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Mississippi Forestry Association: MFA IS IN FULL-SWING HOSTING EVENT!
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Forestry Association: MFA IS IN FULL-SWING HOSTING EVENT!
Casey Anderson, Mississippi Forestry Association Executive Director
Summer is here, and Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) is in full-swing hosting events, teaching classes, and preparing for the remainder of 2023. We have added a new hire to our staff, Jonathan Smith, who serves as our education and outreach coordinator. He is currently working part-time as he finishes his Master of Science in Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Forest Resources but will begin his full-time role with the association on January 1, 2024. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to further expanding our workforce development and educational efforts across the state.
In the month of June, MFA is hosting three workshops for a total of 65 teachers across Mississippi. During these Teachers Conservation Workshops, teachers are equipped to use the Project Learning Tree environmental education curriculum in their classrooms and are taken to tour an active logging site, a sawmill, tree farms, and other industry-related businesses and locations. Allowing teachers to see parts of our industry in-person gives them a better understanding of sustainable forestry and the work that goes into producing the forest products we all use each day.
Effective July 1, 2023, there is a new weight tolerance of 88,000 pounds on Mississippi Harvest Permits. The owner and/or operator of a vehicle may apply to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) for authorization to receive a Harvest Permit. The permit will entitle the vehicle to haul sand, gravel, fill dirt, agricultural products, or unprocessed forestry products to an authorized maximum gross weight not to exceed 88,000 pounds (80,000 pounds legal weight limit + 10% tolerance = 88,000 pounds). If you have an existing Harvest Permit, it will remain effective until its expiration date. However, the 88,000 pounds tolerance will not go into effect until July 1, 2023. You can view a one-page document prepared by Mississippi forest industry partners by going to: https://www.msforestry.net/resource/resmgr/Mississippi_Harvest_Permit.pdf
Also, remember that the Mid South Forestry Equipment Show will be held in Starkville, Mississippi, September 22-23, 2023. This is the longest-running, live, in-woods equipment demo in the South. Attendee and exhibitor registration are both available online at midsouthforestry.org. Earn continuing education credits, meet with vendors from across the United States, and have a great time with your family. Forestry Mutual will be at the show, so come see all of us at this fun and educational event!
In addition to your typical safety checks, make sure you and your employees remember to stay cool and well-hydrated through these hot summer months! We appreciate the hard work by the dedicated men and women in our industry and, like Forestry Mutual, want to make sure everyone makes it home safely each day.
JONATHAN SMITH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
