National Hardwood Magazine - June 2017

SOUTHWESTERN CLUB

SOUTHWESTERN CLUB Continued from page 36 inch, 3-1/4 inch and 5-inch. Green grade lumber is selling best for another sawmill operator in Mississippi, especially in Red and White Oak, Poplar and Ash. According to him, the Ash market goes hot and cold, but even at its slowest it still sells fairly quick. Other lumbermen commented that the No. 1 and No. 2 Common White Oak market was strong, with FAS trailing slightly behind. An especially strong market for one lumberman is selling mat material to a Canadian company. “They purchase a fair amount of our Red Oak to make board mats because of the durability they offer over softwood mats. I don’t expect our business to slow down anytime soon.” A pre-finished flooring manufacturer in Tennessee scored his market at a low 2 or 3. He said since January of this year sales have slacked way off; but he expects them to get better in the coming months. Furthermore, attendees discussed such concerns as how difficult it is to find good employees as well as the impact of new laws on exports and the hike in freight rates. One attendee shared that he has found that cross ties are still in overabundance and sitting on yards not being sold because the railroads aren’t buying near as many crossties as they have used in the past, and he anticipates some mill closures in the future due to this. Several attendees talked about increased ocean freight rates. One industry representative stated that in one case his cost per container has increased from 0 last August to between 0 and 0 in recent weeks. Also during the meeting the President of the Club, Bubba Lammons of All Star Forest Products, located in Jackson, MS, spoke to the attendees and said, “Every member of our club should be very proud because many of us helped shape what the NHLA grading rules are. Furthermore, we are important to our communities and country because we furnish jobs, and many of us are leaders in our communities.” In regard to specific wood species, attendees reported that Ash timber in the Northern States seems to be more scarce than Ash standing in the Southern forests. The general consensus among the sawmillers at the meeting was that the cost of logs remains too high, but overall most sawmillers have enjoyed good business since January 1. n Tony Butler and Will Tullos, Hunt Forest Products LLC, Ruston, LA; and George Tucker, O’Hair Shutters Ltd., Lubbock, TX Tommy Maxwell, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring, Monticello, AR; Tony Hunt, Hassell & Hughes Lumber Co. Inc., Collinwood, TN; Terry Reynolds, Rives & Reynolds Lumber Co. Inc., Louisville, MS; Randy Clark, Stella-Jones Inc., Alexandria, LA; and David Roberts, Stella-Jones Inc., Jonesboro, LA 38 JUNE 2017 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

Mike Noland, Noland Lumber Co. Inc., Gordo, AL; Woody Farrar, T K Stanley Inc., Waynesboro, MS; Bo Barnett, Hunt Forest Products LLC, Olla, LA; and Bubba Lammons, All Star Forest Products Inc., Jackson, MS Blu and Bret Lowery, Ward Timber, Linden, TX; and Eddie Carson, Tusk Hardwood LLC, Yazoo City, MS J.R. Johns, Armstrong Flooring, Jackson, TN; and Tim Polk, Buchanan Hardwood Flooring, Aliceville, AL David and Jeff Lewis, Lewis Brothers Lumber Co. Inc., Aliceville, AL; and Jonathan McMichael, Southern Mississippi Trading LLC, Waynesboro, MS Chris Carpenter, Fastening Solutions Inc., Ridgeland, MS; and Scott Williams, Fastening Solutions Inc., Madison, MS Jerry Beauchamp, Fred Netterville Lumber Co., Woodville, MS; William Browning, retired, J. M. Jones Lumber Co. Inc., Natchez, MS; and Seth Netterville, Fred Netterville Lumber Co. Todd Reyes, Buchanan Lumber, Mobile, AL; Rick Hanna, Hanna Manufacturing Co. Inc., Winnfield, LA; Ronnie Cornelius, JRC Lumber LLC, Middleton, TN; and Bennie Buckles, J.M. Jones Lumber Co. Inc., Natchez, MS Kevin Nolan, Rives & Reynolds Lumber Co. Inc., Louisville, MS; and Bruce Reynolds, Rives & Reynolds Lumber Co. Inc., Natchez, MS Additional photos on page 53 JUNE 2017 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 39