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This quarterly 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 forest marketing and outreach specialist Matt Watkeys, or visit us on the web.
Governor Whitmer has declared a state of emergency following the unprecedented ice storm and severe weather outbreaks that have impacted all of Michigan over the past week. This declaration makes available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in designated areas. The Michigan State Police have put up a website dedicated to the ice storm: 2025 Northern Michigan Ice Storm.
FRD has mobilized an Incident Management Team to assist with recovery efforts, both external and internal to the DNR. While we are in the very early stages of ‘storming, norming, and forming’ a coordinated response to the ice storm event it is very apparent that state and national forest and park resources in northern Michigan have been severely impacted by the storm and that the road to recovery will be long and difficult. The DNR Forest Resources Division has begun the process of identifying issues that we will need to address and mitigate in the near and long-term in response to the storm, including reopening of roads, impacts to existing timber harvest contracts, immediate salvage harvest priorities, and short and long-term forest implications for forest health and productivity.
Weight restrictions were being placed in a few Michigan counties on state highways as of Feb. 26, 2025, with many more counties enacting restrictions on Monday, March 3, 2025. Stay informed of these changes either via email, or a web app. To sign up via email, see this link here: Michigan DOT. For the County Road Association of Michigan information and the downloadable app for Android and iOS devices, use the link here: Seasonal Weight Restrictions - Michigan County Road Association
The 2023 Primary Mill Survey Report, interactive mill map, and other industry data have been updated by DNR staff and are available to view on the DNR's forest products industry webpage.
Thank you to the mills that participated in the survey! Your input is appreciated. Also, the Michigan DNR will be collecting information for the 2024 Primary Wood Using Survey soon and could use help from mills by completing these questionnaires.
Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production – The White House
On March 1, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order. This directive aims to boost domestic timber production while also emphasizing forest health, wildfire mitigation, and economic benefits. The order acknowledges the importance of sustainable forest management practices to support the construction sector, bioenergy, and other key industries.
Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production: A Summary and Its Implications
This paper examines the U.S. Forest products industry's economic performance in 2022 compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, highlighting its resilience amid pandemic disruptions. Despite a slight decline of 0.27% in direct forest product industry jobs, the industry's value-added total increased by 14.46%, with growth observed in labor income and gross output.
However, the extent of changes varied across sectors: while paperboard container manufacturing, paper mills, and sawmills saw substantial value-added increases (23%, 45.45%, and 54.66%, respectively), pulp mills, wood office furniture manufacturing, and stationery product manufacturing experienced declines (6%, 12.5%, and 3.4%, respectively). These findings reveal the uneven changes within the industry and underscore the challenges faced by certain subsectors.
Overall, the study reinforces the forest products industry's crucial role in supporting both regional and rural economies. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry professionals, emphasizing the need for targeted support to enhance the sector's resilience and ensure its continued growth and economic contribution.
The residential improvement market is the largest consumer of lumber. Spending in this sector has surged in recent years, averaging $240 billion in 2022-24. This is a 21 percent jump compared to the $198 billion average from 2019 to 2021. This increase is likely due in part to rising interest rates, which have motivated homeowners to invest in their existing properties rather than face the higher costs associated with moving. Demand on North American Mills is expected to grow 1 percent in 2025 and 4.8 percent in 2026.
2025 Lumber Markets Outlook - Wood Business
For highly detailed information on sawlog and cordwood prices, the Lake States Forest Data Network Prime database has a massive compilation of prices with more than 5 years of historical data for comparison for 28 different regions. Forest Data Network’s Prime Database includes data from thousands of sales from a variety of public and private landowners in the Lake States. For instance, the quarterly cord data from Wisconsin contains prices on 300,000 cords sold. Michigan’s data for the 4th quarter includes information from the sale of more than 27 million board feet of sawlogs. More information on how to get access to the database is available online.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a hot topic these days and ever changing. What we can expect, is that this will impact forest product industries around the world in many ways. Any forest product, from logs and boards to cellulosic products and chips, and everything in between, will need a geolocation attached in the due diligence records to assure the forest products have been sourced from sustainable forests under sustainable guidance.
For now, the enactment of the regulations is delayed until Dec 30, 2025. However, some Michigan mills are already including this information in their procurement data. The Michigan DNR Forest Resources Division staff have spoken with several large forest industry mills and manufacturers about their EUDR data needs.
Any state timber sale contract holder that will need to comply with EUDR rules can contact the timber sale program manager, Brenda Haskill. “We are preparing to include necessary timber sale data to assist our customers in EUDR compliance. The more contract holders we talk to and understand the needs thoroughly, the better data we can provide.” said Haskill. She can be reached at 989-370-9557 or by email.
European Union Deforestation Regulation | What Has Changed in the Past Few Months - Forest Resources Association
Lawmakers hope to negotiate with the European Union to ensure the U.S. is recognized as a country that wisely manages its forest resources and must be shown as not contributing to deforestation. With the potential removal of a “no-risk” category for participating countries from the EUDR, these agreements can be a roadmap to help remove these “non-tariff” barriers. “While we collect and share an immense amount of data and information already, compliance with EUDR will require significant changes in how we collect, share, and report data – something that cannot happen overnight,” the letter said. “The US Forest sector is pivotal to the (US $3.5 billion) EU-U.S. trade relationship, supplying key raw materials essential for numerous European industries including construction and paper goods.”
New EUDR Deal? Trump Urged to Strong-Arm EU for 'No Risk' Pathway | Wood Central
One of the primary drivers behind the latest rally in lumber futures is the ongoing reduction in North American production capacity. In 2024, sawmills across North America have faced significant curtailments, leading to a production decline of approximately 3.1 billion board feet. This sharp reduction in output is exacerbating supply shortages, which in turn is fueling higher lumber futures prices.
Canadian sawmills, in particular, have been hit hard by production cuts. Many have been forced to limit operations due to increased operating costs and market uncertainty. With these supply constraints tightening the market, lumber futures traders are pricing in further potential gains. Read more here:
Lumber Futures Surge on Supply and Tariff Issues | Markets.com
"The U.S. does not need to import a third of the softwood used in home construction, as the Wall Street Journal states, and Canada's share of the U.S. market is at its lowest level in decades," according to Andrew Miller, chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and CEO of Stimson Lumber Company. "Since 2016, U.S. mills have added eight billion board feet of production capacity and produced 30 billion additional board feet of softwood lumber, more than offsetting the decline in unfairly traded Canadian imports."
Strong views on lumber tariffs | HBS Dealer
Landscape Forms, established in 1969, specializes in manufacturing custom outdoor furniture. “Landscape Forms has been a Michigan-based company since its inception over 55 years ago. We value our partnership with the State of Michigan as the support provided was pivotal in our decision to expand our campus in Comstock Twp./Kalamazoo,” CEO Marjorie Simmons said in a release from the state. “The new state of the art, sustainable manufacturing facility will allow us to attract and retain top manufacturing talent in Michigan to support our future growth.”
The company plans to build a new, 30,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its current home at 7800 E. Michigan Ave. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation approved the $2.5 million grant on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The $70 million building will expand manufacturing capacity in Michigan. The 125-plus new jobs will have wages starting above regional median wage.
Landscape Forms plans to break ground in the spring 2025 and be fully operational by early 2028.
Outdoor furniture maker plans $70M manufacturing facility | Woodworking Network
Make your voice heard! Please complete this survey regarding our 2025 Hardwood Federation Priority Policies as they relate to your business so that we may best serve your interests in 2025. Categories include the Environmental Benefits of Wood Products, Export Promotion, Federal Forest Management, Regulations, Tax Reform, and Trade. Take the survey here: Hardwood Federation Policy Survey 2025
Michigan’s voluntary higher credential program for professional foresters continues to succeed since its revamp in 2018. Nearly 150 foresters are enrolled in the program across the state. The program and its participants are overseen by the Michigan Board of Foresters. The group of 7 foresters on the board meet monthly and handle all facets of operations. Program registrants must complete continuing education credits and pay registration fees every two years to maintain accreditation.
The Registered Forester and Board of Foresters webpages provide information on the board meeting schedule, how and where to participate in meetings, and how to apply for the program. Michigan's registered foresters are highly qualified professional degreed foresters and natural resource professionals who can help private forest landowners manage their forest land.
Provide comments about the input schedule online through the MI State Forest Map. You may also submit comments and request meeting attendance details by contacting a unit manager. Download a compartment review schedule.
Govenor Gretchen Whitmer announced 18 new pobs coming to Onaway following Precision Hardwoods' expansion and investment of nearly $12 million for a new and modernized sawmill that will increase their capacity for customers.
“Today we’re announcing good-paying jobs in Presque Isle County as we build on our statewide economic momentum,” said Governor Whitmer. “I’m grateful to Precisions Hardwoods for expanding in Michigan, and I look forward to working with my partners in the legislature to continue creating Michigan jobs, growing Michigan industry, and investing in Michigan communities. Let's keep helping anyone ‘make it’ in Michigan.”
Precision Hardwoods, located in Onaway, Presque Isle County, specializes in the production of high-quality, locally sourced wood products. The company is expanding and modernizing its current facility by adding a new 45,000-square-foot sawmill building that will enable increased production capacity to meet growing customer demands.
April 10-11: Michigan Society of American Foresters Annual Spring Meeting - Treetops Resort, Gaylord Michigan.
April 16: 20th Annual Sustainable Forestry Conference - Florence, Wisconsin.
Michigan SFI Certification and Trainings
April 24-15: 2025 Michigan Association of Timbermen’s 2025 Convention - Kewadin Casino, Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
May 6-8: Michigan Forest Biomaterials Institute Wood Residuals Summit - Traverse City, Michigan.
May 5-7: Harwood Lumber Grading Short Course - Kirtland Community College.
June 17-19: Hardwood Lumber Grading Short Course - Antigo, Wisconsin.
June 20: Sawing, Edging and Trimming Course - Antigo, Wisconsin.
Both courses above will be sponsored by the Lake States Lumber Association, and more details will be coming soon. Check their website for announcements, and sign up for their newsletter, The LOG.
The Forest Industry Safety and Training Alliance (FISTA) has many upcoming events and educational sessions as well. A few are listed below:
Timber Cruising session, April 22, 2025, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
BMP for Water Quality, April 24, 2025, Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Log Scaling and Grading, April 29, 2025, Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
Check back on their website often for more information and to sign up: Training Calendar - FISTA - Forest Industry Safety & Training Alliance, Inc.
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