2 minute read
Partnerships in Forestry
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Forestry Association
J. Tedrick Ratcliff, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Mississippi Forestry Association
It has been a busy spring at MFA, and we are gearing up for an equally busy summer! From teacher workshops and various committee meetings to Summer Board Meeting and logger and truck driver training, MFA is hard at work for our members and the forest industry in Mississippi.
With the addition of John Auel to our staff in January, MFA has ramped up Professional Logging Manager program training and will be partnering with VestigeView and Forestry Mutual to present a trucking and logging insurance safety program on June 24 at the Farm Bureau Federation Building in Jackson. There will be presentations on the benefits of camera systems on log trucks and demonstrations of the VestigeView systems. There will also be discussions on logging and trucking insurance needs and current safety issues affecting insurance rates and the industry. Registration will be available soon at msforestry.net.
As always, MFA closely followed the 2022 Mississippi Legislative Session, which ended on April 5. Specific successful legislation for forestry interests included HB 1485. Provisions in current law that allow for 84,000 pounds on harvest permit vehicles were continued forward. A previously passed provision in the law triggers that allowance to 88,000 pounds on July 1, 2023. I am also proud to announce that MFA member Mar-Cal, Inc. was recently named the Forest Resources Association Outstanding Logger for 2022. This prestigious national award is designed to raise the visibility of professional logging contractors and encourage other loggers to adopt the performance of the award winners. Ken, Sandy, Brad, and Brent Martin have been active volunteers and leaders within MFA and their local county forestry associations. We congratulate them on this well deserved honor!
Mar-Cal, Inc. was recently named the Forest Resources Association Outstanding Logger for 2022.
