The Rural Voice, 2006-04, Page 56BERNIE McGLYNN
LUMBER LTD.
BUYER OF HARDWOOD BUSHLOTS
Wholesaler - Hardwood Lumber
Box 385, R.R. 2,
Wingham, Ont NOG 2W0
BERNIE McGLYNN
Ph/Fax (519) 357-1430
SAWMILL -
R.R. #5, Mildmay, Ont.
(519) 367-5789
4
DAVID E. GREIN
LOGGING
Buyer of Standing
& Felled Hardwood Timber
& Bush Lots
• Competitive Pricing
• Quality Workmanship
R.R.#1 Neustadt (519) 799-5997
KELLY PORTABLE
SEED CLEANING
I,B, SHARER
'ar
Grain, Beans and Forages
Bag or Bulk
Convenient and
Economical
Serving Mid -Western
Ontario
Ripley, Ontario
NOG 2R0
395-5960
1-888-844-1333
52 THE RURAL VOICE
Woodlot Management
few local mills have closed their
doors rather than making significant
investment in technology required to
stay competitive.
Technology will continue to
advance. Keeso mentioned that x-
ray technology developed for use at
airports and borders as a result of the
911 disaster is now being developed
for use in sawmills so logs can be
scanned into computer programs that
then calculate optimal saw cuts to
maximize yield.
Lumber markets continue to cycle
based on international demand.
Strong demand for hard maple
continues as the domestic market
currently prefers fine-grained. lighter
hardwoods. He mentioned that hard
maple is viewed as an exotic
hardwood in some parts of the world.
Conversely, open grained woods
are not as popular right now, so
demand and prices for red oak and
ash have fallen off. He recalled a
time in the 1970s when maple also
saw strong prices due to demand for
bowling alley floors and pins in
Japan.
Keeso said imported woods also
impact on domestic demand and
mentioned that species such as Baltic
birch, Russian oak and Russian beech
seem to be fashionable right now in
some urban areas.
Finding a market for species that
aren't moving well can sometimes be
a real challenge, yet must be done as
sawmills can't just take one species
when buying a woodlot. As an
example, most local soft maple over
the past few years was sold to one
large furniture producer. When their
sales suddenly dropped off, it became
difficult to sell soft maple lumber.
Keeso said much of their soft
maple is now sawn into railway ties,
a product he would not have
previously imagined producing at
their mill as their focus had been on
graded lumber. He predicted strong
demand for railway ties will continue
as high fuel prices result in renewed
interest in transport of goods by rail.
The increased value in the
Canadian dollar has had a major
impact on the sawmilling business as
with farming and other industries
depending heavily on exports to the
U.S. Keeso recalled in the late
1990s getting $1.50 Canadian for an
American dollar, but said for a recent
shipment of lumber only received
$1.13.
Keeso said landowners interested
in selling logs from their woodlot
should consider getting the trees
marked by a consultant. He
suggested they should not be
pressured into a quick sale and should
ask for references so they can check
to see what kind of a job the log
buyer has done in other woodlots.
He also said that woodlot owners
should join a woodlot association so
they can learn about their woodlots
through networking with other
woodlot owners.
If you have questions about
woodlot management or ideas for
topics you would like to see covered
in a future column, please contact
Steve Bowers at 519-482-3661 or
steve.bowers ql` mnr.gov.on.ca.
Arbour Day
TREE SALE
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, April 29
8 AM - 1 PM
Grey Saub!e Conservation Authority
ADMINISTRATION CENTRE
237897 Inglis Falls Road
(just south of Owen Sound)
Native & Non-native Trees
and Wildlife Shrubs
(seedlings & whips -
purchase one or more)
Cash or Cheque Only!
- Displays
- Coffee &
Refreshments
- BBQ
(519) 376-3076
admin @g reysau ble. on. ca
www.greysauble.on.ca