Header: Header: Header:

SLB, USDA Enhance Collaboration

Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that builds upon the existing collaborative relationship between the SLB and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA). SLB and USDA expand a public-private partnership that seeks to grow demand for wood products as natural climate solutions. The organizations will jointly explore and coordinate additional market development, research, technological advances, and other activities to expand the use of wood in the built environment.

“Since signing the original MOU in 2015, SLB and USDA have proudly worked together on many notable initiatives to promote and grow markets for softwood lumber in residential, commercial and multifamily construction. We look forward to continued collaboration and cooperation for the benefit of the entire softwood lumber industry,” explains Caroline Dauzat, Owner of Rex Lumber and SLB Board Chair. “Together, we’re working to accelerate the adoption of innovative wood building system solutions through strategic investments and partnerships in training and support of educational opportunities for construction professionals, sawmills in regions that have lost infrastructure, carbon and climate change resources, and the continued joint funding of WoodWorks.”

Key initiatives to accelerate adoption of innovative wood building solutions include:

Continuing joint funding of WoodWorks, a free provider of education and technical support related to the design, engineering and construction of commercial and multifamily wood buildings in the U.S.

Promoting carbon-sequestering wood as a means to mitigate climate change through responsible material selection.

Developing initiatives to expand understanding of embodied carbon, life cycle assessments, and the connection to forest management and wood construction.

Creating events to expand connections with large corporations who can use wood products to meet their sustainability goals.

Supporting university and young professional education programs by highlighting the benefits of forests and forest products and how to design and build with them.

Establishing support programs for real estate developers and owners by removing or addressing market barriers to using wood products in new market segments.

Exploring strategies and connections to sawmill investment for locations that have lost infrastructure.

The MOU was signed on September 14 during a quarterly WoodWorks Board meeting, an organization that the SLB and USDA jointly fund. Since 2014, SLB and its funded programs have achieved, through the support of wood building design and construction, a carbon savings of 20.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide or the equivalent of taking 4.3 million cars off the road for a year.

Latest News

Boise Cascade Curtails Chapman Sawmill

Boise Cascade announced an indefinite curtailment of its lumber production in Chapman, Ala. The curtailment will affect 80 positions. The plywood operations at the Chapman location are not part of the curtailment. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notification was provided to impacted employees and specifies that operations will cease on January 28, 2024…

WWPA’s Mathews Leaves A Legacy

James R. Mathews, known by most as Jim, was a WWPA Lumber Inspector and Master Lumberman, but is most remembered by his colleagues and those in the industry as a great friend and mentor. He died at the age of 74. Mathews spent 42 years working in the lumber industry. He began his career with Weyerhaeuser Co., Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1970. He worked in most of the planer mill positions until moving into the lumber grading department as a student grader in 1972…

WWPA Opens 2024 Master Lumberman Nominations

WWPA is now seeking nominations for its 2024 Master Lumberman honors, to be presented at the WWPA Annual Meeting, April 15, 2024. Master Lumberman is the industry’s highest career achievement recognition for lumber manufacturing and quality control employees working in Western sawmills…

U.S. Housing Starts Continue Upward Trek

U.S. housing starts in October increased 2% from September to a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.372 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development monthly new residential construction report…

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.

 

Subscribe/Renew

Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.