|
|
View vidoes and follow us on... |   | |
|
|
|
Wood Education and
Resource Center Update November 16, 2012 |
|
|
North American Thermally-Modified Wood Standards Development Forum Held
October 25, 2012
Pat Donahue from the Natural Resources Research Institute was a key organizer of the development forum.
The Natural Resources Research Institute, part of the University of Minnesota - Duluth, coordinated the first ever forum about the thermal wood modification industry in the United States. WERC partially funded this effort (Award Number 2011-DG-089). The forum provided an overview of thermally-modified wood technology and resulted in an initial conceptual plan to further pursue this emerging industry by forming an industry association and developing product standards. Professionals from as far away as Hawaii, Canada, Denmark, and Germany participated. View forum details here. A follow-up Webinar is planned for December 13. Information about this Webinar will be added to the Web site soon. For additional information, contact Pat Donahue at 218-720-2705. |
|
North Carolina State University Wood Products Extension Program Successfully Concludes Two WERC-funded Projects
Joe Denig, Wood Products Extension Specialist with the North Carolina State University, discusses how to scale logs.
North Carolina State University's Wood Products Extension Program recently completed two WERC-funded projects (Award Numbers 2011-DG-056 and 2011-DG-057). One focused on local wood market opportunities, and the other on a series of workshops targeted to small wood products business. Project findings, presentations, and Webinars can be viewed here and here. Of particular interest is a series of seven Webinars, each approximately 1 hour long, that includes interactive discussions on marketing-related topics. Local wood products marketing Webinars can be viewed here. |
|
Update on WERC's Woody Biomass Technical Support Team
The WERC Woody Biomass Technical Support Team has cooperated with several engineering firms to develop a team approach to providing preliminary assessments and technical assistance to facility owners and managers considering the use of woody biomass as an energy and power source. Since 2009, the benefits of using woody biomass in facilities have included over $4.5 million in annual operating savings, over $5.2 million in capital cost savings, and an annual net CO2 offset of over 35.5 metric tons. View other program details here. For additional information, contact Lew McCreery at 304-285-1538. |
Next Urban Wood Utilization and Marketing Quarterly Webcast/Conference Call:
Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 10:00 am Eastern time
This Webinar will address opportunities for using low-value urban wood residue for local thermal heating needs and combined heat and power needs. This Webinar will provide a way for people who process urban tree removals to connect with professionals who work in the woody biomass thermal heating field. To join the Webcast, connect to this Web link. For the audio portion, call 888-858-2144 and use participant code 7578516.
View past Webcasts here. For additional information, contact Ed Cesa at 304-285-1530. |
Urban Forest Products Alliance
 In 2009 and 2010, discussions began in the Lake States area about a common vision of putting all wood from urban trees to good use. Leaders and experts from a variety of disciplines, including forestry, tree care, wood processing, and green building, formed the Urban Forest Products Alliance (UFPA) to advance the sustainable recovery and the highest and best use of products from urban forests. The alliance has formed a LinkedIn group that now has more than 450 members to share information and encourage discussion about urban wood utilization. To learn more about the UFPA, contact Jessica Simons at 517-851-2372 or write to info@urbanwood.org.
Urban Forest Products Alliance LinkedIn group. |
|
Follow-up Webinar on North American Thermally-Modified Wood Standards Development Forum
Thursday, December 13, 2012, 2 P.M. Eastern (or 1 P.M. Central)
This Webinar will continue the discussion started during the October 25 forum about developing draft standards and forming an industry association for thermally-modified wood manufacturers in North America. Sponsors include the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota - Duluth, Lakehead University Wood Science Testing Facility, and WERC. Webinar details will soon be posted here. Contact Pat Donahue at 218-720-2705 for more information. |
|
**************************** |
Wind Wood Utilization
Wind Wood Utilization is an information hub for those who are preparing for, responding to, or recovering from major wind events as well as using downed and damaged timber and woody debris that result. |
|
Next Generation Wood Stove Design Challenge Update
The Alliance for Green Heat is conducting a wood stove design challenge and technology competition to create the "next generation" cordwood appliance that can heat an average-sized American home. Stoves will be professionally tested on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and evaluated by a panel of expert judges. November 1 was the deadline to enter the competition. Forty teams are competing. Click here more information or contact John Ackerly at 301-841-7755. |
North American Forest Sector Outlook Study: 2006 - 2030
Published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Food and Agricultural Organization. View the report here. |
|
Forests of the Northern United States
This publication provides a broad overview of forests in the 20-state region that is bounded by Maine, Maryland, Missouri, and Minnesota. It was authored by nine people across the region and is accompanied by a Web site that describes current resource conditions, unique forest characteristics, and the challenges faced by this tier of States. The report's findings also highlight the complexities facing those making today's forest management, policy, and investment decisions that, in turn, will prepare and shape the region for a sustainable future. |
Hardwood Checkoff Program
The Hardwood Checkoff is an initiative led by a group of U.S. hardwood industry leaders who have developed a Commodity Checkoff program for the hardwood industry. Checkoff programs are industry-funded research and promotions programs tailored to a specific commodity. For additional details, click here. |
|
Major Uses of Land in the United States, 2007
View this USDA Economic Research Service report here. |
|
Profitable Firewood Processing Workshop and Webcast
September 27, 2012 (Award Number 2011-DG-057)
This workshop provided an educational and networking event for the firewood processing industry and presented the latest knowledge on processing, kiln drying, and marketing firewood. The Webcast includes these presentations:
- Introduction and Overview (Harry Watt, North Carolina State University (NCSU))
- Current Status of the Firewood Industry (Scott Salveson, Director, National Firewood Association)
- Current Firewood Research Project at West Virginia University (Liz Basham, WVU Research Student)
- Overview of Insect Quarantines (Justin Thaxton, USDA APHIS)
- Who Is Buying Firewood? (Harry Watt, NCSU, Wood Products Extension)
- New York Firewood - Learning What Works and What Does Not in the Firewood Producing Business (Forbes Narch, Firewood Processor Business Owner)
- Forest Management Practices to Complement the Firewood Industry, Consulting Foresters Panel
- Firewood Processing Equipment (Marcus Steigerwaldt, Multitek)
- Dry Kilns, Heating Systems, Schedules, Management, and Maintenance (Niels Jorgenson, Kiln-Direct)
- Wood Stove Emissions and the Movement to Modernize Wood Heating in the U.S. (John Ackerly, President, Alliance for Green Heat)
|
|
2012 Wood Industry Week @ WERC
View a series of workshops here. Topics include ROMI 4.0, enhancing economic competitiveness, developing new marketing strategies, mass customization, lean manufacturing, making effective use of technological advances, product costing, and small and medium enterprises in the U.S. wood products industry. |
Biomass Thermal Energy Council's Educational Webinar Series
A series of 14 educational Webinars about emissions, combined heat and power, thermal markets, and advanced technologies, among others, was completed with the assistance of a WERC-sponsored grant. View the latest topics here. |
|
October 2, 2012: Quarterly Webcast and Conference Call on Urban Wood Utilization and Markets
Click on the links below to see PDFs of key presentations. Unfortunately, a usable Webcast recording is unavailable.
|
July 10, 2012: Quarterly Webcast and Conference Call on Ash-Urban Wood Utilization
Topics of this conference call include a forest health update; update on WERC urban wood utilization activities; update on the Tree Care Industry Association's A300 ANSI standard for wood utilization; discussion about needs and opportunities for an urban wood harvesting training curriculum and update on urban wood utilization training by State; updates on the Illinois EAB Wood Utilization Team, southeast Michigan ash-urban wood utilization activities, and Western Lake Erie Basin wood utilization working group; and outcome of an Ohio State University student industrial design class project. |
|
|
|
|
Wood Education and Resource Center Staff
Steve Milauskas, Director, (304) 487-1510, smilauskas@fs.fed.us
Ed Cesa, Deputy Director, (304) 285-1530, ecesa@fs.fed.us
Lew McCreery, Biomass Coordinator, (304) 285-1538, lmccreery@fs.fed.us
Debbie Hawkins, Office Administrator, (304) 487-1510, dhawkins@fs.fed.us
Nathan Delimont, Maintenance, (304) 487-1510, ndelimont@fs.fed.us |
|
|
|
|
|
