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Timber producers told of changes, opportunities at Ag Expo meeting

Timber producers told of changes, opportunities at Ag Expo meeting Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/22/19) WEST MONROE, La. — How to remain productive during changing times in the timber industry was a key topic covered at the 2019 Ag Expo Forestry Forum held Jan. 18 at the West Monroe Convention Center. Buck Vandersteen, executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, told the group how the recent announcement by Georgia-Pacific that it is closing a plant in the Baton Rouge area will affect the entire industry. He said if one part of the industry hurts, it will eventually be felt by those in other areas of the state as well. “The plant’s closing will idle more than 600 direct employees, and more than 3,000 indirect jobs will be impacted,” Vandersteen said. “The total payroll for those direct workers is over $180 million. Overall, this accounts for over a billion dollars in economic value.” He reminded those in attendance that survival requires a team effort. “I want to remind you that the timber industry is one industry — it’s not loggers against landowners and loggers against mills,” he said. LSU AgCenter forestry agent Luke Stamper, who works in northeast Louisiana, said the state of the forestry industry is about average, and industry performance varies from one part of Louisiana to the next. AgCenter economist Shaun Tanger said projections are up in the next few years for hardwood and softwood timber. That’s because of the positive outlook for new housing starts, which will burn off some of the excess inventory in the system now. “We’re lucky here in Louisiana because we’re not really big in the flooring and high-end lumber market,” Tanger said. “We do expect to see increases in pallets, railroad ties and road mat timbers for the oil industry.” Tanger said he thinks the hardwood lumber market is going to be OK, but the pulpwood market’s effect will be cause for some concern. AgCenter forest researcher Michael Blazier discussed the Morehouse Project, which is a new initiative designed to enhance the health of forests in northeast Louisiana and southeast Arkansas. Blazier was also joined by Jared Streeter, coordinating biologist with Quail Forever, a nonprofit initiative to improve quail habitat in the state. Tax attorney Paul Spillers explained how the new laws will affect those involved in the timber industry. “Timber ownership will fall into three baskets, which include one, personal use or hobby; two, as an investment; and third, as a business,” Spillers said. Some of the changes include no deductions for hobby properties or investment properties. In the past, there were deductions for investment properties, but that ended on Jan. 1, he said. Kim Tolson, chair of the Louisiana Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force, gave an update on the activities of the task force. Tolson said many people don’t even know that the task force exist, and this may be because it is not a regulatory body. “Our sole purpose is to advise and make recommendations to regulatory agencies on how to manage feral hogs in the state. That includes the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries and to the Louisiana Legislature,” she said. Rick Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service state forester, reminded those in the audience the agency is currently not affected by the federal government shutdown. He said NRCS offices are open in every parish because some operating money was provided in a bill from last fall. Williams gave the group an update on best management practices, determining tree value and when to harvest. AgCenter wildlife specialist Ashley Long discussed chronic wasting disease in deer and what can be done to try to slow its spread. “There are basically three things that need to be done by landowners and hunters,” she said. “One, we need to make sure that we only spread good information. Second, we ask you to help with surveillance. And third, we all need to keep up with changes in policy.” No cases of CWD have been found in Louisiana, but the disease has been found in Arkansas and Mississippi, she said. Gary Patterson, a forestry consultant from Ruston, said he has been coming to the meeting from the beginning. “This meeting provides a lot information. That’s why I come,” Patterson said. “It’s one place where you can get a variety of information on the industry.” Patterson said over the past 15 years, five sawmills and two paper mills have closed in this area.