the Hardwood Lumber Industry
Phuc Hoang – ITSEF Scholarship Recipient Phuc Hoang was the recipient of the (ITSEF) Inspector Training School Educational Foundation Scholarship, for class 190. Each fall and spring, ITSEF awards scholarships to increase School enrollment and enrich student’s lives. Mr. Hoang submitted the following essay about why he loves the hardwood lumber industry. The hardwood […]
Walnut, in so many words
by Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector As Chief Inspector for NHLA, I have heard a lot of conclusions, opinions, and theories that just don’t match up with reality, specifically about the NHLA Grading Rules. In this month’s Rules Corner, I want to relay a lumber grading situation involving 2 Common Walnut. As I was inspecting […]
In Memory of Orn Gudmundsson, Senior
We are sad to report the passing of Orn Gudmundsson Senior of Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Gudmundsson Sr. passed away Saturday (February 1, 2020) after an extended battle with Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Gudmundsson was born January 4th, 1947 in Reykjavik, Iceland. He moved to Louisville in 1950 with his parents, Jon and Sesselja. He graduated from […]
Domestic Hardwood Promotion: Now is the Time
An Interview with Dana Lee Cole of the Hardwood Federation and the Real American Hardwood Promotion Coalition The U.S. hardwood industry is facing significant change driven by a variety of factors, including stiff competition from wood look-alike products, relentless misleading campaigns about the sustainability of wood commodities, and a slowing world economy. Industry leaders are […]
Breaking News: US & China Sign “Phase 1” of Trade Agreement
As many of you may have watched earlier today, the U.S. and China formalized a limited trade agreement today, signaling a truce in the nearly two-year trade war between the world’s two largest economies and sets the stage for a broader agreement down the road. The “Phase One” agreement is the product of months of intense […]
The Recruitment Series, Part 3: Where to Post Job Openings
When it comes to posting your newly created job listing, the platforms you should use will vary depending on what the job position is. Luckily, there are a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing where to post your jobs, but it may feel a bit overwhelming if you’re not quite sure where […]
Breaking News Alert from NHLA
Hardwoods Mentioned as Part of Trade Deal U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer appeared on Fox Business this morning and mentioned that hardwoods are part of the trade deal with China. The Fox News clip may be viewed HERE. Hardwood and forest products are mentioned at 1:56 of this clip addressing how “other areas of agriculture […]
Legna: Leading the Hardwood Industry into the Future
As we step into the third decade of the 21st century, we take with us new technologies that make our lives easier. Much like the microwave revolutionized cooking in the 1980s, new software and technologies are making life in the hardwood lumber industry more efficient. Blazing the trail in new industry technologies is NHLA Member, […]
Through All of the Other Noise, Federal Forest Efforts Quietly Advance
While the trade war with China has consumed the Hardwood Federation’s attention and advocacy bandwidth this year, there continues to be activity on other pressing public policy issues, which we are following and engaging. Federal forest management reform is one of these, particularly now that wildfires are once again raging in California and policymakers are […]
The Recruitment Series, Part 2: Creating Attractive Job Posts
Many employers struggle with quality employee recruitment. With today’s extremely low unemployment rate, job boards on all platforms are saturated with open positions waiting to be filled, so creating an attractive job post is essential in recruiting great employees. It also saves you a ton of time during the recruitment process, as quality job posts tend […]
December Rules Corner
In this month’s article, I would like to continue with questions that were presented in our monthly Live with the Chief on Facebook. The first question was: “When grading lumber, and there is a specified color sort, can the amount of sapwood/heartwood be changed by surfacing to Standard Rough Thickness?” The answer to this question […]
Introducing: the Recruitment Series, Part 1
It’s every manager’s nightmare: One of your best employees unexpectedly resigns, and now you have to find an immediate replacement. Or, a longtime employee is approaching retirement, and you worry about finding someone else with their particular skill set, which is not an easy task given that there’s currently a shortage of skilled laborers in […]
Christmas Trees: are Fake or Real better for the Planet?
Every year around this time, a national debate starts over which is better: a real, live Christmas Tree or an artificial, plastic Christmas Tree? We all have our opinions on which tree is better, but if you are going to buy a fake tree because you think it is good for the environment, you’ll want […]
7 Gifts Women Want for Christmas in 2019
The holiday season is here, and like it or not, that means you have to go shopping. Women can be especially hard to shop for — your wife, sister, mother, girlfriend, daughter– ugh, we know! But don’t worry, NHLA has your back. We’ve done all the research for you, so you can buy the women in your life gifts […]
November Rules Corner with NHLA Chief Inspector
This month I would like to review a few questions that were asked during our Facebook “Live with the Chief” event. Question: How big of a sound knot is allowed in a sound cutting? Great question and a point that is quite often misunderstood, especially when grading 2B Common. Answer: The answer is in the […]
Is Stress Making You Sick?
We live in a world of ever-increasing stress. Tariffs, weather, long workdays, trade wars, and more. But are you under so much stress that it is making you sick!? Dr. Jay Winner, the author of “Take the Stress Out of Your Life,” says, “Stress doesn’t just make us feel awful emotionally. It can also exacerbate […]
The Hardwood Federation: Working for You
The Hardwood Federation is proud to partner with and represent NHLA and their members in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Together, we support policies that create a healthy economic environment for the hardwood community, including family businesses and small companies, lead to a fair and level international playing field, and ensure healthy and productive public […]
Female Leadership: The Family Secret for a Successful Business
Close your eyes for a moment and picture a leader in the hardwood lumber industry. Chances are, you pictured a man, and that is pretty accurate. However, make no mistake, while female leaders are few and far between, they are making an impressive mark on the industry. The Pew Research Center reports that 40 percent […]
