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This twice-yearly newsletter from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest Utilization and Marketing Program shares information on DNR programs, economic reports, industry news, professional development opportunities and more. If you know of an event or opportunity that may be of interest to our partners or have questions, email timber sales and utilization specialist Matt Watkeys, or visit us on the web.
Michigan DNR hosts a publicly accessible GIS portal where you can find upcoming management and forest harvest plans up to 2 years in advance. There is also a public input option for each stand level management prescription. This may be highly beneficial for procurement foresters, loggers, and mills that bid on State timber harvests, and could help prioritize and strategize operations in the short and long-term. Access and instructions here: Mi State Forest Application
 Northern Hardwoods Lumber in Atlantic Mine, MI is anticipating $4,750,000 in capital investment with the support of a $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund in addition to a $1,000,000 Wood Innovations grant from the US Department of Agriculture. The funds will not only help protect approximately 85 jobs in the area but will also upgrade the facility with a new biomass boiler and back-pressure steam turbine. Northern Hardwoods is working with another Upper Peninsula business, Messersmith Manufacturing, a biomass boiler manufacturer and installer, who will provide a “turnkey” product and integrated system. Messersmith Manufacturing provides boiler design, fabrication and integration and is a trusted national leader in biomass boiler systems.
In the United States each year, there is a missed potential opportunity to recover an estimated 46 million metric tons of urban lumber. Urban Ashes, a pioneer in the urban wood industry, has partnered with the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to launch their first Circular UrbanWood Triconomy (CUT Model), an innovative municipal wood recycling program built upon decades of expertise.
This collaboration prioritizes local economies, reduces municipal costs and landfill waste, increases carbon sequestration, develops local wood resources, and creates career and business opportunities for justice-impacted youth and formerly incarcerated individuals.
The nearly $550 million expansion of the facility includes a new through-air-dried (TAD) paper machine and three converting lines that will produce Brawny paper towels and other premium private label brands for the retail market.
The new TAD machine adds thousands of tons of tissue production capacity to the Broadway mill, which already operates seven other paper machines and several converting operations. The entire expansion project is massive, spanning approximately 600,000 square feet. With this investment, more than 100 full time jobs will be provided to expand the overall employment at the facility to over 1,000 people.
 Billerud International has announced investments in upgrades worth approximately $127 million at production facilities in the United States.
The majority, worth about $109 million, will go toward its graphic paper mill in Escanaba, Michigan, where earlier this year the company canceled a project to convert the plant into a cartonboard production facility. The company said the Escanaba investment and an approximately $18 million investment in its pulp and paper mill in Quinnesec, Michigan, will enable it to transition to paperboard production in North America.
Billerud has reiterated its goal to “gradually evolve toward packaging materials to optimize capacity utilization.” Learn more about these Michigan investments striving to strengthen its performance in Europe with strategy updates online.
The Producer Price Index report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for August to September shows plywood displacing softwood lumber as the year-over-year deflation leader. See how the ten key industry commodities fared in the latest report.
The year 2024 has been tumultuous for various markets and supply chains globally, with disruptions stemming from diverse sources such as natural disasters, labor strikes, and geopolitical tensions.
ResourceWise has collected information that can help forest products managers anticipate and mitigate risks.
 As most companies have learned by now, sustainability is no longer optional; it's a necessity. With the global push towards greener energy solutions, biofuels are gaining traction.
Specifically, the demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is expected to see exponential growth. By 2025, global SAF demand is projected to reach 1.6 million tons, increasing to 20 million tons by 2030. Importantly, the increase in demand in 2025 is being driven by the first large-scale implementation of mandates.
Another promising avenue is the use of crude tall oil, a byproduct of the pulp producing process. By investing in machinery to extract crude tall oil or transitioning facilities into biorefineries, businesses within the forestry sector can capitalize on this trend.
The greatly anticipated European Union Deforestation Regulations has responded to concerns raised by EU member states, non-EU countries, traders and operators that have stated that they would not be able to fully comply with the rules within the current timeline.
Therefore, the EU Commission proposed postponing the application date of the deforestation regulation by one year.
Could new government tariffs and immigration plans mean more pain than gain for the US Lumber Sector? Approximately 30% of the softwood lumber consumed in the US is imported and domestically produced lumber cannot replace that volume without higher prices.
 An increasing average age of red pine forests in Wisconsin is concerning to forest products producers and was a focus of the November meeting of the Wisconsin Council on Forestry in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, there are parallel but different concerns about the state’s oak population, which is mainly growing on private land. Read about barriers to red pine and oak regeneration in Wisconsin online, as well as the full Council on Forestry report.
This comes on the heels of the struggle of replacing oak forests in Wisconsin. Michigan is in a similar situation and is developing guidance on gap silviculture and natural pine treatments.
The Northern Hardwood Lumber Association has published an article on the U.S. Military’s goal to incentivize the use of a sustainable, local material over an imported tropical species that has been classified as critically endangered: Apitong and Keruing wood.
While the United States struggles with a national wildfire and smoke crisis, Russia has become one of the primary suppliers of so-called “Blood Timber". This influx of Russian timber is occurring despite sanctions on many Russian exports due to the Ukraine war. Environmental and trade experts warn that American reliance on Russian timber may inadvertently support Russia’s ongoing conflict.
 A real Christmas tree is a holiday tradition for many families and provides several great experiences through the process of selecting your tree, decorating, and celebrating. However, once used, they usually end up in a landfill. Here are some great ideas for repurposing your tree for a short time.
Please avoid using your Christmas tree for fish habitat. This idea is not the best and may require permits in some areas. In Michigan, EGLE must be contacted prior to installation in a waterway.
In fiscal year 2024, Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024, the DNR Forest Resources Division sold approximately 1,059,157 total cords of wood from 51,991 acres of forest land in Michigan. Of those totals, Good Neighbor Authority accounts for 123,430 cords sold from 7,685 acres of federal forest land.
Under a Good Neighbor Authority agreement, the DNR continues to assist our federal counterparts with preparation, advertising and administration of timber sales on the three National Forests in Michigan.
The Plan of Work for FY24 was for timber sales to total 56,966 acres between Good Neighbor Authority and state forest land. The 9% reduction in sold acres can be attributed to several factors including a higher-than-normal number of sales receiving no bids.
Questions about timber sales, harvest acres and volumes and other details can be directed to Timber Sales and Utilization Unit Manager Brenda Haskill. She can be reached at HaskillB@michigan.gov or by phone at 989-370-9557.
The Louis Larkin Chicquette Memorial Scholarship "Lumber Lou" will award a $5,000 scholarship to any student pursuing a post-secondary degree in the Wood and Forest Products Industry. The scholarship aims to support students who share Lou's enthusiasm and commitment to the forest products industry, encouraging them to pursue their careers with the same fervor and dedication that Lou demonstrated throughout his life.
The scholarship may be awarded to a junior or senior enrolled in a four-year institution or a second-year student enrolled in a two-year institution. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited Forestry/Wood Products program for the full school year, not graduating mid – term.
Don't delay! Applications are due Jan. 8.
 The Michigan Association of Timbermen has announced a $2,000 scholarship with support from GreenStone Farm Credit Services and the Michigan Forest Association. The scholarship supports students pursuing forestry and related fields. The Warren Suchovsky Scholarship Fund traditionally offers $1,000 to a Michigan student each year. This year, Greenstone Farm Credit Services pledged $500, as well as the Michigan Forest Association, bringing the total scholarship to $2,000.
Details can be found online.
Jan. 15 - 17: Lake States Lumber Association 2025 Winter Meeting - Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Feb 4: 2025 Wood Producers Meeting (Lower Peninsula) - Kirtland Community College (Contact Matt Watkeys)
Feb 11: 2025 Wood Producers Meeting (Upper Peninsula) - Marquette Township Hall (Contact Matt Watkeys)
April 9: Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Spring Fling - Green Bay, Wisconsin.
April 16: Sustainable Forestry Conference - Florence, Wisconsin.
Sept. 4-6: Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Logging Expo - Escanaba, Michigan.
Michigan DNR Forest Management Input Schedules: 2027 activities
2025 Qualified Logger CORE and Continuing Education Classes are being scheduled over the next few weeks. Keep checking the website for dates and locations.
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