July - September 2006
News from Missouri
Sometime between January and May of 2007, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will be visiting all sawmills in Missouri doing the Timber Product Output survey. This survey helps us keep track of how much timber is coming out of Missouri's forest lands. It also allows us to compare how much timber is grown versus how much was harvested. So far across the state, Missouri is growing more timber than is harvested. This does not mean that your county is growing more timber than is harvested but it is a statewide average. The survey will consist of a paper form in which the MDC Forester will ask the sawmill owner a series of questions about volume harvested and how far the product was hauled to the mill. If you remember filling out a sawmill survey in the past from MDC it probably was the Timber Product Output survey. When the forester comes by with the survey, I would appreciate your cooperation in filling out this survey. It really helps me and others when questions are being asked about what is happening with the timber resources in Missouri. Another way this survey helps is it answers question when prospective new mill owners want to relocate in an area. I can tell the new mill owner how much potential timber or mill residue is available for their operation.
I have been to 46 sawmills since July. I have had some good
discussions with these mill owners. I really appreciate the time the
sawmillers took from their busy schedule explaining their ideas and
concerns. It is amazing how many sawmills there are in Missouri
(approximately 458 mills) and how the mills are contributing to the
local economy.
I want to thank all the loggers that are participating in the Professional Timber Harvester's (PTH) program from the Missouri Forest Products Association. I was skeptical of this training back when I was logging. Since my logging days, I decided there are many items presented in the PTH training that helped me do a better job both concerning personal safety and low residual tree damage. Landowners are starting to request PTH trained loggers because they too are interested in seeing the best job done on their property. If anyone is interested in attending a PTH training class or wants to see a list of trained loggers please visit MFPA's website at http://www.moforest.org or call them at 573-634-3252.
As always, please call if you have any comments on how I could enhance the Missouri Department of Conservation's Forest Products Program. John Tuttle (573)522-4115 ext: 3304.