National Hardwood Magazine - September 2020

ONTARIO Continued als.

ONTARIO Continued als. Supplies are ample to meet buyers’ needs. With stain concerns for whitewoods, production of this species and others are being avoided. Production of Soft Maple declined dramatically since mid-March due to the COVID-19 impact. Contacts note that the risk of stain and degrade for logs which are expensive was a concern. There is still some production being done for this species, but not as high as was reported in the spring and last winter. Contacts also note that kilndried supplies are plentiful and ready to be shipped, but that supply is high compared to demand. Soft Maple is also competing for market share with other imported and domestic species, resulting in declined prices. Sales of Red Oak are meeting demand, which is better for FAS and Select rather than for common grades. Contacts note similar conditions for kiln-dried stocks. Finding quality and affordable White Oak logs are a challenge. With the upswing in the housing sector in both the U.S. and Canada, along with the phased reopening of businesses, sales of Oak strip flooring have improved slightly. With the demand on the rise, manufacturers have taken this opportunity to increase production. Some manufacturers have added hours to their work schedules, while others resumed suspended shifts, as is being seen in many forestry and forest product sectors. Of course, the stringent safety regulations against the coronavirus must be respected for employees to return to work. Some who were exposed to the virus are working with reduced staff. Despite the restrictions and the economic difficulties, manufacturers are optimistic that these issues will be resolved and a semblance of normalcy will return eventually and as market demand improves. Manufacturers of container and pallets note that demand for finished goods has improved, with supply to meet these sectors’ needs. Prices for these products have also been reported as lower. The Minister of Natural Resources, the Hon. Seamus O’Regan, announced recently the federal government’s intent to provide up to million to offset additional costs associated with COVID-19 safety measures for small and medium enterprises in the forest sector, including tree-planting operations. In order to maintain the manufacturing of essential products and ensure seedlings are planted on schedule amid COVID-19, federal, provincial and territorial governments, along with industry, worked collaboratively to put in place measures to protect workers and communities. The government intends to work with the provinces and territories to deliver this funding, which will preserve jobs for forest sector workers, including approximately 7,000 tree planters this year. The funds cover extra costs for sanitizing stations, additional accommodations and/or transportation, facilities, 68 SEPTEMBER 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

and services to maintain social distancing and personal protective equipment. In addition, it will help support the scheduled planting of 600 million trees, which will help government deliver on its commitment to plant 2 billion trees incrementally over the next ten years, a key part of Canada’s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. air fl MARS HILL JUNE 2014_Layout 1 5/19/14 2:24 PM Page 1 On the financial side, the new Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, announced the Bank would leave the benchmark interest rate near zero for the next two years and possibly even longer. The benchmark interest rate will be at 0.25 percent “until economic slack is absorbed so that the two percent inflation target is sustainably achieved.” “Interest rates are very low and they are going to be there for a long time,” Macklem told reporters on a conference call. “Canadians and Canadian businesses are facing an unusual amount of uncertainty, so we have been unusually clear about the future path for interest rates.” The Bank of Canada offered its first estimates of future economic growth since the crisis began, predicting that gross domestic product could contract 6.8 percent this year, before rebounding by 4.9 percent in 2021 and 3.2 percent in 2022. It could be a couple of years before we return to precrisis levels of economic activity according to these estimates. As to when the unofficial moratorium on interest-rate increases would end, it was deduced from data and the Bank’s latest quarterly economic report that this would not happen until late 2022 at the earliest. n QUEBEC Continued from page 12 The regionally important Hard Maple sales to moulding and millwork, wood components and cabinet manufacturers have improved, with sales to wholesalers having dropped. Demand has risen, but has not reached its maximum momentum, stated contacts. No. 1 Common and Better inventories are said to be going down while the No. 2A supplies are still high in regards to buyers’ needs. Prices vary accordingly. The No. 1 Common and Better grades are performing better than the lower grades for Soft Maple. The industrial sector has declined since the pandemic, and so a weak demand for industrial products forced some sawmill operators to cut more lumber. Demand is keeping green stocks shipped with business being price sensitive. Birch is gaining popularity due to its often being used Please turn the page We’ve been a leading force in air flow design for almost 3 decades, with 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-bladed propellers, designed and manufactured exclusively for the lumber industry. Now, they are even more capable with higher- temperature capacity for certain applications. We combine this technology with unsurpassed customer service, design consultation and technical expertise, so whatever your air flow need, you can trust SmithCo to deliver. Phone 503-295-6590 • 800-764-8456 U.S. smithcomfg.com sales@smithcomfg.com Contact NO ONE KNOWS LIKE SMITHCO Mars Hill, Inc. at (866) 629-9089 for obtaining the best looking White Poplar 230-057_Smithco_National Hardwood Magazine_r1_v1 copy.indd 1 you’ve ever seen. We like to say “It’s so white, it’ll blind you!” We offer our White Poplar in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses in Sap 1F & Btr, 1 Com and/or FAS/1F grades in truck load or container load quantities only. ATT: PALLET - STAKE - INDUSTRIAL MFRS! Hardwood Lumber Rough Green 4/4xRWxRL • 4/4x6xRL • 8/4xRWxRL • 6/4xRWxRL SYP Heat Treated 1x4x40 • 1x6x40 • 2x4x40 • 2x6x40 2x4x48 • 1x2x12”-36” SYP KD Stakes Other sizes from can to cant! All inquiries welcome! Dense HDWD Stakes, Chisel Point 1 1/8x1 1/8 Truckload lots available, quoted F.O.B. your yard. (866) 629-9089 Fax: 601-671-0736 e-mail: mwood@marshillinc.com www.marshillinc.com We accept major credit cards W 1/29/20 12:22 PM SEPTEMBER 2020 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 69