Having just come back from this field day up in the North West of Tasmania
http://www.pft.tas.gov.au/home/home_articles/north_west_tree_growers_field_day
my one overriding take home message was just how important sawmillers and wood processors are to the future of the forest industry.They are the front line troops.
If they are struggling to survive then the forest industry doesn’t stand a chance. If they aren’t sending out constant positive supporting messages to tree growers then the forest industry is dead!!!!!
The sawmill we visited yesterday was trying hard to stay afloat, to remain viable, but they had no energy or resources to send positive messages or support to tree growers.
The forest industry in Tasmania is in crisis.
And our politicians play politics.
The field day was great, but the over riding message was one of despair and chaos.
And we are facing a 12 month bitter, divisive State election campaign where the forest industry will be used for political gain.
Oh Tasmania!!!
http://www.pft.tas.gov.au/publications/market_information
The 2016 Wood Processor Directory is now available from the Private Forests Tasmania website.
I’ve reviewed these Directories in previous years:
https://blackwoodgrowers.com.au/2015/10/07/tasmanian-primary-wood-processor-directory-2015/
This Directory is the sum total of “market information” that the forest industry in Tasmania wants the general public to see. Apparently the expectation is that farmers will rush out and invest in growing trees because of this directory. Or is it simply there to assist in the salvage of what remains of the private forest estate?
The Directory is a listing of 42 of the estimated 51 primary wood processors believed to be operating in the State of Tasmania. It has been primarily developed to help private forest owners with logs for sale to identify potential buyers as well as enabling the forest owner to more easily locate and contact primary wood processors. The Directory also helps the listed primary wood processors to source logs from…
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New Zealand Cypress Market Report
And one VERY switched on sawmiller!!
This has little to do with farm grown Tasmanian blackwood, but in terms of where I wish the forest industry in Tasmania was right now, this is a fantastic example. In fact I would rate this little piece as one of the best things I’ve read in my 40 year career as a forester:
http://www.nzffa.org.nz/specialty-timber-market/headlines/member-profile—macdirect/
It’s a shame it’s hidden away in a corner of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) website so that very few people will ever read it.
I suspect Murray Grant, Director/Owner of MacDirect Ltd., didn’t set out to write a cypress market report. But that is exactly what this is. This “member profile” is jam packed with lots of useful information for existing and potential cypress growers.
Most Tasmanians would only know macrocarpa cypress as large scraggly farm windbreak trees. Only a handful of Tasmanians know that this tree is fast growing and produces a high value, high quality, durable timber. New Zealand farmers have been growing it in commercial plantations for 40 years. There are only a handful of small cypress plantations in Tasmania.
MacDirect Ltd is NZ’s number 1 Building Grade Macrocarpa supplier.
https://www.macdirect.co.nz/
To me the thing that makes Murray Grant unique is that he’s not just thinking about how to improve his sawmills profitability; he’s not just thinking about the logs that will be coming into his sawmill tomorrow or next week.
He’s thinking about the logs that will be harvested in 10, 20 and 30 years time!!
He’s thinking about the trees that need to be planted tomorrow!!
The major priority of EVERY sawmiller is NOT to produce profitable sawn timber! That’s the easy part of the business!!
Given that timber takes 30+ years to grow, the major priority of every sawmiller is to ensure that farmers are growing more (profitable) trees for wood production to meet market demand.
Sawing up logs is the easy part!!!
And Murray Grant knows this when he says:
We would love to hear from any farm foresters who are keen to work closely with us to grow plantations into the future, get our perspective on silviculture for the marketplace and/or look at log price and harvesting.
Murray Grant knows the critical part that sawmillers (and the market generally) play in ensuring their own future.
Murray Grant is a hero!
He needs a medal!!
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Posted in Commentary, New Zealand, Uncategorized
Tagged MacDirect Ltd