2015 winter

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IN THIS ISSUE READ ABOUT:

Timber Titan Billy Stimpson Brown Brothers Logging Senator Jabo Waggoner Raptor Invasion of Black Belt Schools

Contents Alabama Forestry Association, Inc. Chris Isaacson, Executive Vice President OFFICERS Fred T. Stimpson, Mobile, Chairman Ben Smith, Phenix City, President Stephan Tomlinson, Secretary Gray Skipper, Fulton, President-Elect Vaughn Stough, Mountain Brook, Treasurer DISTRICT DIRECTORS BLACK BELT DISTRICT Doug Bowling, Millbrook CAPITAL DISTRICT Clark Sahlie, Montgomery DELTA DISTRICT Frank Mozingo, Toxey LONGLEAF DISTRICT Tripp Winters, Chapman MOUNTAIN DISTRICT Todd Langston, Stevenson PIEDMONT DISTRICT Chris Langley, Camp Hill VALLEY DISTRICT Dewayne Oakley, Florence VULCAN DISTRICT Trae Bonner, Childersburg WARRIOR DISTRICT Gee Allgood, McShan WIREGRASS DISTRICT Mike Dixon, Eufaula

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Alabama

FORESTS FEATURES

Communicating news and information of, about, and for the Alabama forestry community.

DEPARTMENTS

Timber Titan Billy Stimpson

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From the Executive Vice President

3

Brown Brothers Loggers

13

Contributors

5

Balch & Bingham, LLP

17

Dean’s Notebook

7

Senator Jabo Waggoner

19

ADVERTISERS Especially for our tree farmers/landowners:

Green Horizons

21

Architects Tour 2015

29

Raptor Day

30

Energy Saving

33

Index to Advertisers

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ABOUT THE COVER

Billy Stimpson just bagged his “first gobbling turkey” with an L.C. Smith 20-gauge double barrel. See Page 8 for Billy's profile.

ALABAMA LOGGERS COUNCIL Chris Potts, LaFayette FORESTFUND Winston Bryant, Heflin AT LARGE DIRECTORS Paul Lohman, Prattville Hank Bauer, Perdue Hill Al Bracewell, Jasper Pat Holley, Millport Jim King, Jr., Tuscaloosa Mena McGowin Morgan, Point Clear Joe W. McNeel III, Montrose Virginia Macpherson, Fulton Lenn Morris, Jasper Tom Bradley III, Mobile ALABAMA FORESTS EDITOR Sam Duvall GREEN HORIZONS EDITOR Karen Boyd Alabama Forests (USPS #025-358) is an official publication of the Alabama Forestry Association, 555 Alabama Street, Montgomery, AL 36104-4359 and is published five times a year.

The AFA reserves the exclusive right to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication.

Advertising rates quoted upon request.

Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alabama Forestry Association, 555 Alabama St., Montgomery, AL 36104-4395.

Pictured here, L to R, are Emily Hornak (left) and Deb Schneider (right) presenting Log a Load for Kids State Chair Janet Ison with a special award and a dozen red roses for the outstanding job she has done leading the Log a Load annual fundraising effort to provide funds to the CHIPS Center in Birmingham. CHIPS operates under the umbrella of Children’s Hospital.

Log a Load funding is split between Children’s Hospital in Birmingham (the CHIPS Center) and Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile. Emily is director of Community Development for Children's Hospital and Deb is director of the CHIPS Center. The event depicted here took place in Montgomery on February 20, 2015 and was a celebration of the 20 years that Log a Load has been funding the CHIPS Center.

Come explore our web site!

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alaforestry.org 1

From Executive Vice President

Plant the Green End Up

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hen I left college in the early ’80s with degrees in hand, I was ready to hit the woods and live my dream. All I wanted was a truck with a gun rack and a dog box in back and I would spend my days in solitude, cruising timber and enjoying life in the great outdoors. I KNEW that Auburn had given me a great education in the technical aspects of forestry. After all, I had learned that when you plant trees, the green end goes UP! It didn’t take me long, however, to learn that 95% of the challenges I faced every day were not technical issues but people issues. Over the years, I have come to appreciate that an understanding of the technical aspects of forestry is important but the people involved in managing and manufacturing those forest products are critical. Whether it is landowners growing trees, or the foresters who manage, or the loggers who harvest, or the truckers who haul, or the mill workers who manufacture, it’s the people who drive our industry.

In Alabama today, we face some significant people challenges. Loggers are having difficulty finding equipment operators. Sawmills are hard-pressed to hire and retain enough workers. Pulp and paper mills cannot find enough engineering graduates that are willing to relocate to rural towns. For

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many of these forestry employers this “workforce” challenge can mean lower productivity and higher costs—which impacts ALL of us.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, forestry is not alone in facing workforce availability challenges. As a result, the governor and the legislature have initiated efforts to address the workforce needs of Alabama companies. Although AFA and many of our members are engaged in these efforts, none is focused specifically on forestry-related jobs, which is why we decided to act.

Prior to the downturn in 2007, we received numerous reports from members about the difficulty of finding workers. Workforce pressures eased with the slowdown but have resurfaced over the last 3-4 years. In addition to the availability of workers, employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find qualified workers.

As a result, AFA has initiated a Forestry Workforce Development Plan. This plan provides a comprehensive strategy focused on the workforce needs of Alabama’s forest products industry. Many companies and individuals have been involved in developing this plan and many more will be required if we are to accomplish our collective goals.

The first component of the plan was the Black Belt Initiative. The initiative’s first phase

began in 2012 with Lt. Governor Kay Ivey as the spokesperson at a series of meetings around the state with community leaders, school superintendents, guidance counselors, and others to raise the awareness of job opportunities in forestry and of the education and training needs required for those jobs. In addition, we recruited key vocational, science, and math teachers to our annual Teachers Conservation Workshop for 4 days of instruction in forest ecology, forest management, and forest products manufacturing along with discussions of job opportunities in every area of forestry.

Currently in the second phase of the initiative, we are working with the Alabama Math and Science Teaching Initiative and the University of South Alabama to fund the AMSTI program at Thomasville Elementary (Thomasville), J.U. Blacksher (Uriah) and McIntosh Elementary (McIntosh) schools. The goal of this effort is to increase math and science skills of students, document results, and use those results to promote expansion of the program into schools across the state.

In addition to the Black Belt Initiative, we are working with the Alabama State Department of Education and Auburn University at Montgomery to develop a Forest Worker Certification Program for 9th–12thgrade students. Our objective

Chris Isaacson is to use this program to get students excited about the job opportunities in forestryrelated fields and to provide a basic level of education and skill development in forestry.

Training for teachers will be held in July and the program will be rolled out in a number of schools around the state this fall.

The ultimate goal of these initiatives and many others that are part of this plan is to make students aware of the variety of jobs in forestry, get them excited about the opportunities, provide access to training and education needed for those jobs, and to integrate them into the forestry workforce. We have already received strong support from the forestry community but it’s going to take ALL of us working together to really make an impact.

Stay tuned for more on our workforce development efforts.

One last note, if you haven’t finished your tree planting for the year, remember…GREEN END UP! ▲ 3

Contributors Tom Saunders

Karen Boyd Karen Boyd is director of forestry programs for the Alabama Forestry Association, including program administrator for Alabama’s Tree Farm Program.

She also works with forest certification issues, north Alabama membership and monitoring member issues in north Alabama. Karen brings over thirty years in forest management, wood procurement, and technical roles to her job. Karen has a BS in forest management and a master’s in forestry from Auburn University and is a registered forester in Alabama.

Tom Saunders is General Counsel & Director of Governmental Affairs for the Alabama Forestry Association. Tom lobbies the Alabama Legislature and consults with state constitutional officers and state agencies on AFA’s behalf. He also oversees the AFA’s Political Action Committee, ForestPAC, is involved in candidate recruitment and strategic planning. Saunders graduated from Auburn University with a degree in chemical engineering and has a juris doctorate from Jones Law School. He lives in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife, Catharine, and daughter, Anne.

John Boutwell John Boutwell is a successful tree farmer. John and his wife, Ann, and John’s sister, Peggy Autrey, own Cedar Creek Plantation in Butler County Alabama.

In 2012, they were named Alabama Tree Farmers of the Year by the Alabama Tree Farm Committee.

Ashley Smith Ashley Parkman Smith serves as director of education programs for the Alabama Forestry Association. Her Association work includes forestry education/outreach and membership development. Ashley also

serves as SFI State Implementation Committee coordinator. She graduated from Auburn University’s College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences with a BS in forest operations.

Allen Varner Allen Varner is the stewardship coordinator for the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) where for the last eight years he has managed the Stewardship and TREASURE Forest programs. Allen has 24 years with forest industry in various capacities that include roll tracking, wood procurement, landowner assistance, and forest management. He holds a BS in timber management and an MS in biometrics from the University of Georgia.

Frank Mozingo Linc: 185*338 Home: 251-843-5485 Cell: 334-456-2743 frank@midstartimber.com

Henry Lovette Linc: 185*201 Home: 205-673-2247 Cell: 334-456-2274

Justin Bonner Linc: 1*27565*20 Cell: 334-247-2427 justin@midstartimber.com

251-843-5407 midstartimber.com A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

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INTERNATIONALFOREST.CO

Dean’s Notebook

Another Reason for Optimism in the New Year

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s the year draws to a close, I often contemplate what is personally important to me about my job. High on that list are the day-to-day interactions with many very bright and creative people and, in particular, one group of with which I am a little in awe—the students who populate our graduate programs. A comparison of the intellect of the students in our current graduate programs with those of long ago (when I was in graduate school) is easy to make—the graduate students nowadays are way brighter. I could have never held a candle to these folks in any class or creative endeavor.

However, as we all know, it takes more than intellectual capability to make the boat float. There must be a strong work ethic linked with that intelligence in order to make serious achievements. Based on my observations of many SFWS graduate students through the years, I can attest to the fact that strong work ethics are alive and well. This includes conducting backbreaking work in the field as well as often working 90-hour weeks in the laboratories or on modeling computations.

The graduate students are here to improve their lot in life (as we all want to do) by secur-

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ing additional qualifications so that they have more options in the job market. However, in my opinion, ensuring that their work is meaningful and relevant is more important to current students than in the olden days (e.g., my era). The students want to get ahead professionally but they also want to feel that their work has meaning and benefits someone. So, what exactly does this outstanding group contribute to the school and society? What benefits are derived?

At the school level, the presence of graduate students enables the functioning of our research program. Without these students, we would have few studies so little new knowledge would be generated as well as less extramural funding. That funding also subsidizes the teaching and extension programs so that impact would be felt throughout all three missions of the school and, ultimately, the state and region. Also, the graduate students tend to be very serious about their work and consequently serve as excellent role models for undergraduates. The graduate students take part in teaching courses and laboratory exercises as well as directing research for undergraduates who then have ample opportu-

nity to observe them in action.

In addition, it is not uncommon for graduate students to conduct outreach activities such as a recent event focused on the occurrence of lyme disease in Alabama.

In terms of new knowledge and contributions to society, our graduate students have helped develop new approaches

Interim Dean Graeme Lockaby Auburn University

The presence of graduate students enables the functioning of our research program. for identification of those trees most suited for bioenergy utilization, new methods for feral pig removal, estimation of carbon sequestered in pines, assessment of the effects of forest removal on human disease incidence, forest disease identification and management, and many other topics. Often, their work has involved national or international level activities (e.g., feral pig and forest pathology research) which speak to the widespread recognition of the AU SFWS as a source of high quality research.

In conclusion, we are very fortunate to have these gifted and creative people in our midst. Their contributions form the fabric of our school.

So, the next time you are feel-

ing pessimistic, seek out one of these students who is working in a topic area of your interest.

Call us and we’ll line up the right student. Then, you may agree with me that they are among the biggest reasons for optimism about the future of forestry, wildlife, and natural resources.

To arrange for a graduate student, call 334-844-1004.

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A Titan of Alabama’s Forest Industry EDITOR’S NOTE: I contacted the Stimpson family late last year about profiling Billy Stimpson for the “Titan” feature, but we postponed the interview until this year. Sadly, Billy passed away on Jan. 17th at the age of 94. I had previously interviewed Billy in his office at Gulf Lumber Company (now Scotch Gulf Lumber) in Mobile for a story in the spring 2007 Issue of Alabama Forests. As a memorial to him, we are reprinting the story from 2007. SD

The Life, Times & Legacy of

Billy Stimpson

By Sam Duvall

Billy was a likable man with a penchant for self-deprecating humor.

A fine boxer in his youth, he joked about how much he liked boxing until meeting an hombre in the ring “who could hit like the kick of a mule!” We are fortunate that Billy made forestry his life’s work.

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illiam Herbert “Billy” Stimpson spent most of his life in or near the woods doing everything from logging swampland in Florida, to operating and ultimately buying Gulf Lumber Company in partnership with his beloved brothers Ben and Gordon [called Dut].

Between his day jobs, Billy also spent many hours hunting and fishing, first with his father and brothers, and then with his own sons and daughter.

To understand how Billy—an exuberant and friendly man—came to live life the way he did, you have to go back to a conversation with his beloved father, Frederick Taylor Simpson, Jr.—universally known as “Mr. Fred”—who fell ill in 1956 and summoned sons Billy, Ben, and Dut to his bedside.

“Daddy thought he was on his death bed and wanted to see his boys,” Billy Stimpson recalled. “So we filed into the hospital room and said, ‘Yes sir Daddy, you wanted to see us?’ He said, ‘Yes boys. I want to tell you, this life passes a whole lot quicker than you think. So, when Friday night comes, I want you to promise me to quit work and go hunting or fishing that weekend. Now, dammit, if your work’s not caught up, work all weekend, but the next week, take off four days!’ ” While Mr. Fred’s view of the relationship between work and recreation always put work first, it also illustrated the high value he placed on outdoor recreation and proved a valuable legacy to the Stimpsons down through the years. For those who knew him, Mr. Fred didn’t just talk the talk on wildlife issues, he also walked the walk.

It was Mr. Fred and other forward-looking lumbermen and sawmillers who advanced the notion that, in addition to providing a living for those who accepted its challenges, forestland also had aesthetic value. Mr. Fred was a logger, landowner, lumber dealer, and sawmill-owner and operator who came of age during the Great Depression. His son Billy noted that in 1931, the mill his father had managed shut down and did not crank back up until 1940.

This is the way the family likes to remember Billy Stimpson: standing near the fireplace at the family hunting camp, an adult beverage in his hand, mud on his pants, and a big smile on his face!

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“So, Daddy, from 1931 to 1940, spent over half his time dealing with game and fish issues. He was instrumental in passing the stock laws and other legislation that enhanced the use of land as wildlife habitat,” Billy noted.

The Stimpsons’ Contribution to Hunting & Fishing In addition to his stellar work in wildlife management, Mr. Fred was a lifelong supporter of forestry groups and organizations. He was instrumental in creating the Alabama Wildlife Federation and hiring Charles Kelley as its first director.

After his stint at the AWF, Kelley went on to become the longest serving head of the Game and Fish Division (39 years) for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, in Alabama history.

Mr. Fred also established several of the earliest hunting clubs in Alabama and started a statewide wild game restocking program. Working in voluntary partnership with the Conservation Department, these early programs provided breeding stock that helped reestablish deer and turkey populations across the state. Kelley noted that “the squirrel” was the main game species in Alabama in that era. So he worked with Mr. Fred and then his son Billy and other landowners, to improve deer and turkey populations to the point that Alabama is now the envy of the nation as a hunting and fishing destination.

Kelley, who retired in 1999, still has fond memories of his relationship with Mr. Fred. “He was one of the wisest men I ever knew,” Kelley said.

Billy Stimpson picked up the mantle of good stewardship and concern for wildlife from his father and carried if forward as a gift to his own children. Billy also continued the relationship with Kelley and they pressed ahead with expanding deer and turkey populations across Alabama, getting into issues like mitigating the effects of clear-cutting on rivers and creeks.

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‘til 4 o’clock in the morning going back and forth about clear-cutting,” Kelley recalled, with a chuckle. “Finally one day Billy called and said, ‘Charles, I think we can sit down and talk through this.’ We did and, working together and with others, we started a new process where, instead of cutting right up to a stream bank, they would leave streamside trees [now called Streamside Management Zones, or SMZs].

“They also started reducing the size of clear cuts where, rather than having a straight square cut where there would be a mile and a half to the nearest protection for wildlife, they would do a long narrow cut. The cost was the same, but wildlife could function within the clear cut and still have cover on the edges,” Kelley recalled.

Billy Stimpson as a young cavalry officer before he switched to the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War Two. Inset: Billy at the height of his career.

Billy’s Early Years While Billy and his brothers were taught to appreciate the great outdoors they also learned the virtues of hard work, above and beyond other considerations.

“I ran compass for a timber crew, when I was 13 or 14. I knew at the time I wanted to take forestry,” Billy said, speaking of work he did while out of school in the summers. On graduating from high school in 1937 Billy attended the University of Georgia for his forestry education.

While at Georgia, Billy was intramural boxing champion for three years in the light heavyweight division (175 pound limit). He was also accepted on the freshman boxing team, but gave that up to participate in the precursor of the ROTC program. He became a commissioned officer in the old horse cavalry. During World War Two Billy transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps [now the U.S. Air Force].

“When it looked like we would fight the war in the air, I decided I wasn’t going to be left out, so I went through Air Corps training. I got to be a B-17 pilot. At the time they didn’t need B-17 pilots, so they

‘Yes boys. I want to tell you, this life passes a whole lot quicker than you think. So, when Friday night comes, I want you to promise me to quit work and go hunting or fishing that weekend.

Now, dammit, if your work’s not caught up, work all weekend, but the next week, take off four days!’

—Mr. Fred 9

A T i t a n o f A l a b a m a ’s F o r e s t I n d u s t r y : B i l l y S t i m p s o n

Billy and Margaret with Sandy (by Mom), Pamela (next to Billy) and Fred; all decked out in their cowboy outfits. Richard had not yet been born.

Billy and Margaret with a couple of big salmon they bagged on Alaska fishing expedition.

Billy Stimpson (right) and his father, Fred, wreath Billy’s son—Fred’s grandson and namesake—Fred T. Stimpson, III, in deer antlers.

switched me over to the B-29. We had orders cut to go overseas when they dropped the atomic bomb ending the war,” Billy recalled.

With the war’s end, Billy was discharged and returned to “sweet home” Alabama.

“I went to work for my daddy. We had a cypress mill at Apalachicola, Florida.

One day Daddy said, ‘Let’s go fishing.

We’ll go down there (to Florida) on an inspection tour.’ I said, ‘Fine, I’d love to.’

Well, we got down there and we inspected 10

this logging operation and it was the lousiest bunch of workers you ever saw. I made some disparaging comments like, ‘Daddy, why don’t you do this, Daddy why don’t you do that.’ He said, ‘Damn boy, you think you can do any better?’ and I said, ‘Yes sir, I do.’ That cost me seven years working in the swamps for that mill,” said Billy, who became vice president of logging for Stimrad Lumber Company.

Not Too Busy to Get Hitched During the time he worked in the Florida swamps, Billy Stimpson met and married a beautiful Mobile girl named Margaret McLeod.

“My sister Mary Francis got mad at Ben and me for waiting until Saturday afternoon to get a date for Saturday night.

So she made up a list of all of the eligible girls in Mobile and my wife was the only four star gal in the bunch,” Billy recalled.

“Well, I asked her to marry me on the second date. But it took me about six months to convince her. We’ve been happily married since 1948,” he said, as a broad smile

creased his weathered face.

Billy’s marriage to Margaret produced four children: Pamela in 1949, Fred in 1950, Sandy in 1952 and Richard in 1959.

During the interim, Billy’s revered father Mr. Fred died in 1957 after a series of strokes.

As newlyweds, Billy and Margaret started out in Wewahitchka, Florida, where Billy was still logging the cypress swamps his father bequeathed to him for complaining about the original logging crew.

“I left there in June of 1952,” he noted.

That same year, the owner of Gulf Lumber Company, Ben May, a lifelong friend and business partner of Mr. Fred, offered to sell his mill to the Stimpson family.

“He (May) called me up in ’52 and asked me if I would like to buy Gulf Lumber Company, or would I like to run it,” Billy remembered. “I asked my brothers if they would like to join me and work for Gulf Lumber Company, and they both agreed.” Billy and his brothers ran the mill, splitting the profits 50-50 with May.

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Sawmilling Not a Game for Sissies “The first year we made $300,000. I thought we’d hit a damn gold mine. But in ’54, ’55, ’56 and ’57 we like to have starved to death!” Billy recalled.

After flirting with getting out of the lumber business, the Stimpson brothers stuck with it and convinced May to finance construction of a central mill at the Gulf Lumber site, as opposed to the then common practice of sending smaller portable (peckerwood) mills into the forest to mill logs and send the lumber back to Mobile for drying, storage and sale to customers.

In 1956, the W.T. Smith Lumber Company developed a “debarker” and a “chipper” which revolutionized pine sawmilling. The debarker would take the bark off the tree, and the chipper would cut unusable lumber and slabs into a valuable byproduct, salable chips for the paper mills.

“We opened the mill in 1958 and it has run continuously since then. In 1968, we sold International Paper our lands on the Apalachicola River. In 1973 Ben May died and, as agreed, we bought the mill for its book value,” Billy recalled.

Like his father, Billy spent a good deal of time working on forestry and wildlife issues at the state and national level. Billy was president of the Alabama Forestry Association in 1967. He also served terms

as president of the Southern Forest Products Association and the National Forest Products Association.

Billy’s work included meeting then U.S. President Ronald Reagan to make a case for the timber industry and push issues important to rural communities.

Billy and Reag hit it off, both being former U.S. Cavalry officers.

Ending the “Death Tax” a Major Objective Billy and son Fred [CEO of Scotch Gulf Lumber] worked very hard to get the socalled “Death Tax” repealed so that families like theirs could keep businesses they had built up over the years, rather than sometimes having to liquidate them to pay inheritance taxes. “If it hadn’t been for that storm down in Louisiana [Hurricane Katrina 2005] we would have repealed the death tax,” Billy said, his face registering obvious disappointment.

In 1992, Billy Ben and Dut Stimpson signed documents selling Gulf Lumber Company to Billy’s sons Fred and Sandy, Ben Stimpson, Jr., and a nephew Mitch Shackleford, passing the torch to another generation of the Stimpson family. In the interim, both of Billy’s brothers passed away.

Although officially retired in 2007, Billy retained a spot on the Gulf Lumber Company Board of Directors and an office at Gulf Lumber where he spent several days a week, surrounded by his photographs with national leaders and the Stimpson family on their numerous outings.

The fact that Gulf Lumber Company was always a highly successful, productive sawmill is a testament to Billy, his brothers, and the “boys” they turned the company over to in 1992.

“We have four boys who are working well together. Fred is president, everybody else is vice president. They are all doing one hell of a fine job!” Billy proudly noted.

As it turns out, that’s par for the course for a family that learned years ago that while working hard is a great virtue, playing hard is certainly no vice. ▲

FINAL NOTE: Several years ago, after Gulf Lumber merged with Scotch Lumber Company of Fulton, Alabama, forming Scotch Gulf Lumber Company, the latter was sold to Canfor Corp. More recently, Billy’s son Sandy was elected mayor of Mobile, continuing the family legacy of serving in both the public and private sectors of their beloved home state.

Billy visits with President Ronald Reagan on trip to U.S. Capital. The two men hit it off, both being former U.S. Cavalry officers.

The Stimpson men; Billy and sons Fred, Richard and Sandy, and their dog Buck.

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Logging Professional Profile We believe loggers should be celebrated for the part they play in the wood fiber supply chain of keeping wood flowing to the mills.

The Brown Brothers Keep on Keeping on in the Logging Business

By Sam Duvall

The Brown brothers of MRJ Logging, left to right, Mike, Roger, and Joey Brown.

hen the Brown Brothers of Reform, Ala., formed MRJ Logging (for Mike, Roger and Joey), they were continuing the legacy of, and providing a testament to, their late father Joel Herbert Brown.

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“When Daddy first started out, he was so young he didn’t have a driver’s license,” said Joey Brown. “So his mama [Alma] would drive the truck to the woods, Daddy would load it, and then she would drive the wood to the mill where Daddy would unload it. Back then they had to load and unload by hand.”

After starting out too young to drive his own truck, Joel Brown formed Brown Logging Company in 1952 and spent most of the rest of his working life in the woods.

Tyler McShan, chairman of the McShan Lumber Company Board of Directors, has A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

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Logging Professional Profile: The Brown Brothers Joel Brown and two young helpers attend the family mules.

Opposite:“Let the chips fall” ...Timber Brown, cutting timber like an old pro!

The Firewood Ministry

worked with the Brown family for many years and supported their nomination for Logger of the Year in 2014.

“Mr. Joel and I hunted together for several years. I operated our truck scales the summer they were first installed in 1974,” McShan said. “I remember once when Joel drove onto the scales with a tree-length log dragging behind his Mac truck. Mr. Joel told me to wait before I printed the ticket and he went out and stood at the end of the scales, bent down, grabbed the log and physically lifted the end up off the ground to be sure he was paid the full weight of his load.“ McShan remembers Joel Brown as “a hardworking, good humored, fair and honest a man as I ever knew. I never heard anyone question his integrity. He always did what he said and expected others to do the same.”

McShan noted that, in addition to driving the log truck for Joel, his mother Alma was also “a legendary 6th grade math teacher who was very strict, but fair!”

At about the time his health started to fail, making daily treks to the woods difficult, Joel Brown opened a country store in Ethelsville, Alabama, a much needed busi14

ness for that small community.

“His health problem turned out to be sclerosis of the liver, which went long unsuspected since he did not drink,” McShan added.

Joel Asks Sons to Dig His Grave “By Hand” When Joel Brown had just about reached the end of his earthly tether he called in sons Mike, Roger, and Joey for one last meeting.

“He told them, he had fought the good fight but that it was time to cross over to the other side,” McShan said. “Joel said he wanted his sons to dig his grave by hand the next day, as hard work was as good a way to mourn as any. He then asked that he be buried as early as possible and for them to then go on back to work, as that would honor him more than anything.”

Joey said he and his brothers complied and dug their father’s grave and laid him to rest at Ethelsville Baptist Church.

“When a family member dies, we always dig the grave by hand to honor them with our labor,” Joey explained.

The Browns are a tight-knit Christian family who not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. As a way of giving back to their fellowmen, particularly those in need, the Brown brothers helped start a firewood ministry several years ago in which they cut, split, and deliver firewood to scores of rural families who use wood to heat their homes.

“We do it [cut and haul wood] two times a year—the first weekend after Thanksgiving and again on about February 7th [this year]. When we started out, we delivered about 21 loads. This last time, we delivered 114 loads. We’ve got over 90 names on the list of people who get wood every time we do this now. The last time we did it, over 100 men showed up to help out,” Joey said.

The ministry has grown significantly since it started several years ago. About half of the wood used in the ministry was donated by Lewis Lumber Company of Aliceville. Joey and his brothers and others in the industry also routinely put aside unmerchantable wood from logging jobs.

Joey said that since the ministry started, churches of most major denominations now participate in the program, with the wood provided free of charge to anyone who expresses the need.

“It doesn’t matter what denomination a person belongs to or whether they are black, white, or otherwise, if they need wood, we’ll provide it for them,” Joey said.

The Brown Brothers Were Babes in the Woods Observing an MRJ Logging job, you will notice each of the brothers and two of their sons, quietly going about their work as though they can read each other’s minds. That easy harmony was earned as A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

Joel Brown brought his sons to work in the woods shortly after they were able to stand upright and walk.

“I’ve been out here since I was 10,” said Joey. His older brother Mike added: “We started doing little things [on logging jobs] when we were five or six years old.

“I finished college (at the University of Alabama) in 1987 and Roger finished high school that year. So me, Roger, and Daddy worked together,” Mike noted. “Joey would come in and work in the evenings when he got out of school.” When Joey graduated from high school in April of 1989, he also joined the company full time.

Mike being the oldest, and holding a degree in business from Alabama, handles accounting chores and paperwork for the company. He’s also a truck driver and has 27 years of logging experience. Roger, who also has 27 years logging, is a fine cutter and skidder operator, who also serves as a driver. Joey, the youngest, has 25 years of experience and works as the principal mechanic and loader operator.

Joey’s son Trey has three years’ experience as a skidder operator. Timber, Roger’s son, has two years’ experience as a cutter/ A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

skidder operator. Asked about the work of their other children, Joey said, “It depends on whether school’s going on. When school’s out, Roger has two sons (Timber and Bailey) and I have one (Trey) and Mike has one (Luke) who helps out. But full time, we only employ my son Trey and Roger’s son Timber.”

Fleshing out the crew are Harvey Kyles, a skidder operator with the company for 16 years, David Aker, a truck driver with 12 years of experience, Dedric Beard a load man, load trimmer and mechanic, with the company for six years and Roland Driver, with the company for 17 years as a driver.

MRJ cuts about 1,000 tons a week, sending graded pine logs to McShan Lumber Company; Chip N Saw to GP at Belk and Weyerhaeuser at Millport; pole logs to Cuba Timber at Sixmile; Hardwood pulpwood to Cuba Timber at Aliceville, Cooper Marine at Aliceville and Saltwell in Demopolis; pine pulpwood goes to Rooster Bridge in Demopolis, Westervelt at Aliceville and Weyerhaeuser in Columbus; hardwood logs go to Lewis Lumber Company in Aliceville, Buchanan in Aliceville and Noland in Gordo; ply logs

go to KyKenKee in Eutaw or Vance.

The Browns Love Old Iron With the high cost of the machines necessary for a successful modern logging operation, there are several lines of thought about how best to configure equipment for maximum efficiency. Some companies keep all of their equipment as new as possible on the theory that new iron breaks down less often. But there are loggers who believe you can function just as well with older equipment if it is properly set up and maintained. The Browns are in this later group.

“Most of our equipment comes from auctions or people that we know. When we get a machine, we go through it and fix everything that we can see by eye,” said Joey, the main mechanic for MRJ. “I got Thompson Tractor to reseal that engine and put it on a dyno to make sure everything was operating right,” Joey said, pointing to a nearby skidder. He did the same thing with the transmission.

“A friend of mine just bought a new skidder and paid $269,000. I think I have about $42,500 in that one,” Joey said, again pointing to the Cat skidder busily 15

Logging Professional Profile: The Brown Brothers

Left: Cat skidder which Joey Brown put into “like new” condition for the company. Right: The business end of logging; another load headed to the mill!

The Brown family. Left to right on the back row are Trey Brown, Joey Brown, Roger brown, Sherri Brown, Mike brown, Terri Brown Keating, Amanda Keating, David Keating and Jamie Keating. In the middle row are Dale Brown, Vicki Brown, Wendy Brown, Brandy Keating and Jack Keating. In front row, Melinda Brown, Bailey Brown, Timber Brown, Luke Brown, Savannah Brown, and Chester McDaniel. working in the background. “We’ve always run older equipment we’ve never bought new equipment to amount to anything.”

In addition to being the company mechanic, Joey is also a loader operator who works the same magic on company loaders as he does on cutters and skidders.

“We’ve got a Prentice Loader that has 40,000 hours on it and we’ve had very little trouble or downtime with that machine,” Joey added.

On the day of this interview, Joey was operating the loader on a piece of property planted back in 1975, handling the large almost 40-year-old timber with ease after 16

Roger’s son Timber cut and stacked the trees like an old pro. “The only cutter operator I know who is better is his daddy,” Joey observed.

The Brown brothers also have a huge woods truck they call their rolling shop.

“We’ve pretty much got everything we need on that truck,” said Joey.

On the Current Economy & the Way Ahead Asked about the current state of logging, Mike volunteered, “It’s getting better. “ Joey added, “We’ve had our ups and downs. The last job we were on really helped build us up. The job before that

really tore us down. And this job is sort of in the middle between those two. It’s just that way from job to job, depending on what they pay for the timber.”

Despite their fondness for old equipment, the Browns fully embrace the modern way of logging, reflecting their respect for the land, nearby streams, and other important wildlife habitat.

“There’s five of us who are PLM certified: me, Mike, Roger, Timber, and Trey,” said Joey. MRJ also participates in programs like the Teachers Conservation Workshops (TCW) put on by McShan Lumber Company.

As with so many professions that depend on a strong work ethic and a willingness to get your hands dirty, the question arises of whether the Browns’ kids will continue the family tradition.

“I told Trey if he wants to do this to expect a lot of hard work. I told him, there’s a good living to be made, but you’ve got to watch everything and be prepared for the breakdowns, because they’re coming!” Joey noted.

That’s good advice for anyone intent on carving out a living logging the forests of Alabama! ▲

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Associate Member Spotlight

Balch & Bingham LLP

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ASSOCIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT highlights associate members who are invaluable to AFA. Through their dues and sponsorships, associate members fund AFA’s grassroots activities, including regional receptions and outreach to our members, prospective new members and other interested parties.

Please learn more about our associate members and support them so they will continue to be an integral part of our association.

Years & Still Going Strong!

O

ver the past 92 years, Balch & Bingham LLP (Balch) has evolved into one of the most prominent law firms in the southeastern United States. Balch was established Oct. 1, 1922 in Birmingham, Alabama, when Judge William Logan Martin, Jr., formed a law partnership with Perry Turner and Jasper Fritz Thompson. The three represented “the best talent in all lines that money can buy,” a newspaper asserted at the time.

Originally formed as Martin, Thompson, and Turner, the firm focused primarily on the legal affairs of Alabama Power Company, where Martin’s older brother, Thomas, was president and general counsel. As the years passed, Judge Martin remained a stalwart constant for nearly four decades until his death in 1959. During Martin’s tenure, the firm’s work ranged from assisting Alabama Power with its development of massive hydropower projects to arguing important Constitutional ques-

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tions of the New Deal era before Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Over the years, the firm’s name has changed, reflecting the departure of key partners to serve in state government or to move into private business.

In 1985, the firm became Balch & Bingham to honor senior partners, S. Eason Balch, Sr. & John “Jack” Bingham, who led the way as Balch became the diversified fullservice law firm it is today.

Meadows, Ichter & Bowers to establish a still-growing presence in Georgia. In 2012, Balch merged with Stoneburner, Berry, Glocker, Purcell & Greenhut in Jacksonville, Florida.

A Rich Heritage of Forestry Experience

Firm Growth and Practice Area Depth Economic growth in Alabama during and after World War II brought opportunities for additional work and an expanding client base, as did the Southeast’s “Sunbelt” boom. Responding to opportunities, Balch opened offices in Montgomery and, in 1991, in Washington, D.C. Further expansion came in 2001, when Balch merged with the venerable Mississippi firm of Eaton and Cottrell. Two years later, Balch merged with Atlanta’s

sonville, Florida. Its attorneys have deep experience in regulated industries including energy, financial services and healthcare. Practices in litigation, labor and employment, environmental and public finance law, are well established.

Judge William Logan Martin, Jr., was one of the three original co-founders of Balch & Bingham.

Today, Balch has more than 250 attorneys and lobbyists with offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama; Gulfport and Jackson, Mississippi; Washington, D.C. and Jack-

For over nine decades, Balch has worked with a variety of forestry-related businesses.

The firm has worked with clients in areas of forestry investment activities, acquisition and dispositions, forestry operations and harvesting, regulatory compliance, administration and general corporate counsel; and also has investment management company and fund experience.

Balch’s early timber experience dates to American Can’s acquisition of Bellamy Lumber.

Since then, Balch’s attorneys have served as co-lead counsel to publicly traded manufacturers in the sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of Alabama timberland; worked as lead 17

Associate Member Profile: Balch & Bingham LLP

Proving that the firm's attorneys aren't afraid of getting their shoes dirty, Balch attorney Jeff Wood (right) is visiting Dr. Salem Saloom on his beautiful Tree Farm near Evergreen, Alabama.

counsel to investment-management companies in forming timber funds; served as lead counsel to companies and timberland investment management organizations in structuring limited liability companies to acquire real property for managing and operating wetlands and stream mitigation banks, and in selling related mitigation credits; and represented numerous clients in timber-related transactions, including acquisitions, sales of timber tracts, timber harvesting agreements, hunting and other recreational leases.

Deep Forestry Expertise The Balch team brings significant expertise to bear for their forestry clients today.

Jeff Wood, a lawyer in Balch’s Washington, D.C. office, worked on forestry issues while serving as counsel to U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and has experience working on a wide range of issues of importance to the forest sector including environmental regulations, 18

transportation law and policy, and USDA/USFS programs. He also served as assistant general counsel of a large transportation company.

Dart Meadows is a partner in Balch’s Atlanta office with 30 years of experience resolving a wide variety of disputes, including dozens of cases tried in state and federal court in Georgia, as well as in other states. His practice includes business litigation, product liability, healthcare and real estate litigation. Dart has extensive experience with forestry businesses, particularly in product liability cases.

He has developed a national practice representing woodworking machinery manufacturers, distributors and dealers in product liability litigation throughout the United States.

He has served as national counsel for three of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of industrial woodworking machinery and as cochair of the Hand and Power Tool Product Liability Section of the DRI, as chairman of the Product Liability Section of the State Bar of Georgia and is current chair of the Product Liability Committee of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association.

In Balch’s Birmingham

office, Matt Aiken, who leads the firm’s Real Estate Capital Markets Group, and Tim Tracy, a partner in the firm’s Corporate Finance and Securities Practice Group, work with a nationally recognized, employee-owned and managed timberland-investment firm with offices across the Southeast and internationally. The company serves pension funds, endowments, foundations and family offices, and has created value for timberland owners and investors through the disciplined integration of forestry and finance.

Matt also served as lead counsel on more than $2 billion in real estate-related transactions, including new developments, joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions and mergers, as well as lead counsel on more than 100 private securities offerings, and more than 50 transactions involving alternative equity financing, including tax credits and EB-5.

Tim’s practice is devoted to mergers and acquisitions, corporate and project finance and corporate and partnership taxation. He has structured, negotiated and documented numerous acquisitions of stock and assets of public and private companies, project finance transactions for independent power production facilities, steel production facilities and pulp and paper facilities, leveraged lease financings of equip-

ment and industrial facilities, and secured and unsecured corporate borrowings.

Balch partners Steve McKinney, Rich Glaze and Mary Samuels have represented paper and packaging companies in actions before the EPA and state environmental agencies for Clean Water Act and Clean Air matters.

Rich was senior counsel with EPA Region 4 for many years.

His experience has proven invaluable to many clients in their interactions with EPA. Steve chairs the firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources Section, and was past chair of the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy and Resources. Mary focuses on regulatory compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

Serving Forestry and Forestry-Related Clients Well Balch will continue providing its forestry clients with uncommon value, predictable legal fees, practice-area depth and highly-capable attorneys. ▲

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A Profile in Public Service

Making Law for Over 40 Years

Senator “Jabo” Waggoner

By Tom Saunders

T

he year was 1937.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for his second term, Howard Hughes breaks his own transcontinental flight speed record from Los Angeles to Newark and Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It also marked the birth of Senator James Thomas “Jabo” Waggoner, Jr. Senator Waggoner got early exposure to politics by watching his father, J.T. Waggoner, Sr., who served on a three-person city commission that governed Birmingham along with the infamous Eugene “Bull” Connor and then-Mayor Art Hanes. In this capacity Waggoner, Sr. also was the public improvements commissioner from 1956 to 1963.

Senator Waggoner graduated from Ensley High School, attended Auburn University and earned his B.A. from Birmingham Southern College and later obtained a law degree from Birmingham School of Law. In 2007 he was inducted into the Birmingham Southern Sports Hall of Fame. Waggoner lettered in men’s basketball there from 1958-1960.

Waggoner, staking claim to his 41st year as an Alabama legislator, began his run at

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public service in the House of Representatives in 1966 representing Vestavia Hills. He continued in the House through 1983, leaving to run unsuccessfully for Congress and then serving in the Guy Hunt administration as legislative director. He ran and was elected to the Alabama Senate in 1990 and remains in that capacity today, having been reelected in 2014 with over 77% of the vote. He is noted for having the longest record of service of any legislator from Jefferson County.

Recently elected to his second term, Senator Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, views Waggoner as a mentor: “He (Waggoner) has been a stalwart Republican when it was not advantageous to be so in the State of Alabama. He has fought the conservative fight longer than any other public official in the state.”

Waggoner was elected by his Republican peers to be their minority leader from 2002-2010. Frustrated with being saddled on the short end of votes, he was clearly one of the happiest members of the Legislature when Republicans gained control in 2010 and especially so when he was elected to lead the caucus as

With more than 41 years of public service...

Jabo has earned the trust and support of his constituents.

Waggoner serving in the Alabama House of Representatives. Photo courtesy Dennis Lathem

Majority Leader in 2011.

Lt. Governor Kay Ivey has found it a pleasure to work alongside Senator Waggoner.

“Since being elected to the Senate in 1990, my friend Senator Jabo Waggoner has earned the distinction of being recognized as an icon in the Alabama Senate, as well as throughout state government.

His unwavering commitment to public service and the leadership he provides continue to have a positive impact on our state. In my first term as lieu-

tenant governor, I worked closely with Senator Waggoner when he served as majority leader and helped manage one of the most successful legislative sessions in decades. I look forward to working with him in my second term to help develop solutions to the challenges we face and preparing for the many opportunities that lie ahead,” Lt. Gov. Ivey said.

As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, Waggoner helps determines what

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Profile in Public Ser vice

Photo courtesy of Alabama Media Group

legislation will be addressed on the Senate floor, making him one of the most powerful members of the Senate; second only to Del Marsh, the pro tem. “Jabo and I have forged a strong working relationship,” says Marsh, “I know I can count on him when things get a little hectic around here. One thing for sure about Jabo, you know exactly where he stands on issues and he hasn’t changed one bit since he obtained his powerful status.”

Senator Waggoner and his wife Marilyn are the parents of four children: Scott (deceased),

Mark, Lyn Waggoner Kilpatrick, and Jay. Even though he represents an urban area, Senator Waggoner is a strong proponent for the state’s timber industry.

Though not an expert on forestry issues, he appreciates the core values and principles that timberland owners and the Alabama Forestry Association stand for.

Chris Isaacson, executive vice president of the Association recalls: “Leading up to the 2010 elections, Senator Waggoner would bring prospective candidates to Montgomery

and asked us [the AFA] to host events to allow them to be introduced to the local political folks here. He felt that their first exposure to Montgomery needed to be at our place because he trusted us, knew what we stand for, and shared our principles.”

With more than 41 years of public service, it is obvious that Jabo has earned the trust and support of his constituents. Indeed, we are lucky to have such a man as a key leader in the Alabama Senate. ▲

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NEWS & VIEWS

One Last Look From My Neck of the Woods… he old saying that “time flies when you’re having fun” is really true as I look back on the last two years as your State Tree Farm chairman. For more than 18 years and the slow progression to a grey distinguished look, I have worked alongside a great group of individuals dedicated to promoting good sound forest management by promoting the American Tree Farm program in Alabama. I have been there when Alabama almost lost the Tree Farm program, and I was there again when Alabama hosted the 2006 National Tree Farmer Convention. I have been there during the development of the first set of working committee bylaws, and finally, I have had the privilege of working with four different program administrators. Our most recent program administrator, Karen Boyd, has hit the ground running and will serve and represent the Tree Farm family with immense professionalism. Karen is working with a dedicated group of individuals, companies and organizations that believe in the mission of the Tree Farm program, and together

T

they will continue to support this mission in any way possible.

When you enjoy what you are doing, it is often bittersweet to step down and let someone else take the reins. However, it is necessary to keep ideas fresh, flowing and current. Sometimes taking a step back can give you a new perspective on the bigger picture. It has truly been a pleasure over the last two years to visit with some of Alabama’s finest people. These people are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to the cause of improving their forest, wildlife, water and recreational opportunities on their property.

I wrote this paragraph in my last article and I believe it bears mentioning again.

During the last quarterly meeting of the State Tree Farm Committee, I looked around the table at all the various individuals present who represent all aspects of the natural resources profession in Alabama. Landowners, educators, professional foresters, extension specialists and agency representatives were all present because they believe in the Tree Farm pro-

Alabama Tree Farm Committee Black Belt District Bart Adams (334) 410-0608 Capital District Walter Cartwright (334)-240-9324 Delta District Benji Elmore (251) 275-3283 Longleaf District Mike Older (334) 222-0379 Mountain District Todd Langston (256) 434-4712

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gram and the opportunity to educate others about the importance of what they do as stewards of the land. These individuals are devoted to a cause, not because they have to, but because they believe in it and what it stands for. It is truly an honor to serve as the state chairman of a committee that is full of such dedicated professional willing to serve Alabama because it’s the right thing to do.

It has been a pleasure to serve as your Alabama Tree Farm chairman, and work alongside the men and women who are proud of what Alabama has to showcase.

I am always looking forward to what God has planned for me and what I can do to make my little piece of Alabama just a little better than I found it.

Until then, I am, Paul E. Hudgins, R.F.

By Paul Hudgins, Past Alabama Tree Farm Chairman

State Chairman Tim Browning (205) 367-8232

Piedmont District Bruce Eason (334) 864-9357 Valley District Johnnie Everitt (256) 383-4376 Vulcan District Jason Dockery (256) 734-0573 Warrior District Tim Browning (205) 367-8232 Wiregrass District Heather Wierzbicki (334) 855-5394

Vice Chairman Lamar Dewberry (256) 396-2485 Financial Committee Chair Heather Wierzbicki (334) 855-5394 Awards & Recognition Chairs Paul Hudgins (334) 376-9114 Dr. Robert Parker (334) 399-1086

Board Development Chair Tom Carignan (334) 361-7677 Outreach & Education Chair Allen Varner (334)-240-9308 Certification Chair Mike Older (334) 222-0379 At Large Directors Tim Albritton (334) 887-4560

John Boutwell (334) 365-9221 Don East (256) 396-2694 Chris Isaacson (334) 265-8733 Doug Link (251) 564-6281 Salem & Dianne Saloom (251) 867-6464 Charles Simon (334) 222-1125 Jim Solvason (334) 372-3360 Carolyn Stubbs (334) 821-0374 21

Green Horizons

Forest Roads & Trails Field Day & Demonstration Held in Clay County AUBURN, Ala., September 9 — On August 26, agency representatives and landowners from across the state attended a Forest Roads Field Day and Demonstration on the property of Lamar and Felicia Dewberry located in the rolling hills of Clay County.

The Field Day and Demonstration was held to inform landowners, loggers, and agency people of the need for good forest roads to prevent erosion, promote forest safety, and create forest aesthetics.

After a catered lunch, Larry Raughton, Chair of the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council opened the meeting and landowner Lamar Dewberry welcomed the group.

Agency representatives from the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and Alabama Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) talked about forest improvement assistance available through their respective agencies. NRCS District Conservationist Brandon McCray and Engineer Jeff Allred reviewed the design process they went through for the water bars, turn outs, and a stream crossing. The group was joined by Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (Third District) as they toured the forest to actually see the practices installed on the ground.

The Dewberry’s have a dirt road about 3/4 mile long that winds around and through the hills of their pine forest and hardwood bottoms. The watershed lake where most of the county receives their drinking water is adjacent to the Dewberry land. Runoff from the eroding forest road 22

Some of the attendees were (left to right) Coosa Valley RC & D Chairman, Larry Raughton, Lamar and Felicia Dewberry, landowner hosts for the project, U. S. Congressman Mike Rogers, Ben Malone, then acting State Director for Alabama USDA/NRCS and Brandon McCray, Local District Conservationist USDA/NRCS. was directly impacting the water quality of the watershed. Mr. Dewberry did not want to put his own drinking water at risk, so he started doing something about it. His information gathering initiated a partnership of experts who came together to develop a demonstration project so landowners could see properly installed water bars, turnouts, and stream crossings.

NRCS designed the road improvement and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) installed the practices.

Lots of assistance helped make the Forest Roads Field Day a tremendous success.

Everyone agreed that it was due to the partnership and the sponsors that included the AFC, NRCS, USFS, AACD, Alabama TREASURE Forest Association, the Clay County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Forestry Planning Committee, the Alabama Farmers Association (ALFA), the American Tree Farm System, and the Coosa Valley RC&D.

“This is a great project that displays partnership and the Natural Resources Council at its best,” said Ben Malone, Acting Alabama NRCS State Conservationist. Local working groups assist the local SWCD in prioritizing their county’s resource concerns. These groups are made up of agencies like SWCD, AFC, Extension, USFS, FSA, other local ag and conservation agencies, and landowners. Public meeting are held so landowners wanting to express opinions about the resource concerns in their county, has a voice through the local working group. “I encourage landowners to follow up with their local SWCD and NRCS staff to find out when these meetings take place and make a point to attend,” said Malone. “We need landowners’ input to ensure the stated resource concerns meet the needs of the county.”

Brandon McCray said, “If you have water, slope and bare ground, you will have erosion. The waterbars installed on Mr. Dewberry’s forest roads will help stop erosion that may contaminate the water supplies downstream.” ▲

Natural Resources Conservation Service P.O. Box 311 (36831) 3381 Skyway Drive Auburn, Alabama 36830 Web: www.al.nrcs.usda.gov Contact: Fay Garner at 334-887-4506 or fay.garner@al.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).

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October Field Days Recognize Tree Farm & Forest Management

By Allen Varner, Stewardship Coordinator hree warm days full of sunshine provided very pleasant conditions for this past October’s Regional Forestry Field days.

Sponsored by the Alabama State Tree Farm Committee and the Alabama Natural Resources Council, the events featured three unique properties in three different parts of the state. Each field day was managed locally with the goal of showcasing the host property and highlighting their forest management activities. In addition to field tours, lunch and award presentations were made at each event. Tree Farmers, TREASURE Forest owners and county forest planning committees in the north, central and southern portions of the state were recognized for their outstanding contributions to conservation, management and outreach of Alabama’s natural resources.

Starting in the North, on October 2nd , the Colbert County Forestry Planning Committee hosted the North Region Forestry Field Day/Landowner Tour on the property of Q-Bik Foot Enterprises, the operating organization of Burgess Tree Farm. A crowd of nearly 100 gather at the Rattlesnake Saloon, loaded on trailers and set off on a tour of the property.

Four different stops along the tour gave guests the opportunity to learn about predator management through trapping, mulching for wildlife openings, thinning timber, use of prescribed burning and timber markets and invasive species control. Lunch was provided in the grotto at the Saloon. Following lunch, several award presentations were made. Two separate individuals, Bob Blanks and Martha Landers received Silver Tree Farm signs signifying 25years in the Tree Farm Program. A gold Tree Farm sign (50 years in the program) was presented to Mr. Marvin Wilson.

The North Region recipient of the Outstanding County Forestry Planning Committee Award was Clay County who earned the award by hosting a very successful Woman’s Walk in the Forest Program.

A longtime member of the TREASURE Forest family, Dr. John P. Mims, was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his support of forestry, natural resources and the TREASURE Forest program. He has shared with many his love of nature and

T

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Mr. Marvin Wilson, right, receives a gold Tree Farm sign for 50 years in the Tree Farm program.

Alabama’s US Representative Martha Roby, right, with Mike and Joan Newman.

will continue to do so for many years to come.

The North Region Helene Mosley Memorial TREASURE Forest Award recipient was Mr. Stan Wood of Cullman County. His forest along the Mulberry River is managed for wildlife habitat and long term timber production.

The Central Region Forestry Field Day took place on an unusually hot October 9th on the property of Holmestead Company. Charles Holmes welcomed nearly 140 guests to the field day tour that featured stops on agri-tourism, wild pig management, stream crossing construction and a comparison of longleaf versus loblolly pine management. Many special guests attended including past Helene Mosley Memorial TREASURE Forest Award recipients Chip and Louise Taylor of Hale County. Perhaps the guest that travelled the furthest was the State Conservationist of Wyoming, Astrid Martinez.After the field tour, lunch was served and the award presentations were made. Don Heath former commissioner of the Alabama Forestry Commission 23

Green Horizons

Clarke County representatives receive the Southern Region Outstanding Forestry Planning Committee Award.

Landowners learn about pine thinning at one of the Burgess Tree Farm tour stops.

received a TREASURE Forest certification and our host, Charles Holmes received a career service award for his long time activities with the Soil and Water Committees. Sutton Gibbs of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) did an outstanding job managing the event activities.The South Region Forestry Field Day took place on October 16th in Coffee County on the property of Mike Newman. Nearly 150 guests toured his property and gained insight on hardwood management, wetland management, herbicide use in loblolly pine stands and dove field management. The Coffee County Forestry planning Committee led

by Nick Granger did a fantastic job organizing the event.

It was a very special day for Mike and his wife, Joan, as they learned that they were named State Tree Farmers of the Year. Mike and Joan have been Tree Farmers for six years and are very active forest managers. They recently thinned a 41-acre stand of loblolly pine. Mike maintains his own fire breaks and manages his bottomland for wildlife.

Clarke County was presented with the Outstanding Forestry Planning Committee Award for the South Region.

They earned the award because of the work the committee does with the FAWN (Forestry Awareness Week Now) program. They taught nearly 500 six graders about forest management, environmental history, soils, wildlife management, tree identification and forest products during the week long activity.

The Helene Mosley Memorial TREASURE Forest Award recipient for the South Region brought members of her family to share the day with her. It was wonderful to have 94year-old Vivian Beech make the trip. You have to be ready

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Landowners learn about agri-tourism from Adam Tullis of Mississippi State University.

to go to keep up with Ms. Vivian. She is very active and still enjoys getting out in the woods.

The highlight of the day was the lunch time guest speaker, United States Representative Martha Roby. She talked about supporting Alabama’s natural resource community and how her family supports hunting. She also mentioned the importance of supporting our armed forces during these uncertain times. The crowd enthusiastically welcomed her comments.

The October field days are always great opportunities to bring likeminded people together to learn about natural resource management.

Landowners who are willing to share their property encourage others to be more active land managers. A professional natural resource manager may suggest a particular activity to a landowner, but actually seeing the practice implemented by their neighbor sends a much stronger message and usually results in more on-the-ground accomplishments. If you are interested in any of the forest management activities mentioned above, contact the Alabama Forestry Commission or the Alabama Forestry Association for more information. â–˛

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Mapping Made Easy

By John Boutwell

I really like maps. In fact I’ve always had a fascination with maps. Maps can help you locate yourself, show you where you’ve been, and they can even help you get where you’re going. If you are a tree farmer, a good set of maps of your land is essential to developing a management plan; and a good management plan is essential to having your property become a Certified Tree Farm. I think that is important, so let’s learn more about maps.

An old 1953 aerial photo of property

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hen I was young, my favorite type of maps were the old 330' scale, 24"¥24" aerial photographs mounted on plywood boards and held down by big metal clips. They were great fun to look at and study. I had access to these maps of our land because my folks worked at the ASCS Office and the Soil Conservation Service (now the FSA and NRCS). I even learned to use an aerial photograph to measure acreages with a planimeter and measure distances with a scale. The biggest drawback was that these images were usually 10-15 years old before I could use them, but I was still excited to have them.

Now aerial photographs are somewhat old hat. Satellite views, Google Maps and a variety of other mapping-type programs are readily available to internet users. For the purpose of managing my Tree Farm, I realized that I needed good maps that were fairly easy to use. I needed to be able to look down on my land from a clear overhead view that was relatively current. If I had current aerial views, I could see my recent harvests, plantings, road work, clearings, food plots, streams, and other areas of interest. For management purposes, I also needed to be able to accurately measure acreages and distances where forest activities had occurred or were planned. If I could label these areas and acreages on the map and be able to access this data in the future, the program would be even more useful.

Well, I have tried several map programs over the last few years. Some were free; some had annual fees. They all had strong points and weaknesses. None were perfect, so I kept looking.

This brings me to the real subject of this article — MY LAND PLAN developed and offered by The American Forest Foundation comes as close to being the common man’s mapping program as anything I’ve seen yet. It’s relatively easy to use; it’s

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25

Green Horizons

Boundary Map – Current satellite view showing boundary lines

Features Map – Current satellite view showing stands of trees, crop fields, and other features relatively accurate; it’s relatively comprehensive; and it’s completely free. What more could you ask for?

To access MY LAND PLAN, simply get on your computer and access www.mylandplan.org. Once you are on the site, click on “Get Started.” You will need to provide your email address, your name, your zip code and select a password.

After completing the registration, click on “Start Your Plan” and then choose “Log In.” Enter your email address and password and you will be connected to your personal MY LAND PLAN page. There are several good tutorial videos available on this page.

If you’re like me you probably want to start mapping right away, but preview the videos before starting. Compared to many mapping programs, this one is user friendly. You will find it much easier to use on a computer with a large screen and a conventional mouse.

Just a side note to those of you who are technology challenged like me — I really thought my ‘flip phone’ was the pinnacle of technology because it would take pictures, but don’t expect me to respond to your text!

Back to the subject of maps. Click on the “Map” icon when you are ready to start describing your Tree Farm. My first use of the program involved locating my property and mapping the boundary lines.

Let me say here that you don’t need to be afraid of making a mistake on any of your 26

entries. You can easily delete entries, move lines, change descriptions and correct any mistakes that you discover.

After your property boundary is established, go to “Map Features.” Here you can map and measure stands of trees, green fields, crop fields, roads, trails, and locate such features as deer stands or house sites.

The possibilities and options are many, so don’t hesitate to use them. If your map becomes too cluttered, this program does have a limited capability to hide certain layers to simplify the appearance of your map.

There are other program features available, too. Do your children know the history of your land? There is a place to record this, so write it down for posterity.

Someday your children will thank you.

There is also a place to list your

“Goals/Activities,” your “Task List” and even a “Journal” to jot down your recent accomplishments. You also have an opportunity to locate foresters and other resources that can help you manage your forest land. How complete is this?

MY LAND PLAN provides you with a wonderful management tool to help you with the management of your woodlands, and the American Forest Foundation has covered the cost of setting up and maintaining the program. Using MY LAND PLAN will be worth your effort in the long run and help you become a better Tree Farmer.

If you would like more information on the Alabama Tree Farm Program, contact the Alabama Forestry Association or your Tree Farm District Director listed on the first page of Green Horizons. ▲ A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

Tree Farmers– We Need to Hear From You!

New ATFS Standards of Sustainability he 2015–2020 American Tree Farm System® (AFTS) were approved for implementation on January 1, 2015. These standards replace the previous version and must be fully adopted by Tree Farmers, state committees, independently managed groups, and accredited certifying bodies (auditors).

Revisions to the standards include: ● Clarity regarding threatened and endangered species ● Emphasis on landowner’s objectives and on-the-ground stewardship ● Clarity regarding Forests of Recognized Importance (FORI), formerly High Conservation Forests (HCVF), and guidance on how a landowner may contribute to these unique values ● Holistic, integrated approaches to forest health ● Expansion of Best Management Practices (BMPs) beyond water quality.

Tree Farmers should review the new standards along with their management plans to make sure their plans include all of the requirements. This will also be a good time to update management objectives and property and management information. An updated ATFS Management Plan Addendum will be available soon to help with the review and update process.

For a copy of the standards and more information on transition timelines visit www.treefarmsystem.org/transition-period.

Is Your Tree Farm Information Current?

If Not, Let Us Know!

T

he Alabama Tree Farm Committee is conducting a comprehensive Tree Farm database clean-up project during 2015. The goal is to obtain current landowner contact information, delete bad records, and eliminate duplicate data. With current and accurate information, we will be able to better serve the Tree Farm community.

If you need to make any changes based on the following criteria, please complete the form below and return to the Alabama Tree Farm Committee. If you prefer, you can email us with the updated information. A Tree Farm Committee member will contact you to complete the database update process. ● Individual tracts (non-contiguous tracts) are now required to have individual Tree Farm numbers. If you have non-contiguous tracts under one Tree Farm number, please tell us how many tracts make up your Tree Farm. We will contact you for more information about each tract and assign a unique Tree Farm number to each one. Non-contiguous tracts are those that cannot be walked from one side to the other without leaving the tract, or have adjacent parcels held under different legal ownership names. ● Tree Farm acres should reflect forested and wildlife management acres, and not include acres used from agricultural purposes (crop or pasture). If your Tree Farm acreage includes crop or pasture acres, let us know. An inspecting forester will review your information, and determine the acres to be reported in the Tree Farm database. ● Current contact and location information is critical! Update your Tree Farm Information for any of the following: • The sale of all or part of your Tree Farm. The addition of forested acres to your Tree Farm.

• GPS coordinates of your Tree Farm (if you have them available) • Current mailing address • Email address and cell phone number

T

Thank you for keeping your Tree Farm information up to date!

✁ Tree Farm #:

Tree Farm County:

GPS coordinates if available:

Tree Farm Name:

Tree Farm Organization (if LLC, etc.)

Contact Name:

Contact Address:

Phone:

Cell Phone:

Email:

City/State: ZIP:

Non-contiguous tracts?

Y

N

If yes, how many tracts?

Forested acres change?

Y

N

If yes, estimated forested acres:

Please return to Alabama Tree Farm Committee Attention Brandy Cole 555 Alabama Street Montgomery, AL 36104 A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

If you prefer to email or call in your updates, contact Brandy Cole at bcole@alaforestry.org or 334-481-2128.

27

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Early Childhood Activity 6: Evergreens in Winter Evergreen trees offer a sensory overload! Through these experiences, children will touch, smell, see, hear, and taste the season of winter. Consider trying these experiences yearround in areas with or without snow.

Doing the Activity Bundle up and enjoy a stroll around your yard, neighborhood, local park, or evergreen forest. On your winter walks, try the following: ‡ 6WRS DQG OLVWHQ WR WKH VRXQGV RI ZLQWHU H J ZLQG RU VQRZ XQGHU IHHW $VN How does our walk sound, smell, or look different from the last time we walked? What is the same?

‡ )LQG SODFHV WKDW DUH RXW RI WKH ZLQG H J FORVH WR D EXLOGLQJ RU QH[W WR D WUHH RU KHGJH $VN If you were an animal outside in winter, where would you stay? 6HDUFK on the ground for tracks and other animal signs. ‡ 6HDUFK IRU DQLPDO KRPHV LQ GHFLGXRXV WUHHV 1HVWV DQG KROHV VKRXOG EH PRUH YLVLEOH QRZ /RRN IRU HYLGHQFH RI ZD\V DQLPDOV VXUYLYH LQ ZLQWHU ‡ /LH GRZQ XQGHU HYHUJUHHQV DQG ORRN XS WKURXJK WKH EUDQFKHV 7DON DERXW WKH YLVLEOH patterns, and experience the way evergreens provide shelter from wind, rain, and snow. ‡ /RRN IRU WKH ZKRUOV RI EUDQFKHV on conifers, such as pine, spruce, DQG ÀU (DFK \HDU WKH WUHH DGGV a new whorl of branches. You can estimate the age of the tree E\ FRXQWLQJ WKH ZKRUOV $GG WZR or three years to represent the ÀUVW IHZ \HDUV RI JURZWK EHIRUH the tree started making whorls.

Winter Treats

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with five parts corn meal and pack the mixture into the crevices of a large pinecone.

7KLV $XGXERQ DSSURYHG all-season mixture will attract woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and warblers.

www.plt.org

‡ 6HDUFK RQ WKH JURXQG IRU FRQHV /RRN XS KLJK LQ WKH WUHHV IRU FRQHV VWLOO RQ WKHP /RRN at the branches and knobs on deciduous trees. With the leaves gone, these shapes are easier to see.

Once back inside, prepare and enjoy some hot tea or cocoa, and remind children that these tasty treats also come from trees!

Plan to visit the trees again in the spring to look for new growth. $GDSWHG IURP $FWLYLW\ (YHUJUHHQV LQ :LQWHU IURP 3URMHFW /HDUQLQJ 7UHH¡V Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood guide.

Discover how PLT can help you teach‌ from nature! ‡ $WWHQG D ZRUNVKRS QHDU \RX WR UHFHLYH 3/7 DFWLYLW\ JXLGHV LGHDV DQG PDWHULDOV ‡ &RQWDFW \RXU $ODEDPD 3/7 6WDWH &RRUGLQDWRU $VKOH\ 6PLWK DVPLWK#DODIRUHVWU\ RUJ

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Forestry News & Views

Logger John McGowin (right in orange vest) stands by Auburn Architect students touring a McGowin Logging Company job site on Resource Management Service property.

AFA 2015 Architects Tour:

Building a Solid Foundation for Wood

By Ashley Smith

L

oading onto the open air trailers, the college students smiled and laughed.

In the bright winter sunshine, they enjoyed the day away from their regular routine of classes, studios and study sessions. Conversation floated above the sounds of the pick-up truck motor: “Look at that observation basket on the tree!”

“Has a tornado gone through this area recently?” “I feel like we are in the middle of nowhere!”

On Friday, January 30, 2015, sixty students from the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction attended the annual Alabama Forest Sustainability and Products Tour. Starting just as the sun rose over the Plains, students gathered for light breakfast at the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building where Student Services Director Jodie Kenney warmly welcomed students. She highlighted architectural feaA L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

tures of the building, which showcases forestry products including beams built

by Greenville based Structural Wood Systems. Students observed how the interior wood detailing made the area feel warm and pleasant.

When the group arrived in Greenville, students grabbed hardhats and safety glasses for tours of Structural Wood Systems. Steve Bush and his capable team led smaller groups through the facility, reviewing the process of creating architectural works of art from ordinary stacks of dimensional lumber. The future architecture professionals viewed design plans and learned how Structural Wood built beams to specification. During lunch sponsored

by SWS, Bush highlighted recent projects featuring their materials.

After lunch, the tour traveled south of town to property belonging to Resource Management Service. Open air trailers car-

ried everyone down the dirt road to the wooded destination. Resource Management Service’s Jerry Brace shared their company’s commitment to Alabama’s forest resources, telling the group “Our commitment to sustainable forestry is evident in the way we manage our property for today and for future generations.” He described how timber harvesting begins the cycle of a new forest as it provides the resource to create products for the marketplace.

After explaining how forests are managed for products, wildlife, and even aesthetics, Brace introduced John McGowin, McGowin Logging Company, whose crew was harvesting on site. McGowin further expounded on forest management and the renewability of Alabama’s greatest resource. Students learned that “observation baskets” and deer stands are one and the same thing! They came to the realiza29

Tripp Winters, in white hardhat facing students, tells AU Architect students all about Coastal Forest Products sawmill and plywood mill at Chapman.

tion that clearcutting is a forest management technique mimicking a natural event, such as a tornado. Their time in the woods helped them understand that cutting trees does not have to be the end of the cycle but can be considered the beginning.

The Forest Sustainability and Products Tour wrapped the afternoon by visiting Coastal Forest Products in nearby Chapman. Tripp Winters and his capable group provided multiple tours of their plywood mill and sawmill. In viewing pallets of plywood and stacks of lumber, students gained understanding of how trees can be transformed into building products.

“Thank you for organizing the field trip,” said Justin Miller, professor within the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. “Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

They really enjoyed the stop at the logging site!” While positive feedback affirms that students appreciated the experience, stakeholders and sponsors hope that long term benefits include the use of and appreciation for wood products in future architectural designs. ▲

FORES FORESTRY F FO ORESTR TRY TRY RY SOL SOLUTIONS SO S OL LUTIONS UT T ONS THAT THA TH T HA AT MEET AT MEET M YO Y YOUR OUR OU RO OBJECTIV OB OBJECTIVES. BJECT TIVES. VE ES S. Fifty ifty Years Year Y ears ear rs and a and Growing Gr Grro owing wing Fifty www.fwforestry.com www ww.ffwf wfforrestry try.co .c m BROCK MA MAY AY Y Hamilton, AL 205.952.9369

30

TT.R. .R. CLARK LaFayette, AL 334.864.9542

Students Fly Raptor Day at Blacksher & Thomasville Schools

By Ashley Smith

A

“

labama’s forests meet our needs for products, for shade, for recreation,” shared Marianne Hudson. “Forests meet the need of the many animals that live in and near them. They depend on the forest for everything!” Marianne Hudson, a raptor specialist with the Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center, explained how special Alabama’s forests are as she maintained the captivated attention of 490 students in the Thomasville Elementary School gymnasium.

The Alabama Forestry Foundation sponsored visits from the Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center to Thomasville Elementary School and J.U. Blacksher Elementary/Middle School as part of the Alabama Forestry Foundation’s Black Belt Initiative. The Black Belt Initiative originated in 2012 as a three-phase program designed to provide job opportunity awareness, enhance fundamental skills in math and science, and provide a pathway for employment in the forest industry for residents in Alabama’s rural communities.

Forestry represents one of the few opportunities for rural students to choose a career track that will allow them to gain an A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

High education and remain in their home communities to pursue a career as forestry is the predominate employer in the rural Black Belt region. Currently in the second phase of the program, the BBI strives to enhance math and science skills by supporting subject coaches at two test site school in the region — Thomasville Elementary and J.U. Blacksher.

Recognizing that field trips are not always an easy or affordable option for extra-learning, the AFF coordinated with the schools to bring the Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center on-site as part of learning and fun through the Black Belt Initiative.

“The kids have been so pumped about this program coming to our school!” exclaims Thomasville Elementary Principal Dawn Gillis. “Each day, different students shared a new raptor fact during morning announcements. Not only were they researching and learning independently prior to the program, students boosted their public speaking skills!”

When it finally came time for the event, students were prepared and excited. Throughout the one-hour educational program, the Auburn specialists shared a variety of raptors with the students, highlighting each bird individually.

By all indications, students loved the raptor program, remaining fascinated and engaged. Through such interactive educational experiences as the raptor program at J.U. Blacksher and Thomasville, student opportunities have the chance to soar to new heights.▲ A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

Raptor Specialist Marianne Hudson casts a wary eye at the barn owl in the Auburn University Southeastern Raptor Rehabilitation Center collection.

Standing in front of the Raptor Center van are, L to R, Thomasville Elementary Assistant Principal Sandra Williams, Principal Dawn Gillis and Raptor Specialist Andrew Hopkins.

Raptor Specialist Andrew Hopkins hangs on to the business end of Spirit, the bald eagle the Raptor Center brought to Blacksher and Thomasville Elementary schools on Raptor Day. We thank the following sponsors for their generous help in the Raptor Day event: Boise, J.E.Estes Wood Company, International Paper and, the Sybil H. Smith Charitable Trust.

31

Products & Services

The Low-Hanging Fruit of Energy Savings

C

utting costs as a business can be difficult. Where in your business lies the most opportunity and quickest return? Are the results measurable? Is your business Before better off due to the cuts or are you required to give something up? Businesses face these t es of tough questions every day, without realizing part of the solution might be energy, causing energy to be frequently overlooked as a cost cutting solution.

In the lumber industry, energy usage is a significant cost of doing business. If history is any sign of the future, this cost will only continue to rise. According to the US Energy Information Administration (2013), US industrial electrical prices have risen approximately 32% in just the last 10 years (see “Average Retail Price of Electricity” chart).

Taking this into consideration, if immergence from the country’s recent recession has taught us anything, it is that lean and mean is the new standard. Meaning, it is more important now than ever for the lumber industry to actively manage and reduce energy costs when and

A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

where they After can. However, where in your plant lies the most opportunity for energy savings? Where is the low hanging fruit and what solutions will provide the quickest returns? As many lumber mills in the state have already discovered, lighting is one of them, offering substantial energy savings along with many other benefits.

Energy Savings With recent advancements in technology, interior and exterior LED and High Intensity Fluorescent (HIF) lighting offers a significant opportunity for energy savings. So much so, that the average plant can often reduce anywhere from 55%-75% of their annual lighting energy usage. Even though lighting is not typically a large percentage of a plant’s overall electrical load, this reduction can still equate to signifi-

cant monetary savings.

For example, consider the operating cost of 100 typical 400 watt metal halides (MH), found in most lumber mills, compared to the equivalent energy efficient options such as LED and HIF fixtures.

As depicted by the “Annual Cost to Operate” chart the differences in fixture operating costs are extreme. Interestingly, the average lumber mill can have more than 10 to 20 times the represented 100 fixtures. Plants can further bolster their savings by another 25%-50% with the addition of dimming motion sensors and controls in select areas. While lighting is one of the low hanging fruits of energy savings, lighting maintenance offers another cost-cutting opportunity for lumber mills.

33

Products & Ser vices

Maintenance Savings Most lumber mills have lighting fixtures within their facilities that are located in high, hard to reach places or above heavyduty machinery. Unfortunately, these unavoidable obstacles make it difficult and costly to replace failed lamps and ballasts.

So, lamps often go un-replaced, leaving the plant insufficiently lit, which affects worker productivity and also creates undesirable safety concerns.

New energy efficient lighting technology provides longer lamp lives compared to MH. For example, a typical MH lamp will have an estimated rated life of 20,000 hours, or 2.2 years in a plant operating 24/7. On the other hand, HIF fixtures can have lamp life ratings up to 40,000 hours, which is twice as long as MH. While, a majority of LED fixtures can now last upwards of 100,000 hours or over 11 years in a plant operating 24/7. With many of these LED fixtures coming with 10 year warranties, plants can virtually eliminate the cost and/or need for lamp replacements. This equates to significant monetary savings in replacement costs and ensures that the plant is properly lit year round.

Increased Light Levels

upgrading. This increase is further augmented with the utilization of 5000k, day light, color temperature LED or HIF fixtures.

The following pictures were taken before and after a plant’s lighting upgrade where the facility went from 464 watt 2700k High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps to 218 watt 5000k HIF fixtures.

Overall, as energy efficiency technologies continue to evolve, the more opportunities the lumber industry will have to not only lower, but also manage and control their energy usage. Lighting technology has evolved through major advancements in the last 5 years, and is currently on the forefront of viable cost saving opportunities. Taking into account that electrical prices are going to continue to rise, managing energy usage now is an imperative step in ensuring the long-term success of any business. ▲

Citation Energy Information Administration, “Average Retail Price of Electricity” for US Industrial. http://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/7?agg=0, 1&geo=g&endsec=vg&linechart=ELEC.PRICE.US-IND.A~~~~&columnchart= ELEC.PRICE.US-ALL.A~ELEC.PRICE.US-RES.A~ELEC.PRICE.US-COM.A~ELEC. PRICE.US-IND.A&map=ELEC.PRICE.US-ALL.A&freq=A&start=2003&end=2013 &chartindexed=1&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&maptype=0&rse= 0&pin=

Poorly lit facilities can decrease worker productivity and create unnecessary safety hazards. While energy efficient lighting upgrades clearly reduce energy usage, they also offer significant increases in both lighting intensity and quality. On average, plants can expect a 10%-15% increase in lighting intensity by

BEFORE

ou w want ant tto or reduce educe HIfIf yyou energy, energ gy, h here’s ere’s h how ow w wee h help: elp:

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www.thesemco.com www.thesemco.com /ŶĨŽΛƚŚĞƐĞŵĐŽ͘ĐŽŵ /ŶĨŽΛƚŚĞƐĞŵĐŽ͘ĐŽŵ 251-752-8548

34

AFTER

A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

STABILITY

AFA Endorsed U Member Owned U Consistent Dividends U Experienced Managers ForestFund participants have owned and controlled their workers’ compensation program since 1971. ForestFund participants are on the Board of Trustees that establishes policy and sets rates. An experienced administrator manages the program. Many companies offering workers’ compensation coverage have come and gone over the years, but ForestFund is the reliable source that has been here through good and bad times. ForestFund has paid a dividend for 18 straight years. No competitor has ever paid a dividend. No other program is endorsed by any forestry organization. The Alabama Forestry Association has endorsed ForestFund exclusively for 37 years.

ForestFund is in its fourth decade of providing a stable workers’ compensation market for employers and employees who harvest, transport, manufacture, buy or sell forest products. Sure there are other programs that provide workers’ compensation coverage, but do they measure up to ForestFund when it comes to Stability, Savings, Service DQG 6DIHW\" 0DNH WKH FDOO WR ¿QG RXW *HQHUDO /LDELOLW\ TXRWHV DUH DOVR DYDLODEOH

For a quote, call Kelly Daniel at ForestFund: (334) 495-0024

Index to Advertisers

AGRICULTURAL LENDING

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION

Alabama Land Banks Associations ▲ AlabamaAgCredit.com ....................................4

FORESTRY EDUCATION

Publication Title: Alabama Forests Publication Number: 025-358 Filing Date: 10/30/2014 Issue Frequency: Quarterly & Summer Directory Annual Subscription Price: $35 Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 555 Alabama Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 Contact person: Sam Duvall Telephone: (334) 481-2129 Full name and complete mailing address of publisher, editor and/or owner: Alabama Forestry Association, 555 Alabama Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 Known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent of more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None Issue date for circulation data below: February, 2015

Alabama Forests Forever Foundation ▲ alaforestry.org....................Inside Back Cover Project Learning Tree ▲ plt.org...............................................................................28

Extent and nature of circulation

COMMERCIAL TRUCK SALES

Truckworx Kenworth ▲ truckworx.com...........................................Inside Front Cover CONSULTANTS—FORESTRY

F&W Forestry Services ▲ fwforestry.com................................................................30 Larson & McGowin ▲ larsonmcgowin.com .............................................................36

Avg no. copies No. copies of each issue single issue during preceding published nearest 12 months to filing date

FOREST PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS

Cooper/T.Smith ▲ coopertsmith.com.........................................................Back Cover Jasper Lumber Company ▲ jasperlumber.com ........................................................20 INSURANCE

Forest Fund ▲ alaforestry.org.................................................................................35 Witherington Insurance Group ▲ witheringtoninsurance.com ................................20 LANDOWNERS (COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS & TRUSTS)

The Westervelt Company ▲ westervelt.com ...........................................................12 LOGGING CONTRACTORS

Mid-Star Timber Harvesting, Inc. ▲ midstartimber.com ............................................5 LOGGING EQUIPMENT

Thompson Tractor ▲ thompsontractor.com ..............................................................2 SEEDLINGS

Arborgen ▲ arborgen.com .....................................................................................12 International Forest Company ▲ interforestry.com ...................................................6 Rayonier ▲ rayonier.com..........................................................................................5 Weyerhaeuser ▲ weyerhaeuser.com.......................................................................12 Whitfield Farms & Nursery ▲ whitfieldpineseedlings.com ......................................20 SUSTAINABLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT

SEMCO ▲ thesemco.com.......................................................................................................34 TIMBER PROCUREMENT

TR Miller ▲ trmillermill.com...................................................................................32

Over five decades and millions of acres of experience

Total number of copies 3996 Paid circulation (1) Mailed outside county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541 3824 (2) Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541 0 (3) Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter 0 sales and other paid distribution outside USPS (4) Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS 0

4110

Total paid distribution Free or nominal rate distribution (1) Outside-county copies included on form 3541 (2) In-country as stated on form 3541 (3) Other classes mailed through USPS (4) Distributed outside the mail Total free or nominal rate distribution

3824

3959

172 0 0 0 172

151 0 0 0 151

3996 0 3996 95.70%

4110 0 4110 96.33%

Total distribution Copies not distributed Total Percent paid

3959 0 0 0

Publication of State of Ownership Printed in the Winter, 2015 issue of this publication.

Signature and title of Editor, Publisher, Manager or Owner: Sam Duvall, Editor

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnished false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines or imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

www.larsonmcgowin.com Main Office: Mobile, Alabama / 251.438.4581

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A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | W i nte r 2 0 1 5

#OMMITTED TO #OMMITTED TO !!LABAMA S &UTURE LABAMA S &UTURE

WWW COOPERTSMITH COM