What happens at a "Small Log Conference" anyway?

This past month, Dean Fellman attended the Small Log Conference in Coeur d’Alene, ID as a representative of CMN/SDI through the Center for First Americans Forestlands. If you've ever wondered what a Small Log Conference is for or what happens at one, check out the post and pictures below:

Coeur d’Alene has a population of about 45,000 and is located 35 miles East of Spokane, WA. The small log conference is a biennial event dating back to 2005, and therefore on its fourth iteration. There has been a growing emphasis over the last 10 to 15 years to develop tools and technology to better utilize smaller diameter logs (round wood).  This is due to an increasing percentage of available timber that is “small”, or roughly under 10” in diameter.  On the western side of the U.S. this is due primarily to second and third cut timber, salvage operations due to forest fires and insect mortality (i.e., mountain pine beetle), and short lived species (such as lodgepole pine) that mature in about 70 years and depending on growing conditions, only reach 7-10” in diameter before biological decline (dying). Most of the species harvested in western states are softwoods (needle bearing trees). Mills out west are geared toward repetitive high volume, and thus many are not efficient in converting a wide range of log diameters.  Hence, some of the mills (and technology) has evolved to accommodate small diameter round wood – logs 6-8” in diameter.  Most of the lumber produced goes into stud (construction) lumber.  Other applications for using these logs include pulp and biomass, but transportation costs generally prohibit shipping the logs (or chips) long distances.  In the eastern U.S. the predominant species harvested are hardwoods (leaf bearing trees).  These mills generally are much lower in volume of output and break down a log to recover higher grades of lumber as well as maximize yield.  While they can accommodate smaller diameter logs, there is very little grade wood in logs under 10” and the process is inefficient (compared to larger logs).  The eastern U.S. and in particular the Lake States (Upper Midwest) have historically enjoyed a robust paper industry, which is the primary destination for most small diameter hardwood.  However, increasing harvest and transportation costs combined with a declining paper industry have raised awareness of the need to consider small diameter technology and biomass applications in the eastern U.S.  The industry must adapt to the resource available.

The Small Log Conference is organized by the Forest Business Network, which is essentially a promotional, advertising, and consulting group centered on the forest products industry and located in Missoula, MT.  The conference is heavily commercialized, and while academia and government were reasonably well-represented, the focus is on industry.  The context of the meeting was also geared primarily to the region of the U.S. known as the Pacific Northwest (PNW).  This region is divided by the Cascade Mountains, which separate the coastal forests next to the Pacific Ocean from the “inland” forests extending east of the Cascades.  While some tree species are present on both regions, they typically have dramatically different characteristics due to rainfall amounts and other environmental factors.  Lumber and trees are referred to as being either inland or coastal (i.e. inland Red Cedar).

The first day of the conference was a full day of tours in NE Washington.  These included a Western Cedar mill (Columbia Cedar), a wood pellet stove manufacturer (Hearth & Home Technologies), and a small diameter – high volume softwood lumber manufacturer (Vaagen Brothers).  What these tours emphasized was the trend by area manufacturers to identify core competencies and then specialize in those areas.  They each find their niche (what they do exceptionally well) and then use common principles such and lean manufacturing and computer optimization to maximize throughput and efficiency.  The result is what appeared to be industry clusters that complimented one another regionally, rather than directly competing against each other. Over 60 people attended the tours. The second and third days of the conference were essentially speaker/audience format with groups of between 2 and 4 speakers forming a “panel”.  These panels represented specific topics or themes such as Innovative Small Log Technology, Biomass/Biofuels/Bioenergy, Economic Development, etc.  There was also a rather large group of Chinese and Korean delegates that were invited to facilitate dialogue and networking related to overseas exporting.  Over 200 people attended the main conference.

While there was a lot of good information and positive energy involved in all aspects of the conference, there was also an underlying somber tone.  The PNW is a major area of timber production nationally, with Oregon claiming the title of highest timber producing State in the country for many years running.  This is also an area where the timber production and related economies were devastated by the “Spotted Owl” controversy some 20 years ago.  The recent collapse of the housing industry has taken a similar toll.  While climate change was not the directly covered in any of the panels, it was mentioned more than once as an area of concern.  However, with these challenges emerge new opportunities for those able and willing to innovate, adjust, and adapt.