AFA NEWSROOM V19N05

January 31, 2024

Initial PLM Course- Spanish Fort

February 7, 2024

Early Bird Discount

Extended Through TODAY 1/31!

Initial PLM Training Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in Spanish Fort at the Five Rivers Delta Center. This is our ONLY Initial PLM Training scheduled in 2024 for South Alabama.

Registration is available online by clicking the link below.Register by January 30th to receive discount pricing.

15-person minimum required class size must

be met by Friday, February 2nd.

Boise Cascade to Invest Additional $140MM to Support EWP Growth Strategy

Boise Cascade Company (“Boise Cascade” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BCC) today announced new investments in Alabama and Louisiana in support of its engineered wood products (EWP) growth strategy.

In Alabama, the Company is adding I-joist production capabilities to its Thorsby EWP mill and converting a plywood layup line to a parallel laminated veneer line at the Chapman plywood facility. The Chapman investment adds to its important integration into the Company’s EWP growth plans. In addition, the Chapman plywood facility extended employment opportunities to approximately 50 of the 80 associates affected by the recently announced Chapman lumber operations curtailment. At its Oakdale, Louisiana facility, major projects planned include the upgrade and redesign of the log utilization center, a new veneer dryer and press, and modification of an existing veneer dryer. These investments are expected to take place over a two-year period.

AFA Tuscaloosa Regional Reception

February 29, 2024

Tuscaloosa - we are excited to be heading your way. Mark your calendars, register to attend by clicking the link below, and get ready for some fun!

Special thanks to our sponsors: Warrior Tractor Company,

Alabama AG Credit, Alabama Forestry Foundation, ArborGen, First South Farm Credit, JamisonMoneyFarmer, & PRT /IFCO.

Interested in being a sponsor? Call Liz Chambers at 334-481-2135 or Anna Morgan Duke at 334-481-2129 to learn more.

Pandemic Silver Lining: Young Adults Moving Out of Parental Homes

Despite record high inflation rates, rising interest rates, and worsening housing affordability, young adults continued the post-pandemic trend of moving out of parental homes in 2022. The share of young adults ages 25-34 living with parents or parents-in-law declined and now stands at 19.1%, according to NAHB’s analysis of the 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS). This percentage is a decade low and a welcome continuation of the post-pandemic trend towards rising independent living by adults ages 25-34.

Traditionally, young adults ages 25 to 34 make up around half of all first-time homebuyers. Consequently, the number and share of young adults in this age group that choose to stay with their parents or parents-in-law has profound implications for household formation, housing demand, and the housing market.

AFA Connect

Feb 15, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

Be sure to register to attend AFA Connect every month on the third Thursday at 11:00 am CST. Join us for one-hour online presentations covering a range of forests and natural-resource related topics.

Building Materials Price Growth Plummets in 2023

According to the latest Producer Price Indexreport, growth in the average price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) fell from 15.0% in 2022 to 1.3% in 2023 (not seasonally adjusted). On a monthly basis, building materials prices rose 0.1% in December after increasing 0.1% in November (revised). Monthly price increases averaged 0.2% in 2023, down from 1.5% in 2021 and 0.7% in 2022.

The Producer Price Index for all final demand goods fell 0.4% in December, the third consecutive decline (seasonally adjusted). Most of the decline can be attributed to a 1.2% decrease in the index for final demand energy (SA). For the 12 months ended in December, the PPI for final demand goods less foods and energy increased 1.8% (NSA). The annual average increased 2.8% in 2023, the smallest increase since 2020.

As we enter into a new tax year, it’s important for both businesses and individuals in Alabama to stay informed about the latest state and federal tax law changes. The year 2024 ushers in a host of significant updates, impacting how taxpayers will need to navigate their financial responsibilities.

Cardboard Comes Out On Top

As consumers increasingly voice their environmental concerns, industries worldwide are actively seeking sustainable alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint. Not surprising, corrugated cardboard packaging has emerged as an environmentally sustainable choice, boasting benefits that other packaging materials simply can’t match. Reports and surveys, including a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) recently published by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) and the 2023 US Trend Tracker Survey commissioned by Two Sides North America, shed light on the environmental impact of cardboard packaging and illustrate why it is fast becoming the preferred choice of brands and consumers around the globe.

Alabama Forestry Foundation & Partners are Hosting Upcoming

Learn & Burns Across the State

Interested in learning more about Prescribed Fire and how it can benefit your woodlands? Join the Alabama Forestry Foundation and their partners as they host Learn & Burn events across the state.

The Montgomery County & Jackson County Learn & Burns kick off the 2024 burn season - click the links below to register. More counties to come!

Jackson County

DATE CHANGED

February 12 -February 16

Barbour County

February 26 - March 1

Cullman County

February 26 - March 1

New Home Sales Bounce Back in December on Lower Mortgage Rates

Falling interest rates in the closing weeks of 2023 helped to bring buyers off the sidelines and provide a boost for new home sales. Sales of newly built, single-family homes in December increased 8.0% to a 664,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate from an upwardly revised reading in November, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales in December is up 4.4% from a year earlier. On an annual basis, new home sales totaled 668,000 in 2023, up 4.2% from the 2022 figure of 641,000.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) is avilable now. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

February 7 - Initial PLM Training - Spanish Fort (new PLM # only)

February 12-16 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/12 thru 2/16 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 15 - 2024 AFA Connect - February 15th (1 CFE/PLM)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 26-March 1 -Cullman County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1(5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception

AFA NEWSROOM V19N04

January 24, 2024

Join us for our Public Policy Seminar: The State of Alabama’s Governance at the Grand Hotel held January 28 – 30! This Seminar is focused on Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Alabama. The room block is now full, but rooms are still available at the Grand through their website. Register now!

Reporting Required for Entities Under Corporate Transparency Act

A new federal reporting requirement for most small business entities will impact a number of farms, ranches, and agricultural businesses who have organized as a business entity such as an LLC, corporation, or limited partnership.We’ve got the answers to your questions below!

Initial PLM Course- Spanish Fort

February 7, 2024

Early Bird Discount

Expires 1/30!

Initial PLM Training Wednesday, February 7, 2024, in Spanish Fort at the Five Rivers Delta Center. This is our ONLY Initial PLM Training scheduled in 2024 for South Alabama.

Registration is available online by clicking the link below.Register by January 30th to receive discount pricing.

15-person minimum required class size must

be met by Friday, February 2nd.

Next Initial PLM Training date/location has not been confirmed.

Building Materials Price Growth Plummets in 2023

According to the latest Producer Price Indexreport, growth in the average price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) fell from 15.0% in 2022 to 1.3% in 2023 (not seasonally adjusted). On a monthly basis, building materials prices rose 0.1% in December after increasing 0.1% in November (revised). Monthly price increases averaged 0.2% in 2023, down from 1.5% in 2021 and 0.7% in 2022.

The Producer Price Index for all final demand goods fell 0.4% in December, the third consecutive decline (seasonally adjusted). Most of the decline can be attributed to a 1.2% decrease in the index for final demand energy (SA). For the 12 months ended in December, the PPI for final demand goods less foods and energy increased 1.8% (NSA). The annual average increased 2.8% in 2023, the smallest increase since 2020.

AFA Tuscaloosa Regional Reception

February 29, 2024

Tuscaloosa - we are excited to be heading your way. Mark your calendars, register to attend by clicking the link below, and get ready for some fun!

Special thanks to our sponsors: Warrior Tractor Company,

Alabama AG Credit, Alabama Forestry Foundation, ArborGen, First South Farm Credit, JamisonMoneyFarmer, & PRT /IFCO.

Interested in being a sponsor? Call Liz Chambers at 334-481-2135 or Anna Morgan Duke at 334-481-2129 to learn more.

AFA Connect

Feb 15, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

Be sure to register to attend AFA Connect every month on the third Thursday at 11:00 am CST. Join us for one-hour online presentations covering a range of forests and natural-resource related topics.

Alabama Forestry Commission’s “Celebrating 100 Years” Mural Joins Alabama Mural Trail

The Alabama Forestry Commission is pleased to announce that their mural in downtown Montgomery has been added to the Alabama Mural Trail. Located at 513 Madison Avenue, the new mural was unveiled on Thursday with a dedication and open house to officially kick off the agency’s Centennial Celebration.

“Today we dedicate this mural to the men and women of the Alabama Forestry Commission – past, present, and future – who for the last 100 years have taken seriously the commitment to protect Alabama’s forests and citizens,” said State Forester Rick Oates.

Leading Trends Affecting Global Forestry in 2024

The global forestry industry has seen its share of turbulence and uncertainty over the last year. While some areas have experienced extraordinary price drops compared to recent years, others have spiked thanks to disruptions in traditional supply chains.

Let’s take a few moments to analyze the most significant trends that affected the global forestry industry in 2023. This will help to better understand what factors may also play a role in the industry’s performance across 2024 as well.

Alabama Forestry Foundation & Partners are Hosting Upcoming

Learn & Burns Across the State

Interested in learning more about Prescribed Fire and how it can benefit your woodlands? Join the Alabama Forestry Foundation and their partners as they host Learn & Burn events across the state.

The Montgomery County & Jackson County Learn & Burns kick off the 2024 burn season - click the links below to register. More counties to come!

Jackson County

February 5-9

Barbour County

February 26 - March 1

Cullman County

February 26 - March 1

Current Professional Logging Managers -

Check The Mail!

Be on the lookout - PLM cards were mailed this week to all current PLM card holders. Want to check your current PLM status? You're only a few clicks away - follow these quick steps:

• Click the link below
• Click on PLM
• Click on Find a Professional Logging Manager
• Input ONLY your PLM number.
• Click continue
• Click on your name to see your PLM expiration date and contact information.

Land Report 100 - Who are America's Top 100 Landowners?

Rising emissions and the depletion of natural resources are of increasing concern to industries worldwide, compounding the need for more sustainable production methods. Dr Andy West, Chief Chemist at Sonichem, discusses the potential of an ultrasonic fractionation process to convert by-products of forestry and agriculture operations into valuable biochemicals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a circular economy.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) is avilable now. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

January 18 - 2024 AFA Connect - January 18th (1 CFE/PLM)

January 22-26 - Montgomery County Learn & Burn - 1/22 thru 1/26 (5PLM/5CFE)

January 28-30 - 2024 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

February 5-9 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/5 thru 2/9 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 7 - Initial PLM Training - Spanish Fort (new PLM # only)

February 15 - 2024 AFA Connect - February 15th (1 CFE/PLM)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 26-March 1 -Cullman County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1(5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception

AFA NEWSROOM V19N03

January 17, 2024

Join us for our Public Policy Seminar: The State of Alabama’s Governance at the Grand Hotel held January 28 – 30! This Seminar is focused on Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Alabama. The room block is now full, but rooms are still available at the Grand through their website. Register now!

North American Fiber Prices Fell for Most Regions in 2023

North American wood fiber prices decreased 8% year-over-year through Q4 2023 according to the Forisk Wood Fiber Review (FWFR). Continued soft demand from pulp and paper mills, decreasing foreign demand, and generally favorable logging conditions contributed to the fiber oversupply in North America.

Canadian roundwood prices increased 1% and chip prices fell 11% year-over-year. Softwood pulplogs in British Columbia were flat and rose 4% in the Maritimes for the quarter in U.S. dollars. Delivered softwood chip prices decreased 2% for Alberta, 14% for E. Ontario/Quebec and 13% in British Columbia for the year. “Canada continues to be in a state of change, particularly in the west.” according to Vickie Swanton, Forisk’s Western Region Representative. “The industry faces challenging supply scenarios, and continued weak end-markets, particularly in Asia, may lead to further declines in market activity.”

AFA Connect

Jan 18, 2024 @ 11:00 AM... TOMORROW

Join Chris Erwin, Executive Vice President of the Alabama Forestry Foundation, as he discusses AFF's Conservation Programs Benefiting Biodiversity. Given Alabama's unique abundance of natural resources & associated biodiversity, Chris's presentation will touch on several examples which demonstrate the abundance of ecosystems and species in the state. Additionally, he will cover several conservation programs sponsored by the Alabama Forestry Foundation and how their outcomes supporting biodiversity conservation in Alabama.

Make a note to attend AFA Connect every month on the third Thursday at 11:00 am CST for one-hour online presentations covering a range of forests and natural-resource related topics.

North American Softwood Lumber Production Down 5% as Demand Drops

As 2024 gets started, let’s take a few moments to reflect on how the North American lumber market moved in 2023. Across the board, we saw several noteworthy declines in production. This comes on the heels of major economic and environmental events like recession fears, mill closures and extreme wildfires.

According to ResourceWise data, total softwood lumber production in Canada and the US was at 73 million m³, down about 5% year-over-year from 2022's 77 million m³. The chart below highlights the quarter-by-quarter drops between 2022 and 2023.

Initial PLM Course- Spanish Fort

February 7, 2024

Early Bird Discount

Expires Soon!

Auburn Mass Timber Collaborative to Unite Interdisciplinary Faculty for Research, Education, Outreach

A new interdisciplinary collaboration between colleges is set to make Auburn University a leader in the rapidly growing mass timber industry.

The Auburn Mass Timber Collaborative will work to advance research, education and outreach in mass timber design and construction with a focus on the forestry, architecture, engineering and construction industries in the Southeast.

“Mass timber building technologies represent some of the most promising solutions to the challenges associated with how we build in the 21st century,” said David Hinson, associate dean and the R. Hugh Daniel Professor in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC). “Helping advance and expand the use of advanced wood building systems will translate to economic growth and jobs throughout Alabama and the region.”

AFA Tuscaloosa Regional Reception

February 29,2024

Tuscaloosa - we are excited to be heading your way. Mark your calendars, register to attend by clicking the link below, and get ready for some fun!

Special thank to our sponsors Alabama AG Credit, Alabama Forestry Foundation, ArborGen, First South Farm Credit, JamisonMoneyFarmer, & PRT /IFCO.

Interested in being a sponsor? Call Liz Chambers at 334-481-2135 or Anna Morgan Duke at 334-481-2129 to learn more.

Alabama Forestry Foundation & Partners are Hosting Upcoming

Learn & Burns Across the State

Interested in learning more about Prescribed Fire and how it can benefit your woodlands? Join the Alabama Forestry Foundation and their partners as they host Learn & Burn events across the state.

The Montgomery County & Jackson County Learn & Burns kick off the 2024 burn season - click the links below to register. More counties to come!

Montgomery County

January 22-26

Jackson

County

February 5-9

Current Professional Logging Managers -

Check The Mail!

Be on the lookout - PLM cards were mailed this week to all current PLM card holders. Want to check your current PLM status? You're only a few clicks away - follow these quick steps:

• Click the link below
• Click on PLM
• Click on Find a Professional Logging Manager
• Input ONLY your PLM number.
• Click continue
• Click on your name to see your PLM expiration date and contact information.

A Sustainable Technology Sending Ripples Across Industries

Rising emissions and the depletion of natural resources are of increasing concern to industries worldwide, compounding the need for more sustainable production methods. Dr Andy West, Chief Chemist at Sonichem, discusses the potential of an ultrasonic fractionation process to convert by-products of forestry and agriculture operations into valuable biochemicals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a circular economy.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) is avilable now. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

January 18 - 2024 AFA Connect - January 18th (1 CFE/PLM)

January 22-26 - Montgomery County Learn & Burn - 1/22 thru 1/26 (5PLM/5CFE)

January 28-30 - 2024 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

February 5-9 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/5 thru 2/9 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 7 - Initial PLM Training - Spanish Fort (new PLM # only)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 26-March 1 -Cullman County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1(5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception

AFA NEWSROOM V19N02

January 11, 2024

AFA Connect - January

Jan 18, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

Join AFA Connect each month on the third Thursday of the month at 11:00 am CST for a one-hour online presentation on forests and natural-resource related topics.Thursday, January 19, 2024, AFA Connect features Alabama Forestry Foundation's Executive Vice-President Chris Erwin.

AWC Supports Push for More Mass Timber Construction

TheAmerican Wood Council (AWC) issued a statement from president and CEO Jackson Morrill the announcement out of COP28 that 17 countries, including the United States, are pushing for the use of moremass timber in construction.

“AWC applauds the U.S. government’s leadership in endorsing a stated commitment to develop and implement policies and practices that reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment through greater use of sustainably sourced wood products.

ResourceWise's 2024 Forest Products Industry Predictions

In 2023, the pulp, paper, and forest industries navigated through a series of dynamic market shifts and unanticipated challenges. From fluctuations in demand and prices to a growing focus on biofuel possibilities, the sector experienced noteworthy transformations.

As per our annual tradition, ResourceWise is pleased to present our top insights and forecasts for the pulp, paper, and forest products industry in 2024. Here are five key predictions shaping the upcoming year.

Initial PLM Course- Spanish Fort

February 7, 2024

Housing market predictions: Six experts weigh in on the real estate outlook in 2024

No other phrase has defined the 2023 housing market as much as the “mortgage rate lock-in effect” – a phenomenon that brought the industry to a standstill, putting downward pressure on everything from inventory levels to home sales.

The pandemic-era sub-5% mortgage interest rates that85% of mortgage holdersare locked in to kept homeowners from selling their home and buying another at elevated interest rates, which peaked at 7.79% the week ending Oct. 26, according to Freddie Mac.

Upcoming Learn & Burns

Increase your exposure and gain confidence in conducting a

prescribed fire in your woodlands. Attendees will experience a

day long “start to finish” prescribed burn.

Each person will be assigned to a burn crew managed by an

Alabama Certified Burn Manager. Participants will have all day

access to observe, ask questions and experience igniting and

hold a burn line in a variety of fuels, terrains and stand conditions.

Current Professional Logging Managers -

Check The Mail!

Be on the lookout - PLM cards were mailed this week to all current PLM card holders. Want to check your current PLM status? You're only a few clicks away - follow these quick steps:

• Click the link below
• Click on PLM
• Click on Find a Professional Logging Manager
• Input ONLY your PLM number.
• Click continue
• Click on your name to see your PLM expiration date and contact information.

Cross Laminated Timber Market is Anticipated to Reach USD 3.0 billion, at a CAGR of 10.6% CAGR by 2031

The global cross laminated timber market is estimated to flourish at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2023 to 2031. Transparency Market Research projects that the overall sales revenue for cross laminated timber is estimated to reach US$ 3.0 billion by the end of 2031.

Insurance companies increasingly recognize the safety and reliability of CLT structures, leading to reduced premiums. As CLT gains prominence for its fire-resistant properties and structural integrity, insurers offer more favorable terms, boosting CLT adoption in construction projects.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) is avilable now. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

January 18 - 2024 AFA Connect - January 18th (1 CFE/PLM)

January 22-26 - Montgomery County Learn & Burn - 1/22 thru 1/26 (5PLM/5CFE)

January 28-30 - 2024 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

February 5-9 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/5 thru 2/9 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 7 - Initial PLM Training - Spanish Fort (new PLM # only)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception

AFA NEWSROOM V19N01

January 04, 2024

Georgia and Alabama Propose a Deal to Settle Their Water War Over the Chattahoochee River

Georgia and Alabama are proposing a settlement to a long-running dispute over water flows in the Chattahoochee River, although the deal won’t address objections from groups in Florida over how much water ultimately flows into the environmentally sensitive Apalachicola River.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, both Republicans, said Tuesday that they will ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve a plan that would guarantee minimum water flows at Columbus, Georgia and in southeast Alabama. They also want the Corps of Engineers to affirm the current minimum level on Lake Seminole, which releases water from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers into Florida’s Apalachicola River.

The deal could end Alabama’s lawsuit against the Corps of Engineers for changes it made in 2017 in how it operates dams on the Chattahoochee, including at Lake Lanier northeast of Atlanta. That lake and the portion of the Chattahoochee just downstream is the main water supply for much of metro Atlanta.

AFA Connect - January

Jan 18, 2024 @ 11:00 AM

Join AFA Connect each month on the third Thursday of the month at 11:00 am CST for a one-hour online presentation on forests and natural-resource related topics. Thursday, January 19, 2024, AFA Connect features Alabama Forestry Foundation's Executive Vice-President Chris Erwin.

Single-Family Starts Surge on Falling Interest Rates

Single-family construction surged in November as lower mortgage rates helped to assuage affordability concerns and unleash pent-up demand for housing.

Overall housing starts increased 14.8% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The November reading of 1.56 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if development kept this pace for the next 12 months. Within this overall number, single-family starts increased 18% to a 1.14 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. However, single-family starts are down 7.2% year-to-date. The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condos, increased 6.9% to an annualized 417,000 pace.

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Is Offering Deer Management Assistance Program Seminars Across the State

Alabama’s Cooperative Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) is a comprehensive, no cost program which utilizes site-specific deer harvest data and cooperator education to position the landowner/land manager to better manage their lands for a healthy deer herd and wildlife habitat through development of site-specific deer harvest recommendations.

Latest Testing Further Documents Mass Timber’s Fire Safety

Developers and other project owners in pursuit of low-carbon construction methods are increasingly choosing mass timber for their projects. But to do so in larger and taller buildings, they must reassure civic leaders, fire and rescue services and insurance underwriters—along with the public—that these projects are fire safe. New research, supported by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian Wood Council and federal and provincial governments, is doing just that. A recent series of tests, dubbed the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program, show, even in worst-case fire scenarios, mass timber buildings perform similarly to noncombustible construction.

Alabama Forestry Foundation and Partners Scheduled to Host First Learn & Burn of 2024 in Montgomery County - Jan 2024

Increase your exposure and gain confidence in conducting a

prescribed fire in your woodlands. Attendees will experience a

day long “start to finish” prescribed burn.

Each person will be assigned to a burn crew managed by an

Alabama Certified Burn Manager. Participants will have all day

access to observe, ask questions and experience igniting and

hold a burn line in a variety of fuels, terrains and stand conditions.

Initial PLM Course- Spanish Fort

February 7, 2024

Forest Carbon Markets: Reality Check and Pricing Trends

In the Q2 and Q3 2022 editions of the Forisk Research Quarterly, I wrote about forecasting forest carbon prices and tracking market trends, and noted that, “the supply of forest carbon credits, unlike forest supplies themselves, require enrollment and validation processes that are somewhat disconnected from actual demand.” Recent reporting affirms this reality while putting into stark context the status of carbon emissions relative to sequestration efforts and forest carbon pricing.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) is avilable now. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

January 18 - 2024 AFA Connect - January 18th (1 CFE/PLM)

January 22-26 - Montgomery County Learn & Burn - 1/22 thru 1/26 (5PLM/5CFE)

January 28-30 - 2024 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

February 5-9 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/5 thru 2/9 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 7 - Initial PLM Training - Spanish Fort (new PLM # only)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception

AFA NEWSROOM V18N50

December 20, 202 3

AFA Connect - “Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation in Alabama”

TOMORROW - Dec 21, 2023 @ 11:00 AM

Join Patrick O’Neil, water resource consultant, retired from the Geological Survey of Alabama.With over 800 larger aquatic species (fishes, selected reptiles and amphibians, mussels, snails, and crayfishes) Alabama ranks as the most aquatically biodiverse state in the union. This unique pattern of diversity can be directly linked to Alabama’s geographic location in North America, climate patterns, water availability, geologic footprint, and varied aquatic habitat types. Alabama’s high aquatic biodiversity does lead to conservation challenges requiring the cooperative efforts of landowners, resources agencies, businesses, and conservation organizations and associations. Fortunately, these groups are working together in unique ways resulting in restored populations of uncommon species and significant improvements of Alabama’s aquatic resources.

Two Additional Cases of CWD Confirmed in Northern Lauderdale County

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announces that two additional cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in hunter harvested, white-tailed deer have been confirmed in northern Lauderdale County in northwest Alabama. The two additional deer bring Alabama’s total number of confirmed CWD cases to five.

CWD in Alabama’s deer herd was first detected in Lauderdale County in January 2022. After the first case was confirmed, all of Lauderdale and Colbert counties were designated as a CWD Management Zone (CMZ).

FFRC Press Statement:

To Ensure Climate Resilience, Forest Service Must Manage National Forests

“The Forest Service and BLM were tasked with reviewing the lands under their stewardship to determine the extent of “mature” and “old growth” forests. They found 39 million acres of mature and old growth forests on National Forest System Wilderness, Roadless, and National Monument areas alone. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands have over 112 million acres of mature and old growth forest, more than 175,000 square miles. This is an area larger than all but three states, and is larger than the states of West Virginia, Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island combined.

It is important to note that these impressive acreages of old growth and mature forests were found based on a review of less than 20 percent of total forest area of the United States. Notably, the review did not examine millions of acres of forests found in the National Park System, which is not open to commercial timber harvest.

We are extremely concerned the ANPR is a pretext for a broad and open-ended effort to fundamentally reorient the Forest Service – and the National Forest System in particular — away from its core mission absent a clear mandate to do so from Congress.

Alabama Forestry Foundation and Partners Scheduled to Host First Learn & Burn of 2024 in Montgomery County - Jan 2024

Increase your exposure and gain confidence in conducting a

prescribed fire in your woodlands. Attendees will experience a

day long “start to finish” prescribed burn.

Each person will be assigned to a burn crew managed by an

Alabama Certified Burn Manager. Participants will have all day

access to observe, ask questions and experience igniting and

hold a burn line in a variety of fuels, terrains and stand conditions.

What Cardboard Prices Tell Us About the State of the Economy

Cardboard prices are pointing to better times ahead.

Producers are lifting prices for the thick paper used to make delivery boxes for the first time since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates early last year.

It is a sign that the inventory hoarding that characterized the postpandemic recovery is ending. If history is a guide, more expensive cardboard also suggests the economy is revving up.

Some analysts warn, however, that it is too soon to tell if the price increases will stick and be repeated, or if they are a one-time adjustment in a market whipsawed by the unique circumstances of the pandemic.

Forest Carbon Markets: Reality Check and Pricing Trends

In the Q2 and Q3 2022 editions of the Forisk Research Quarterly, I wrote about forecasting forest carbon prices and tracking market trends, and noted that, “the supply of forest carbon credits, unlike forest supplies themselves, require enrollment and validation processes that are somewhat disconnected from actual demand.” Recent reporting affirms this reality while putting into stark context the status of carbon emissions relative to sequestration efforts and forest carbon pricing.

Single-Family Starts Surge on Falling Interest Rates

Single-family construction surged in November as lower mortgage rates helped to assuage affordability concerns and unleash pent-up demand for housing.

Overall housing starts increased 14.8% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.56 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The November reading of 1.56 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if development kept this pace for the next 12 months. Within this overall number, single-family starts increased 18% to a 1.14 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. However, single-family starts are down 7.2% year-to-date. The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condos, increased 6.9% to an annualized 417,000 pace.

Online CE Available For PLM & CFE

Still need CFE hours? Check out AFA's online CE Classes available for CFE & PLM credit.... New 2023 Bundle (5 Hours) will be available 11/10/2023. Click the link below to see all the classes available.

January 22-26 - Montgomery County Learn & Burn - 1/22 thru 1/26 (5PLM/5CFE)

January 28-30 - 2024 AFA Public Policy Series - The State of Alabama's Governance

February 5-9 - Jackson County Learn & Burn - 2/5 thru 2/9 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 26-March 1 -Barbour County Learn & Burn - 2/26 thru 3/1 (5PLM/5CFE)

February 29- 2024 AFA Tuscaloosa Area Regional Reception