Tech grad joins the logging industry VOLUME 22 • NO. 2 • APRIL 2017 Drax makes offer to buy La. Pellets .......................Page 6 Number of logging accidents down in 2016..........Page 16 Paper for this publication produced in the U.S.A.
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Learn new things at LLC chapter meetings The old saying “Learn something new every day” is true in the logging business, or at least it should be. I remember when I first started going out to logging jobs, my husband, Frank, told me I’d learn something new every day. I have. When it comes to logging, however, I don’t think anyone can learn enough. That’s where attending Louisiana Logging Council chapter meetings come in. There are seven chapters of the Logging Council throughout the state. Each chapter has a Continuing Logger Education meeting four times per year, which can earn Master Loggers two CLE hours per meeting — six CLE hours are required each year for Master Loggers to maintain their certification. The chapter meetings always have a speaker who will talk about something related to logging or trucking. I always find the meetings interesting and learn something I did not know before. Loggers have to make sure crews follow the right BMPs at each job. Learning about the experience of another logger can help. Difficulties you might not have faced yet and how they were overcome
could help you achieve your goal easier. Trucking is a problem in the logging business, as well as other industries. Learning from others’ experience Angie Bonner can be a good tool. But it’s not just learning how to do the work; it’s also learning about the issues concerning our logging industry. In the past year, for example, more parishes have looked to increase revenue through road bonds for logging. If enacted, it would make our jobs more difficult and more expensive. Parish governments where logging is done already get thousands of dollars from severance taxes (see page 19 for a rundown on the amounts) — 75 percent of what the state collects. The intention of these taxes is to keep up parish roads. In Baton Rouge, the Legislature is talking about increasing fees and fuel taxes. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development already takes in more revenue from permits than it
Louisiana Logger
Published quarterly by the Louisiana Logging Council P.O. Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 • (318) 443-2558
President Angie Bonner Evans (337) 286-9837 bonnerlogging@yahoo.com
Gracee Malone-Texada Staff Assistant (318) 443-2558 gmalone@laforestry.com
Chapter Chairs Chapter 1 - Heath Patterson Chapter 7 - Clifton Malmay Farmerville • (318) 245-0002 Zwolle • (318) 471-7705 heapatterson@gmail.com monicamalmay@yahoo.com Kendall Puckett Dubach • (318) 245-6874 racing18kk@gmail.com Chapter 2 - John Keith and Skeet Hodgkins Haughton • (318) 949-3672 For information skeet@suddenlinkmail.com about articles or Chapter 3 - Joshua McAllister advertising, please Winnfield • (318) 729-1727 call Jeff Zeringue at jnmcallister@aol.com (318) 443-2558. Chapter 4 - Casey Durand Pollock • (318) 542-2826 For information on tonyareobeau@gmail.com classes or training Chapter 5 - Angie Bonner records, consult the Evans • (337) 286-9837 website: bonnerlogging@yahoo.com www.laforestry.com Chapter 6 - Malcolm Sibley or call Gracee Walker • (225) 686-7955 Malone-Texada at kstimber@aol.com (318) 443-2558.
When it comes to logging, however, I don’t think anyone can learn enough. costs to pay for the permit process. Now they want more. Are loggers aware of these important issues? If called upon, do they know enough about those issues to contact their legislators and talk about how their business would be affected? I would like to see loggers more involved in important issues in our industry and attending the LLC chapter meetings is a way they can educate themselves. The chapter meetings also are opportunities for loggers to voice their concerns to the chapter chairmen or chairwomen so when they attend LLC meetings and Louisiana Forestry Association meetings, loggers’ voices and concerns will be heard. Look at the bottom of this page for a list of the chapter chairman or chairwoman in your area and contact him or her to find out when the next meeting is. Then mark it on your calendar to be there. Tragic Event We were saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of three men at the Packing Corporation of America plant in DeRidder and our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. The tragedy at the plant is a reminder that there are dangerous aspects to our industry. We should always be aware of those dangers and work safely, wearing the proper gear. Our goal should be not just making sure the best management practices are done well and the wood makes it to the mill, but we should be sure to make it home safely each night. Be safe. (Angie Bonner is president of the Louisiana Logging Council and co-owner of Bonner Logging Inc.) Second Quarter 2017
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The Johnson Logging crew is shown on a Union Parish logging job. Front row from left are Jesse Hudson, Randy Gill, Dale Stringfellow (contract trucker), and Curt Hendrix; back row from left, Devontei Ford and Charles Kendricks. Not pictured are Mickey Dumas, Chris Fife, Kenny Davis and Jerral Ward (mechanic). (Photos by Janet Tompkins)
Silverside Timber LLC Nick Andrews By Janet Tompkins Nick Andrews, owner of Silverside Timber LLC and Johnson Logging in Farmerville, is a Louisiana Tech University graduate forester who has moved into the procurement forestry and logging business in the past five years. He started out his career as a unit forester for the Louisiana Office of Forestry in Union Parish and later in Monroe. But he moved into the private sector as a timber buyer for Halley Timber in 2010 and when a logging job came up for sale at the end of 2012, he opened his own business. Today he has nine employees in the woods including four truck drivers and a mechanic. The woods crew has largely remained intact since the sale and Andrews has high praise for their ability to get the work done and fill in on other machines when crew members are absent. Cole Patterson, from a long line of forestry consultants in the Ruston area, is a timber buyer for Silverside Timber and Debbie Duty is the office manager. Duty said both her father and grandfather were in the logging business in central Louisiana. The Silverside Timber Co. is owned by Nick Andrews (standing right). “We buy 100 percent of our timber and Cole purchases Also pictured are Cole Patterson, who is the company’s timber buyer, the majority of that,” said the 36-year-old Andrews. “Cole is and Debbie Duty, who is the office manager. 4
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excellent — one of the best timber buyers around.” Most of their timber buys are in Claiborne, Union and Lincoln parishes, but he also does work in Ouachita, Morehouse and Jackson parishes. Both Andrews and Patterson wish for more markets in northeast Louisiana but are encouraged by the reopening of the old Georgia-Pacific mill in El Dorado, Arkansas. The two are good friends and hunting partners (and fellow Louisiana Tech graduates) and they admit they consider carefully when to cut the tracts they buy. Although their area has had less rain than other parts of the state, they try to hold some high ground for when the rains do hit. “Our group has been working five days a week — we are blessed,” said Andrews, pointing out how some markets are on quota. “I owe my success to faith in Jesus Christ.” Patterson said his track record with various local markets also has been helpful. “All you have is your word and you have to keep it,” said Patterson. “Even if you lose money on it, you keep it. Loyalty is the deal.” Almond Brothers in Coushatta is one of their usual destinations. “We have a very good relationship with Will Almond and that has been great,” Patterson said. Other markets include Weyerhaeuser and Graphic Packaging, along with Georgia-Pacific in Arkansas. Employees of Johnson Logging include Jesse Hudson, Randy Gill, Curt Kendrix, Devontei Ford and truck drivers Charles Kendricks, Mickey Dumas, Chris Fife and Kenny Davis. Jerral Ward is the mechanic for the crew. On a February morning in Union Parish, the crew was cutting three nearby tracts totaling about 100 acres. The pulpwood was headed to G-P at Crossett. Close to Farmerville, the tract was right off the main road with easy access. Delayed only one
Most of their timber buys are in Claiborne, Union and Lincoln parishes, but he also does work in Quachita, Morehouse and Jackson parishes.
The Johnson Logging crew works a site in Union Parish in February. (Photo by Janet Tompkins)
day by rain, the crew was on schedule. “We don’t have much turnover (with the crew),” said Andrews. They are safety conscious, he said, but the lack of turnover also helps keep the job safe, in his opinion. Those new to a crew or new to logging are usually more prone to accidents, he said. Andrews purchased his four trucks from Shreveport Truck Center and he also uses contract trucks. But Andrews has more jobs than forestry. He is an associate minister and missionary director at Antioch Baptist Church. His mission trips include travel to southern Mexico and Malawi, Africa. He received his seminary degree through Louisiana College in Pineville and worked for a time as a minister in Columbia. Also involved in Project 41 to curb human trafficking, Andrews said their local group assisted in rescuing seven young girls last summer. Four individuals were arrested in the case. “Human trafficking is a problem across I-20.” Now settled into both the timber and ministry work in Farmerville near his home in Sterlington, Andrews and his wife, Jessalynn, are expecting their fourth child soon. Their son Carson is 10 years old followed by their two girls Camdyn and Addison. They will soon welcome another boy, Wyatt, to the family. A native of the Ferriday area, Andrews, didn’t have a forestry background. His father is still working for the railroad, but a Continued on page 6
The Johnson Logging crew works a site in Union Parish in February. (Photo by Janet Tompkins) Second Quarter 2017
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Drax offers to purchase distressed facilities
By Jeff Zeringue Drax Biomass has submitted an offer to purchase Louisiana Pellets, a company official said. David Malkin, director of communications and policy for Drax, said the offer fits with the company’s plan to increase its geographic reach. “When Louisiana Pellets entered into Chapter 11 and bond owners put assets up for sale, we thought it was a good opportunity,” Malkin said. According to media reports, Drax also has made an offer to purchase Texas Pellets in Woodville, Texas, which like Louisiana Pellets in Ura- German Pellets opened a new facility in Urania in 2015. In February 2016, the company filed for nia, is going through Chapter 11 Chapter 11 reorganization and reopened the facility as Louisiana Pellets. Back in Chapter 11 in bankruptcy and seeking buyers. February, Drax Group made offers to purchase this facility and another GP facility in Woodville, The offers are binding, according Texas. (Photo by Woodworking Network) to reports in Insider Media Limited, and could be accepted by the two companies, a successful ic troubles that led to its filing for reorganization: a big decline buyer is likely to be determined at auction. Auctions had been in oil prices; lower pellet revenues because of warm winters; and scheduled for March 1 and 2, but Malkin said it was delayed. a bad investment in 2010. At the time of the filing, the compaHe said Drax was awaiting confirmation of the new dates, but ny reported 650 employees at both facilities but didn’t report a according to court records it had been rescheduled for March 9. breakdown of how many employees at each facility. Louisiana Pellets was formerly German Pellets, which in The Louisiana Pellets facility has been idle for several weeks February 2016 had petitioned the U.S. bankruptcy court to and was not taking in wood as of early March. restructure. Texas Pellets was also part of German Pellets’ reBuck Vandersteen, executive director of the Louisiana Fororganization, but the new Chapter 11 filing is a separate case. estry Association, said the purchase could benefit loggers and A report in Biomass Magazine stated Texas Pellets began op- the rest of the industry. erating in 2013 at its facility in Woodville and leased five silos “Drax is a very dependable company and I think it will be a at a Port Arthur, Texas, facility. It reported annual production good thing for Central Louisiana to have a steady demand for capacity at 500,000 metric tons. sustainably produced forest products,” Vandersteen said. Louisiana Pellets, which opened in 2015, reported a producMalkin said one of the company’s goals is to increase its tion capacity of 578,000 metric tons at its Urania facility. A year ago, German Pellets cited three factors for its economContinued on page 9
Andrews Alexandria and Baton Rouge
Alexandria • 318- 448-6211 Baton Rouge • 225-923-3450
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Continued from page 5
summer job at the Wildlife and Fisheries office piqued his interest in the outdoors. He headed to Louisiana Tech but on the advice of a senior employee at his wildlife job, he majored in forestry. “He said there would be more job opportunities in forestry,” Andrews said. He worked through college and his job at a local sporting goods store was how he met Jessalynn, now a teacher at Sterlington Elementary School. His son Carson is an avid hunter and has been featured in the TP Outdoor Adventure videos while on these hunts.
The show’s host loves the way Carson gives out a loud celebratory yell when he hits his target, his father said. Although Carson uses a walker because of cerebral palsy, he is at home in the woods. He also went frog gigging with the TV crew and he has even bigger ambitions. “Carson has every plan to one day take over the logging business,” his dad said. Until then, Andrews predicts that he must work to find more ways to be more efficient to keep that business going. “It will probably get a little tougher before it will come back,” he predicts. “But we are always looking to be more efficient.” (Janet Tompkins is former editor of Forests & People magazine.)
New Master Loggers complete Feb. classes The following are new Master Loggers who successfully completed the core class requirements in February put on by the Louisiana Logging Council: • Kevin Bordelon, of Moreauville • Reggie Castleberg, of Bogalusa • Damon Cox, of Winnfield • Tony Elliott, of Louisiana • Brant Frazier, of Pollock • Dustin Goins, of Winnfield • Randy Gray, of Joaquin, Texas • Colby Gross, Clinton • Stephen Ham, of Joaquin, Texas • Owen Huddleston, of Rustin • Alvin Lonidier, of Pollock • Trevor Malmay, of Zwolle • Colby Malmay, of Zwolle • Logan Malmay, of Zwolle • Aaron Mayo, of Leesville • Robert McClain, of Leesville Rick Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service state forester, conducts a field exercise • Jeffrey McKinley, of Farmerville Feb. 1 in Grant Parish. The class was one of two Master Core Class training for new Master Log• Chris Miller, of Marion gers scheduled for 2017. The next Master Core Class is scheduled for Aug. 9 and 10. Loggers • James Nolen, of DeRidder must be registered by Aug. 4. See Page 15 for details. • Jerry Richards, of Jena • Willie Smith, of Olla • Glen Sowell, of Joaquin, Texas • Joseph Sullivan, of Epps • Walter Vaccaro Jr., of Simmesport • Jackie Wise, of Jena
10’ X 14’ Dimensions 3/8” carriage bolts at all intersection points Blocks handling with grapple
Loggers work on marking where a water structure should go during a field exercise in Grant Parish for the Master Core Class held Feb. 1 by the Louisiana Logging Council. Second Quarter 2017
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Loggers remain optimistic in trying times By C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen The first special session of 2017 for the Louisiana Legislature didn’t hurt loggers and forestry too bad. The Office of Forestry lost a little money in budget cuts and the dedicated funds for fire protection and tree planting were trimmed a little. The regular session begins on April 10 with one goal in mind: to figure a way to raise enough revenue to balance the state budget. All the temporary sales taxes that raised logger’s costs are expected to go away in 2018, unless of course the state can’t find money to replace it with other revenue-generating proposals. In that case the temporary sales tax may become permanent and all the work we did to help reduce logging costs will go away. Please stay tuned to our Facebook, Tweets, and Legislative Report to follow the tax reform proposals for balancing the state budget. We talked last issue of the rapid increase in log truck insurance premiums and the problem this was causing loggers. In February, members of the Louisiana Logging Council appeared before the Louisiana Senate Insurance Committee to testify on the problem loggers are facing finding affordable liability insurance. In the brief time we had with the committee, we raised their awareness of our problems and received offers from them to assist us in finding solutions. We also had the privilege of having Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon present to hear our testimony. He suggested a meeting with his staff to plot a course for relief. That meeting will occur very soon and the details reported back to you at a later date. As one travels the rural roads of Lou-
Loggers are the farmers of trees and like your counterparts in agriculture you are optimistic that things will get better. isiana, one sees farmers on their tractors preparing their land for the crops they will soon be planting. One has to wonder with the low commodity prices and the costs of seed and fertilizer rising, why do they still farm. Resiliency and eternal optimism is the only way to explain it. Loggers are much the same way. With our delivered prices low and costs rising, you could park it and throw your hands up and walk away, but you don’t. You hang in there and that’s what keeps this multibillion-dollar industry alive and going. Loggers are the farmers of trees and like your counterparts in agriculture you are optimistic that things will get better. We thank a logger every day for their persistence and service. The proposal for increases in the gas and diesel tax and permit fees have not produced any concrete legislative proposals yet. Gas and permit fees have not increased for many years and they are being looked at for changes. Just because it hasn’t been raised in a while doesn’t mean it should increase. This can be very significant to loggers if changes are too large and there are no benefits to loggers. Last time, we talked about the pro-
Vandersteen
posed overtime rules pitched by the U.S. Department of Labor that were to go into effect Dec. 1, 2016. The good news is a federal judge in Texas stopped the rules nationwide on the grounds that the Department of Labor does not have the authorization to set wage rates without congressional approval. It looks like the Trump administration will not support this initiative, so it is likely to go away. The Trump administration also has directed the EPA and the Army Corps to review the regulations proposed in the Waters of the United States Regulations from the last administration. Through this review process it is expected that this regulation will be buried. Log safely and know that we have your interests at heart. Thanks for your support. (Buck Vandersteen is the executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association and the Louisiana Logging Council.)
Working Forests Caucus expanding for 115th Congress U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas joined three Louisiana congressmen in a bipartisan group of Congress members for the launch of the Working Forests Caucus in the 115th Congress. The caucus was formed during the 114th Congress to advocate for working forests across the United States. Updates to the tax code, as well as changes in how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) treats forest biomass and declaring it carbon neutral, are goals of the caucus. Sixty-eight bipartisan members of Congress from all over the United States are members of the Working Forests Caucus, in8
Louisiana Logger
cluding three congressmen from Louisiana: U.S. Reps. Ralph Abraham of Mangham, Garret Graves of Baton Rouge and Cedric Richmond of New Orleans. “I wanted to serve on the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry and join the Forestry Caucus because the industry plays a key role in the lives of the people I represent,” Abraham said in an email response. “Not only do working forests provide a powerful economic driver for communities throughout my district, but they maintain access to the outdoor activities so many of us from Louisiana cherish.”
More than 400 EAB traps being deployed As spring has sprung a bit early in Louisiana, so has the setting up of EAB traps across the state. Each year, hundreds of traps are set around the state to track the advancement of the emerald ash borer, an invasive species from China that is making its way across the United States threatening native ash trees. The borers emerge in spring green-up and the adults feast on the leaves of the ash trees before mating and laying eggs in the crevasses of its bark. Wood Johnson, a biologist for the U.S. Forest Service, said he was scouting for places to set up traps at the end of February and early March. The roughly 50 traps the Forest Service maintains each year are usually set up in parishes where the beetle has not yet been detected but along the perimeter of where the pests were discovered the previous year. In 2016, the number of parishes where EAB have been discovered increased to five — Bossier, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union and Webster parishes.
Parishes EAB have been discovered in increased to five in 2016 — Bossier, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union and Webster.
Johnson said Forest Service traps will be set up in and near ash trees in public rights of way in parishes adjacent to the ones known to have EAB. “We’re putting them in Caddo, Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Morehouse parishes,” Johnson said. “Thirty will be a detection survey, so they’ll be set up in areas where EAB has not been seen.” The rest will be used in parishes where the insect has been found, but not necessarily in areas they’re known to be. Those traps are part of a study to test a new pheromone. “We’re not sure how long they (the new pheromone) will last in the heat,” he said. Richard Miller of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry said the state sets up a few traps, but the monitoring is done mostly with federal funding and the U.S. Department of Agriculture hires a contractor to deploy the bulk of the traps. Because its a federal program, it should not be affected by state budget cuts. “Typically we’d do this in early April,” Miller said. “In years past, Delta 21 has set them out in early April.” Philip Staudermann, officer in charge for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office in Baton Rouge, said 430 traps are to be set up statewide. As of mid-March, 11 funnel traps set up in ash trees have already been set up in eight parishes. Delta 21 set up and checked 338 traps in 2016, according to USDA documents, which is what is expected to be deployed this year as well.
Wood fiber is formed into pellets for shipping to the United Kingdom, where they will help fuel power plants. Drax said about 20 percent of the power it generates comes from burning U.S. made wood pellets. (The Advocate photo by Travis Spradling)
Pellets
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self-supply of wood pellets to 20-30 percent. Buying the facilities in Louisiana and Texas would help Drax reach that goal. “We want to compete,” Malkin said, “so we have to increase capacity.” The process will be long. Ac-
cording to court records, the March 9 auction was scheduled to be held at an attorney’s office in Houston. An opening bid will be announced by the sellers and interested parties who have been approved by the court have a chance to make bids. A final bid will be submitted to the court and a bankruptcy judge will decide whether to approve it. Second Quarter 2017
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Use activism to fight activists, farmer says By Jeff Zeringue Folks in the agriculture business need to be activists. That’s the message from Kim Bremmer, a dairy farmer in rural Wisconsin who was the keynote speaker for the fifth annual Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference in Alexandria. It might seem odd that a dairy farmer would make the Louisiana Logger magazine, but Bremmer’s message to the women who attended the conference in early February is the same that she’s used when she’s talked to loggers in her home state. “You have all the activists who don’t want you to harvest lumber, tree-huggers, and you rely on science just like every other aspect of agriculture,” Bremmer said. For her sector of the industry, Bremmer outlined how messages through product marketing oftentimes lead the discussion. People in the industry, such as loggers, spend more time doing their jobs instead of talking about their obligations of using best management practices as Master Loggers.
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Louisiana Logger
Kim Bremmer, a dairy farmer from Wisconsin, says people in agriculture need to practice activism with activists. She was the guest speaker at the fifth annual Louisiana Women in Agriculture Conference in Alexandria.
“I think it’s because everyone’s busy, because you don’t get paid to do it (activism),” Bremmer said. “All the activists get paid.” Bremmer gave the example that some activist groups have a strategy of bullying
companies for change, either obtaining donations or forcing changes. “There was a summer intern, a college girl that I knew, she was hired by Continued on Page 11
Activism Continued from page 10 this group in Madison, Wisconsin, called Whisper, they enact change,” Bremmer said. “Her whole job last summer — she got paid $6,000 — was to mount a social media campaign against Culvers, which is a local (Wisconsin) franchise burger brand, to demand antibiotic-free meats.” In agriculture, Bremmer said, everyone is busy doing their jobs to earn a living, “and we’ve just assumed that common sense will just take over.” “That’s not the case.” Jack McFarland, of McFarland Timber Co., former president of the Louisiana Logging Council and a state representative from Winnfield, agrees. He said he has been encouraging his fellow loggers to attend local police jury and parish council meetings to keep track of ordinances that will affect the industry. The difficulty, he said, is that most loggers are hard-working business people who might be uncomfortable in a public
“Man, it’s intimidating when you come in there and you have a room full of people.”
forum. “They know how to be good loggers, but many loggers don’t know how to articulate the right message because they’re not comfortable. They’re intimidated by public speaking.” The new challenge is for loggers to pay more attention to what’s going on at the State Capitol because state government is influencing local government, McFarland said. “It’s invaluable to have the loggers in Baton Rouge (when a law that could affect the industry is debated in committee),” McFarland said. The Legislature’s effect on the industry goes further than increasing fuel taxes and permit fees, which will be on the agenda during the regular session. Legislators can write laws allowing local governments to do more than what’s allowed now, McFarland said. “They have to be more active in government,” he said. And there is strength in numbers. McFarland said some legislators are more apt to listen to small business people who take time away from their work day to address an important issue. “Man, it’s intimidating when you come in there (a committee room) and you have a room full of people,” McFarland said. Bremmer suggests knowing the story of the industry because it’s not the job of the businesses that sell products to educate the consumer. “I think that’s an important message for us in agriculture,” Bremmer said. “It’s not their job to tell the truth or talk about what we do.”
Help us find Louisiana’s Outstanding Logger for 2017 Know a Louisiana Logger who does great work and takes pride in what he does? Nominate him to be this year’s Louisiana Outstanding Logger! Nominees will be considered by a three-member panel of judges, including the 2016 Louisiana Outstanding Logger. Nominations must be received by May 1, 2017. Each will be reviewed and visited by the judges and the winner will be announced at the 2017 Louisiana Forestry Association convention at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans! Deadline: Mail to: Fax to: Email:
May 1, 2017. Louisiana Logging Council P.O. Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 (318) 443-1713 gmalone@laforestry.com
2017 Louisiana Outstanding Logger Nominee: Name:__________________________________________ Mailing Address: __________________________________ City, State, Zip:___________________________________ Phone:__________________________________________ Mobile Phone:____________________________________ Nominated by:____________________________________ Mailing Address:__________________________________ City, State, Zip:___________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________ Mobile Phone:____________________________________
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As We See It: Teamwork really matters By Danny Dructor I recently wrote an article for the New Hampshire Timberland Owners and the New Hampshire Timber Harvesting Council titled “Teamwork Matters.” Before I finished writing the article, I had already decided that the topic was important enough that I should try and convey the message to all of you who are on the front lines of the timber harvesting industry and who take the time and opportunity to come out of the woods and be proactive on the issues that are impacting the industry. At the ALC Board of Directors meetings, we have managed to cuss and discuss many issues over the past 23 years, including master logger certification, H2b visas, woody biomass, the Canadian softwood lumber tariffs, truck weights, the U.S. Forest Service Timber Sale program, trucking regulations, safety regulations, IRS rules for heavy use vehicles and a whole host of things that are of importance to the well-being of the timber harvesting industry. We are currently taking an active role in the industry TEAM Safe Trucking issue, hoping that we can assist in improving driver safety and assuring that there are qualified, insurable drivers in the industry. The ability for the board members from the 32 states the ALC now represents, to be able to sit down and work out policy and position statements that are beneficial to all, is indicative of the teamwork that takes place for us to maintain our status as
The ability for the board members from the 32 states the ALC now represents, to be able to sit down and work out policy and position statements that are beneficial to all, is indicative of the teamwork that takes place for us to maintain our status as “The National Voice for Loggers.”
Next Core Class Schedule
The Louisiana Logging Council has set up two, 2-day sessions for Master Logger Core Class for 2017: Aug. 9-10, 2017 The two-day session costs $160 if you are not a member of the Logging Council. LLC members will pay $60 if paid by the deadline for each class. Deadline to register for Aug. 9-10 session is Aug. 4. For more formation, contact Gracee Malone-Texada at gmalone@laforestry.com 12
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“The National Voice for Loggers.” We have all managed to educate ourselves and each other on the issues that are seemingly regional in character but actually national in scope, and we all speak with one voice on the issues that we are concerned with. Our dialects vary from region to region, but the hearts and minds of those participating in the discussions are one and the same. We try and monitor legislation at the fedDructor eral level that would have an impact on logging businesses, and more oftentimes than not, have members of Congress reaching out to us asking, “What do the loggers think?” We also monitor some state level legislation when it becomes apparent that there might be a trend in the works from state to state making something more of a national issue. This would not be possible without the dedication of the volunteers who make the yearly trek to Washington, D.C., and have formed relationships with members and staff on the Hill and that oftentimes look forward to their visits. Members of the American Loggers Council continue to make that yearly Continued on page 17
Join the Louisiana Logging Council today!
The Louisiana Logging Council works for you — lobbying our Legislature and working with regulatory agencies. Do you have time to make your voice count? All you have to do is join the council today. Membership in the LLC also automatically makes you a member of the Louisiana Forestry Association. The LLC is an affiliate of the American Loggers’ Council, the national voice for logging.
Annual membership q Logging Contractors--------------------- $250 q Wood Dealers----------------------------- $250 q Trucking Contractors--------------------- $250 Associate Membership q Equipment Dealers----------------------- $300 q Insurance & Banks----------------------- $300 q Service and Supplies--------------------- $150
Name________________________________________ Address______________________________________ City_______________________________ State_____ Zip_______________ Phone_____________________ Email________________________________________ Make checks payable to the Louisiana Logging Council. Mail to LLC, P.O. Box 5067, Alexandria, LA 71307
Avoiding deer damage at homes, gardens By Don Reed Wildlife managers are always looking for the most attractive and nutritious plantings to attract white-tailed deer to their hunting areas. This same passion to attract deer in the fall and winter is replaced with an equal desire to keep deer away from many areas during other times of the year. Our upcoming warm weather will get folks started with their annual spring gardens as well as establishing many species of ornamentals around their homes. In many residential and urban areas, certain ornamentals and vegetable crops often end up being consumed by deer, this to the dismay and frustration of the impacted homeowner. The degree of tolerance that any ornamental or vegetable possesses in regard to deer browsing depends on two main factors: • The level of preference for the plant in question • The alternative food sources. The two greatest times of the year when deer are most likely to stray from native vegetation and seek out alternate browse are late winter prior to greenup and late summer, especially when drought conditions are present. Deer are less attracted to the drought stricken native plants on an area and seek out the more succulent and palatable plants around our homes and gardens that are often irrigated and fertilized. While little can be done to improve the native habitat during a drought, planting the correct plants around our homes will greatly reduce the impact of deer browsing. Even during years when native habitat is in prime condition, there are some ornamentals that deer find so palatable they will seek them out no matter what. Daylilies, roses, tulips and camellias
are plants that are almost impossible to grow without being impacted by deer. Conversely, herbaceous perennials such as Amaryllis, coneflowers, irises Don Reed and lantanas tend to offer no attraction to a browsing deer. The dislike that deer have for some of these, such as lantana, is to the point where I have seen homeowners prepare a slurry of water and lantana fruit, spraying the solution on other plants to prevent deer from browsing on them. Other home remedy repellents such as human hair and bars of soap have had mixed results, depending on what plant was being afforded the protection and what the alternative food sources were. Repellents, whether “home brewed,” as in these cases, or purchased as a commercial product, all have drawbacks. Time and weather conditions lessen their effectiveness and re-application becomes more frequent and necessary after any rainfall event. Certain repellents also are not labeled for edible crops which we grow in our vegetable gardens. No ornamental plantings are totally “browse proof ” when it comes to white-tailed deer, primarily because they have such a wide range of plants that they consume. Choosing those that are less palatable, however, will certainly increase the chances of successful establishment. When trying to deter deer away from our vegetable gardens, there is almost nothing totally safe. Certain crops, however, stand an al-
The two greatest times of the year when deer are most likely to stray from native vegetation and seek out alternate browse are late winter prior to green-up and late summer, especially when drought conditions are present.
Netting being used to keep deer from browsing a spring planting of purple hull peas. It is one of many methods gardeners use.
most 100 percent chance of damage when deer have access to them. These include such garden favorites as okra, beans and peas. Fencing with net wire or electric fences is often the best way to keep deer out. Net wire fences need to be at least 8 feet high to be totally effective and while electric fences can be much shorter, their effectiveness depends on deer making contact with the fence to receive the “shock” that will serve as the deterrent. Like anything else that involves time and money to establish, our ornamentals and vegetables are well worth the protection that is needed to keep them safe from damage by white-tailed deer. (Dr. Don Reed is a retired forestry and wildlife specialist with the LSU AgCenter. You can email him at dreed@agcenter.lsu. edu.) Second Quarter 2017
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Moore’s Retread & Tire 409 Keyser Ave. Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 352-8354
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Louisiana Logger
Moore-Grant Goodyear 629 N 3rd St Alexandria, LA 71301
CONTINUING EDUCATION
MASTER LOGGER CLASSES
Master Loggers are required to take six hours continuing education each year to keep their Master Logger certification.
Classes will be held at the Country Inn & Suites, 2727 Monroe Hwy., Pineville, LA 71360. For overnight guests, you can call (318) 641-8332, ask for Sarah Atwood and tell them you are with the LFA group. Preregistration and payment required! Preregister by Aug. 4, 2017 or pay double at the door!
Continuing Education (CE) classes have not yet been scheduled for 2017. Master Loggers can earn CE credit in other ways, like attending police jury meetings, forestry forums, pipeline meetings or their quarterly Louisiana Logger Chapter meeting. Other Opportunities: Aug. 29-31: Louisiana Forestry Association Annual Convention, Riverside Hilton, New Orleans, 6 hours CE. Registration will begin in June.
$160 for both days if paid by deadline. ($60 for Louisiana Logging Council members if pre-registered by deadline.) Cost to register for classes on Aug. 5 or later will be $320 per person. q Yes, I want to register for the 2-day ML Core Class Aug. 9, 2017 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Aug. 10, 2017 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. NOTE: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE CORE CLASSES. It will be offered as a Continuing Education class during the year. Core classes CANNOT be taken as CE.
Name: ______________________________________ Company: ___________________________________ Address: _____________________________________ City, State Zip: _______________________________ Phone: ______________________________________ Cell phone: __________________________________
q Check here if Louisiana Logging Council member company Make check payable to LA Forestry Association and mail to: LA Forestry Association P.O. Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307 Or charge to credit card: AmEx q MasterCard q Visa q Discover q Card Number ___________________________________ Expiration ______________________; CSV# __________ Name on Card __________________________________ Signature _______________________________________ If paying by credit card, fax registration to (318) 443-1713 or scan and email completed form to gmalone@laforestry.com. Make a copy of this schedule for your records!
You can email this form to gmalone@laforestry.com or fax to (318) 443-1713 if paying by credit card.
Second Quarter 2017
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What were they doing when accident occurred Trimming Load 11%
Binding Load 11%
Moving Equipment 11% Operating Machine 11%
Highway Accident 23% Repair 11%
Manual Felling
Maintenance 11%
Who had accident Set hand 1 Feller op 1 Skidder op 1 Loader op 1 Truck driver 4 Total 8
When driver hurt Binding load 1 Highway wreck 2 Repair 1 Total 4
11%
Accident numbers drastically down in 2016 Log truck drivers, however, again lead the way in recording most accidents in industry By Niels de Hoop Louisiana’s logging industry experienced a variety of accidents in 2016, in contrast to the past several years wherein the logging accidents have been dominated by truck drivers. Every year, the logging companies participating in the Louisiana Master Logger program (and thereby, the Alliance between OSHA and the Louisiana Logging Council) are asked to turn in their accident reports. This report is a summary of those accidents. Five hundred fifty-one logging company owners were contacted to submit their accident reports for CY 2016. Ninety-two percent of the companies reported that they had no accidents during 2016. This is still nearly the highest percentage since we started keeping these records in 1998, so this statistic is good news. Highway accidents can still be considered the single most common type of accident in logging. In that respect, Defensive Driving is one of the best training tools for a log16
Louisiana Logger
Any time any equipment is moved, the conditions are new, not fully understood, and not yet fully controlled.
Niels de Hoop
ging operation. We have log trucks, chip trucks, loaded trucks, empty trucks, service trucks, fuel trucks, crew trucks and pickup trucks running the highways constantly in all kinds of weather and all kinds of traffic conditions. Other than highway accidents, all the injuries reported in 2016 occurred while working outside the protection of the cab — throwing binding straps, walking around the truck, performing maintenance or repairs, and moving equipment. Any time any equipment is moved, the conditions are new, not fully understood,
and not yet fully controlled. Loggers should be extra cautious during these times, ensure that all activities are performed safely all the time, and ensure that all personnel are clear before engaging power. Some of the injuries were not direct “struck by” injuries, but were actually falls incurred while moving out of the way. Some falls resulted in direct injuries, such as broken ankles, but several falls resulted in torn muscles and ligaments caused by reflex reactions of the body during the fall. In other words, these loggers caught themselves as
they fell, but the quick movement of their arms resulted in pulled shoulder or arm muscles. These injuries are painful and slow to heal. Repair is another activity in which conditions are not fully controlled. This makes it harder to have safe working conditions. Vehicles or equipment sometimes need to be towed to a better location; towing is always a dangerous activity. Even then, the truck or equipment may not be stabilized as well as we would like. Extra caution is advised in these conditions. Take time to evaluate the situation and think things through. Although pole saws have greatly increased safety in trimming the trucks in the woods, the activity is still hazardous. Footing is always difficult because the terrain is uneven. And as trimming progresses, more pieces of wood fall underfoot, adding to the hazard. Meanwhile, the trimmer has to look up to see what he is doing, making footing even more hazardous. By necessity, loggers are also mechanics to a certain extent. Ensure that you have Continued on page 17
What kinds of injuries were reported
Accidents Continued from page 16 proper tools and that they are in good condition. Most felling is now mechanized, but the manual felling we do is still just as hazardous as ever. Unfortunately, there was a fatality in Sabine Parish in which the logger was felling manually to prepare a set for the equipment, which was to arrive the next day. As a tree was being bucked on a hillside, it rolled onto the logger and pinned his face into the ground. Even though there was another person on site, help could not arrive on time. Working with complete caution 100 percent of the time is vital. How can these accidents be prevented? One of the keys to safe work is re-training. Loggers are required by OSHA to have safety meetings at least monthly anyway. Job training can be incorporated into these safety meetings. OSHA requires annual re-training of all
Head 23%
Ankle 11%
Back 11%
Shoulder 22%
Property Damage Only 22%
Arm 11%
jobs anyway. So, consider having safety meetings in which a different job is discussed at each meeting. Some of the accidents resulted in property damage. These can be considered as warnings to be discussed in safety meetings. For example, skidders and cutters routinely drive through heavy brush in which visibility is limited.
(C.F. “Niels” de Hoop is an Associate Professor at the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, LSU AgCenter. Contact: cdehoop@lsu.edu; 225-578-4242. This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, McIntire Stennis project 227333.)
As We See It Continued from page 12
Before digging, call 811 at least two full work days in advance. That’s all it takes to notify LA One Call members, so they can mark nearby utility lines and pipelines to prevent injury and costly accidents.
IT’S THE LAW. IT’S FREE. Call or click www.LAOneCall.com
trek and represent the industry very well. On March 29-30, those men and women from the logging profession once again traveled to Washington, D.C., representing you and your profession. Be sure and thank them for their dedication and time promoting this industry that we all have in common. You might even ask them how their trip went and what discussions did they have with members of Congress. While there are other organizations that do a great job at representing other sectors of the forest products industry at the local, state and federal level, the fact remains that many of the issues that are important to the logging industry are not on the radar of the other associations. Our focus is and will
Our focus is and will remain representing professional timber harvesters at the national level. remain representing professional timber harvesters at the national level. The American Loggers Council and the State and Regional logging associations; loggers working for loggers. That’s what we do. Teamwork! (Danny Dructor is the executive vice president for the American Loggers Council with headquarters in Hemphill, Texas.) Second Quarter 2017
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Crimes & Convictions Revenge hacker: 34 months, must repay Georgia-Pacific $1 million BATON ROUGE (AP) — A fired computer expert who hacked into his former employer’s system has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay more than $1.1 million to Georgia-Pacific Corp. for damages he caused. Brian Johnson, 44, of Zachary was sentenced Feb. 15 on one count of hacking into an industrial computer system to damage operations, U.S. Attorney Walt Green said in a news release Feb. 16. “We are very grateful, and appreciate all their efforts in working on this case,” said Patty Prats, spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based company’s paper mill in Port Hudson. According to his plea bargain, Johnson was IT specialist and systems administrator at the mill and had worked there for many years when he was fired Feb. 14, 2014. He hacked into the mill’s computer from home, damaging the control and quality control systems for making paper towels, according to his plea bargain. “Things that were automatic were completely shut down,” Prats said. The Port Hudson mill also makes paper and tissue. Johnson pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2016. At Johnson’s sentencing hearing Feb. 15, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson found that Johnson had begun hacking Georgia-Pacific’s computers shortly after he was fired, and had
Reward The Forestry Enforcement Division of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry is responsible for the protection of life and property throughout forested areas of the state. Officers enforce forestry-related crimes including but not limited to arson, timber theft, forestry equipment theft and vandalism, as well as offenses against departmental employees and property. Forest related crime rewards are co-sponsored by the Louisiana Forestry Association. Call 225-925-4500 to report a suspected crime as described above. 18
Louisiana Logger
continued until his house was searched on Feb. 28, 2014, according to Green’s news release. Jackson ruled Johnson had done more than $1.1 million in damage, and ordered him to pay the entire amount to Georgia-Pacific. He also sentenced Johnson to two years and 10 months in prison, with three years of supervised release after he gets out. Georgia-Pacific employs about 35,000 people in more than 200 facilities nationwide to make paper, pulp, tissue, packaging, building materials, and related chemicals. LDAF Quarterly Report Eighteen complaints were filed with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in the first quarter of 2017. Most of the complaints were filed in the north and southeastern parts of the state, according to department records. Records indicate seven complaints were filed in north Louisiana and six were filed in southeast Louisiana. The remaining five complaints were filed in central Louisiana (4) and the southwestern part of the state (1). The complaints included allegations of arson, criminal damage, equipment vandalism, fire raising negligence, littering/ illegal dumping, prompt payment, timber theft and other timber-related complaints. The largest number of complaints were five for timber theft. The records are for the three months ending Feb. 28.
Subscribe to the Louisiana Logger Only Active Master Loggers have free subscriptions, but you can order one for your crew members for $12 per year. (4 issues per year) Name: ____________________________________ Mailing address: ____________________________ __________________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ Mobile phone: ______________________________
Make checks payable to: Louisiana Logging Council Mail to: P.O. Box 5067 Alexandria, LA 71307
Audits for Smart Logging are ongoing
A cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Forestry Association and the Rainforest Alliance allows Master Loggers to participate in the Smart Logging program. Smart Logging allows for third-party verification of Best Management Practices and Master Logger Guidelines are being performed. It was driven by the purchasers of finished wood products in Louisiana. The need is growing for forest products certified they have been handled in an environmentally responsible way, said Grace Malone-Texada, who is in charge of logger training for LFA. “We think being a Smart Logger gives loggers an advantage over the competition.” The Rainforest Alliance is a nonprofit organization recognized worldwide for its work on five continents. The alliance works in multiple types of land including bottom land hard woods and Southern pine. A majority of the work to certify a Master Logger as a Smart Logger is performed under the approval of LFA Executive Director C.A. “Buck” Vandersteen. Malone-Texada provides logistics of an audit and how to keep records of tonnage. Contact Malone-Texada at (318) 443-2558 for details.
John Auel, a Mississippi State University professor and Rainforest Alliance auditor, second from right, inspects All State Land & Timber company owned by Master Logger John Keith, second from left. Also there for the Smart Logger inspection are Gracee Malone-Texada, LFA Logger Training, left, LFA Executive Director Buck Vandersteen.
Know what your parish received in severance taxes? Some loggers might not realize how much severance taxes go to parishes, but some have asked about it. Although the figures for 2016 hadn’t been finalized before press deadline, here are the severance taxes recorded from 2012 through 2015. Parish Bienville Bossier Caddo Caldwell Catahoula Claiborne Concordia Desoto East Carroll Franklin Grant Jackson LaSalle Lincoln Madison Morehouse Natchitoches Ouachita Red River Richland Sabine Tensas Union Webster West Carroll Winn
2015 2014 2013 2012 4-Year Total To Parish $780,518 $618,083 $745,721 $602,293 $2,746,615 $2,059,961 $359,155 $237,263 $284,747 $215,302 $1,096,467 $822,350 $149,930 $128,143 $196,262 $140,480 $614,815 $461,111 $340,131 $291,978 $321,160 $418,294 $1,371,563 $1,028,672 $127,319 $105,475 $73,877 $119,609 $426,280 $319,710 $631,725 $594,246 $492,229 $409,290 $2,127,490 $1,595,618 $75,374 $34,879 $81,314 $61,181 $252,748 $189,561 $458,026 $383,334 $455,353 $479,645 $1,776,358 $1,332,269 $20,207 $22,582 $50,282 $12,211 $105,282 $78,962 $20,164 $7,477 $21,805 $20,128 $69,574 $52,181 $316,947 $214,391 $233,017 $200,788 $965,143 $723,857 $666,067 $666,162 $587,390 $557,461 $2,477,080 $1,857,810 $529,756 $509,515 $432,656 $441,258 $1,913,185 $1,434,889 $299,130 $253,480 $223,200 $201,572 $977,382 $733,037 $49,791 $60,315 $86,460 $51,789 $248,355 $186,266 $120,340 $131,206 $82,632 $96,785 $430,963 $323,222 $470,711 $502,367 $626,294 $579,063 $2,178,435 $1,633,826 $255,013 $153,530 $180,644 $163,150 $752,337 $564,253 $128,028 $114,475 $186,857 $167,525 $596,885 $447,664 $11,365 $4,800 $24,706 $14,923 $55,794 $41,846 $776,230 $735,801 $712,113 $822,483 $3,046,627 $2,284,970 $89,243 $32,157 $57,913 $45,308 $224,621 $168,466 $821,034 $628,525 $559,447 $513,232 $2,522,238 $1,891,679 $394,830 $289,678 $266,559 $205,966 $1,157,033 $867,775 $17,491 $4,610 $4,043 $847 $26,991 $20,243 $875,361 $723,710 $764,311 $715,360 $3,078,742 $2,309,057 Second Quarter 2017
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You know your business. And we do, too. That’s why we build machines proven to withstand whatever the woods have in store — and then some — so you can keep working and earning, all day, every day.
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BATON ROUGE, LA 10110 Daradale Avenue 225.291.3750
LUFKIN, TX 4006 Ellen Trout Drive 936.634.8801
KENNER, LA (ST. ROSE) 10288 Airline Hwy. 504.466.5577
ALEXANDRIA, LA 6321 Masonic Drive 318.442.0455
MONROE, LA 7370 Frontage Road 318.343.8787
LAFAYETTE, LA (BROUSSARD) 3519 Hwy. 90 East 337.837.9481
LONGVIEW, TX 413 South Eastman Road 903.758.3326
SHREVEPORT, LA 6725 Greenwood Road 318.631.3090
LAKE CHARLES, LA 6234 Hwy. 90 East 337.430.3045
TYLER, TX 1126 North NE Loop 323 903.592.8900
COVINGTON, LA 17312 Norwel Drive 985.893.3005
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