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Forest Service closes some Rocky Mountain campgrounds at risk of falling, beetle-ravaged trees
The U.S. Forest Service has closed some popular campgrounds in Colorado and Wyoming because of concern that trees killed by the bark beetles that are ravaging forests across the West could topple onto unsuspecting visitors.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/18561074.html
May 5, 2008
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Hunters turned foresters nominated for Regional Tree Farmers of the Year award
Minnesota brothers Doug, Galen, Peter and Tom Ploofns The brothers' success was recently recognized as they were awarded the 2008 State Tree Farmers of the Year by the American Forest Foundation, and have been nominated for consideration as 2008 Regional Tree Farmers of the Year.
http://www.mcrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=47913
May 5, 2008
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Study estimates wide range of possible energy cost increases from climate bill.
People will be paying higher energy prices under a Senate bill to limit greenhouse gases, but how much will depend on how well the country can shift away from burning fossil fuels, an Energy Department analysis says.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/18382479.html
May 5, 2008
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Authorities urge caution driving on Superior National Forest roads
Authorities are cautioning visitors to use extra care when driving on Superior National Forest roads.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=65666§ion=News
May 2, 2008
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57,000 free seedlings to be given away on Arbor Day
For the seventh consecutive year, McDonald's restaurants throughout Minnesota are teaming up with Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI) to give away 57,000 red pine seedlings on Arbor Day.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=508902
April 25, 2008
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State Readies for Emerald Ash Borer
Minnesota officials get ready to battle the Emerald Ash Borer, a parasite that could attack the state's ash trees.
http://www.startribune.com/local/17943249.html
April 20, 2008
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Plummeting lumber prices good for consumers, bad for timber industry
Plummeting lumber prices good for consumers, but the slump is devastating to people who work in the timber products industry.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/16/lumberprices/
April 18, 2008
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House panel boosts wildfire funding bill
A bill approved Thursday by the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee would set aside up to $1 billion to pay for fighting major wildfires such as those that devastated Southern California last fall.
http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_8961974?nclick_check=1
April 17, 2008
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Biofuels research moves on at UM-Morris
A biomass gasification system is being built at the University of Minnesota, Morris campus. UMM uses corn stover, the dried stalks and leaves left over after corn has been harvested, as their biomass.
http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2008/apr/17/biofuels-research-moves-umm/?local
April 17, 2008
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Soft times for hardwoods
Global economics and the housing bust are throwing a relentless string of problems at the mom-and-pop sawmills and logging companies that make up much of the nation's hardwood lumber industry.
http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_8815304
April 5, 2008
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Sen. Coleman addresses mortgage crunch
Sen. Norm coleman (R-Minn.) says easing the housing crisis with provisions to keep people in their homes in itself is economic stimulus for an ailing economy.
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=14967§ion=news&freebie_check&CFID=14256255&CFTOKEN=88715858&jsessionid=8830cc466444a163a293
April 4, 2008
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Forest Service buys flying drones to help find marijuana growers in California
Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, who oversees the Forest Service, says the pilotless, camera-equipped aircraft will allow law enforcement officers to pinpoint marijuana fields and size up potential dangers before agents attempt arrests.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/17290049.html
April 4, 2008
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Cass County Sells More Timber
Cass County reports an increase in the volume of timber sold this year over last year.
http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/040208/new_20080402027.shtml
April 3, 2008
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European Union urges Russia not to raise export duties on timber
European Union officials urged Russia to reconsider an increase in duties on raw timber exported to EU nations, warning that the decision would hurt Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organization.
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=7&a=335653
April 3, 2008
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Federal funds prompt Phase II of Koochiching forest project
A plan to preserve from development a block of private Minnesota forest likely will expand, possibly by another 76,000 acres, thereby giving hunters assured future access to prime grouse-hunting and deer-hunting land.
http://www.minnesotaoutdoornews.com/articles/2008/04/03/top_news/news04.txt
April 3, 2008
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Environmentalists should support Minnesota loggers
A Twin Cities environmentalist writes a letter to the editor of the Timberjay in support of logging.
http://www.timberjay.com/current.php?article=4226
March 31, 2008
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Emerald Ash Borer Volunteers Needed
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are recruiting volunteers to help protect Minnesota's forests by serving as "first detectors" for emerald ash borer (EAB).
http://ksax.com/article/stories/S376238.shtml?cat=10263
March 25, 2008
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Infighting Hurt Lake Tahoe Fire Prevention
Steps to prevent catastrophic wildfires in the Lake Tahoe basin, one of the country's most treasured natural wonders, have been hampered for years by bureaucratic infighting among agencies that often work at cross-purposes, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
The failure of the agencies to adequately protect the basin was brought to light in June when a wildfire ripped through a thickly forested ravine and destroyed 254 homes near South Lake Tahoe.
Since then, blame has fallen on the overlapping agencies that have environmental and regulatory oversight of the Tahoe basin. A commission established after the fire was scheduled to vote Friday on a report recommending ways to heal the rifts.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/16890436.html
March 21, 2008
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Minnesota Loggers Help Students Learn
An appreciation for tradition and for technology were displayed at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MN during a public demonstration of logging practices both past and present.
While men used muscle to saw through 40-year old pine trees and haul them out of the woods with real, live horse power, a wagon-ride away a state-of-the-art cut-to-length timber harvesting system thinned a 70-year-old aspen stand. The two very different demonstrations on two separate sites on the Forest History Center grounds gave onlookers a look at how timber harvesting has changed over the last century.
http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/articles/2008/03/19/news/doc47e13b5bc3606366320863.txt
March 19, 2008
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International Paper Purchases Minnesota Operations
Timber and paper giant Weyerhaeuser Co. said Monday that it will sell its container-board packaging and recycling business to International Paper for $6 billion in a cash deal that includes five operations in Minnesota.
Weyerhaeuser has a recycling facility in New Brighton and packaging plants in Austin, Fridley, St. Paul and White Bear Lake.
http://www.startribune.com/business/16769821.html
March 18, 2008
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Cap and Trade Plan Runs Into Roadblock
"Cap and trade" legislation at the Minnesota legislature is running into opposition from several quarters. One key lawmaker says the bill would put the timber industry at a competitive disadvantage with other national producers.
http://www.minnpost.com/ronway/2008/03/12/1143/big_environmental_plan_runs_into_big_opposition
March 12, 2008
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Coleman hears about forest-products concerns
U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman spent more than an hour Friday afternoon listening to Duluth business people and a homeowner talk about how they’re faring in the current economic environment and heard viewpoints that ranged from disheartening — from the forest products industry — to optimistic — from real estate agents.
During the informal public meeting, held in a conference room at the NewPage (formerly Stora Enso) paper mill in West Duluth, Coleman, R-Minn., listened more than he spoke. It was an opportunity for him to learn and hear ideas during these “clearly challenging economic times,” he said.
“The great ideas don’t originate with me sitting behind my desk in Washington,” Coleman said.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=60966§ion=None
February 23, 2008
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A tankful of trees
Minnesota’s paper mills and wood-burning plants could produce more ethanol than the state’s corn farmers thanks to new technology that can turn trees into liquid fuel.
Scientists say the paper mill of the future will produce not just paper but also liquid fuel, synthetic gas, electricity, steam, asphalt, lubricants and even biodegradable plastics and resins...
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/rss.cfm?id=59986
February 10, 2008
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Chippewa Forest should be able to increase timber for harvest
Article from the Bemidji Pioneer on funding for Chippewa and Superior National Forests
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=13620§ion=news
February 4, 2008
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Minnesota Logger, Tree Farmer, and Industry Partner to Build Sustainable Home
What started as a well managed Tree Farm will soon become dozens of 4’ x 8’ sheets of oriented strand board (OSB), as part of a unique effort by the Minnesota Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Implementation Committee to build a Habitat for Humanity home. Later this year, Hibbing’s Kelli Ritz and her daughter will move into their own new home in that city – a home that will be built in partnership with Minnesota SFI program volunteers using SFI-certified materials from Minnesota forest products companies. The wood for the Habitat for Humanity project came from the Cook Tree Farm of Minnesota Sen. Tom Bakk, which he donated.
http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S327674.shtml?cat=10359
January 31, 2008
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Opportunities for Foresters are Plentiful
St. Paul – Minnesota students interested in a career in forestry will find great opportunity in that field over the next ten years. That’s according to a survey conducted by the state’s paper and wood products manufacturers.
http://www.minnesotaforests.com/resources/pdfs/mfi_foresters_needs_release.pdf
November 30, 2007
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Governer's Task Force on the Competitiveness of Minnesota's Primary Forest Products Industry
The primary forest products industry is vital to Minnesota's economy, as well as the health and management of both public and private forests. The industry provides jobs and economic activity that benefit communities statewide, but especially rural communities in northern Minnesota.
http://www.minnesotaforests.com/resources/pdfs/govreport2006.pdf
December 15, 2006
