LSLA Continued from page
LSLA Continued from page 24 “what happens in the overseas markets determines our domestic Hardwood market.” He backed up that statement by noting that 41 percent of all U.S.-produced grade lumber is exported today. He said that number will increase soon. “Lumber prices for all wood species are now determined by exports,” Snow said. To assist member lumber suppliers, AHEC is strategically located around the globe, such as in Mexico City, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Osaka and Washington, DC. Snow its members face. They are: • Finding new markets for grade lumber • Finding new applications • Capitalizing on green credentials “In the U.S. we are consuming much less grade lumber than 20 years ago,” Snow said. He added that this is a “structural change” in the U.S. However, he noted the positive side to this is the fact that overseas lumber consumption is up, which gives domestic lumber suppliers an opportunity to market their grade lumber. Top export markets currently for U.S. lumber are China, Europe, Canada, Vietnam and Mexico, Snow noted. He added that China, which exports large amounts of furniture, imports a wide and White Oak. Michael Burket, Springs Window Fashions, Grayling, MI; Ann VandeHei and Amanda Baumann, GB Pallet Inc., Green Bay, WI; Brenda Haskill, Michigan DNR, Gaylord, MI; and Tim Kassis, Kretz Lumber Co. Inc., Antigo, WI Bill Hendrix, Brewco Inc., Central City, KY; Mike Schulke, Tigerton Lumber Co., Tigerton, WI; Al Quinney, Menominee Tribal Enterprises, Neopit, WI; and Tom Johel, U-C Coatings LLC, Buffalo, NY 40 MARCH 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE
Rob Paradise, Devereaux Sawmill Inc., Pewamo, WI; Patrick Mc- Bride, MacDonald & Owen Lumber Co., Sparta, WI; Jason Brettingen, Kretz Lumber Co. Inc., Antigo, WI; Diane Beauchamp, MacDonald & Owen Lumber Co.; Peter McCarty, PHL Equipment Inc., Eau Claire, WI; and Todd Breitenfeldt, Kretz Lumber Co. Inc. Scott Lilley, Granite Valley Forest Products, New London, WI; Steve Peters, Rockland Flooring, Rockland, WI; Ryan Peterson, Northern Hardwoods, South Range, MI; and Dave Sebastian, Riverside Sawmill Inc., Muscoda, WI To assist its members in increasing their presence among overseas buyers and markets, AHEC connects with archi- eral technical and grade seminars and attending multiple tradeshows yearly. AHEC has many such events scheduled for 2017. Get more information at www.ahec.org. During the second day of the LSLA meeting, LSLA President Gus Welter, of Granite Valley Forest Products, gave the Call-To-Order to begin the morning’s annual membership meeting, in which the election of new board members was held. Later that day, Fred Souba Jr., the new chief state forester for Wisconsin, gave the Department of Natural Resources erald Ash Borer, the status of the Northern Long-Eared Bat, vention, including available aid to private landowners. Seven other speakers addressed LSLA attendees. These included: Libby Ogard, of Prime Focus LLC; Scott Everett, LSLA Michigan legislative consultant; Gunnar Bergersen, LSLA Wisconsin legislative consultant; Dana Lee Cole, executive director of the Hardwood Federation; Dave Leucinger, of the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation; and Bill Dupont and Andrew Hughes, of Acuity Insurance Co. Additional breakout meetings held during the winter Please turn the page MARCH 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 41
