News & Events

Weekly WrapUp 3/13/24

TALENT PIPELINES: Investing in Idaho’s forestry workforce – Shawn Keough and Forest Products businesses in Idaho. MORE HERE

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY: PotlatchDeltic innovates to protect soil productivity amid timber harvesting. MORE HERE

VIDEO: Rick Dancer at Oregon Logging Conference, featuring U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. MORE HERE

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The US Forest Service rolls Ford F-150 Lightnings into the fleet. MORE HERE

Weekly WrapUp 3/6/24

DIGITAL TOOLS: University Of Idaho uses AI and other digital tools to improve forest health with ‘smart forestry.’ MORE HERE

EXPOSURE TO THE WOODS: Bringing Newcomers to the Forest Industry. MORE HERE

EYE ON CONGRESS: Here’s what’s in the first spending package. MORE HERE

Weekly WrapUp 2/28/24

WILDFIRE STRATEGY: USDA announces $500M for wildfire reduction. MORE HERE

TREATMENTS: USFS, BLM considering wildfire prevention work on 11,000+ acres southeast of Bonners. MORE HERE

STUMP PODCAST: Tim McEntire of the Montana Logging Association talks about his work and what MLA does for the forest products sector in Montana. MORE HERE

HUNGRY CRITTERS: Bark-eating creature had a feast on trees in Idaho. Can you guess the animal? MORE HERE

PAYING HOMAGE: Smokey Bear celebrates 80th birthday with new PSA honoring his legacy of wildfire prevention. MORE HERE

RESILIANT AND DURABLE: Grant supports research on cross-laminated timber. MORE HERE

Weekly WrapUp 2/14/24

COMMUNITY PROTECTION: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest launches Dixie-Comstock fuel reduction project. MORE HERE

RECOGNITION: Sonora woman named Associated California Loggers’ first-ever Lady Logger of the Year. MORE HERE

DEAR JOE: Coalition of governors ink letter opposing burdensome forest rules. MORE HERE

MELT RATES: Research shows that wildfires can have major impacts on snowpack. MORE HERE

2024 IDL Log Scaling School March 12-14

The Idaho Department of Lands will hold its Log Scaling School March 12-14, 2024, at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel and a local log yard in Lewiston. Each day, time will be spent in the classroom and the log yard. This is an introduction to scaling for anyone interested in learning more about scaling, training to become a scaler, or preparing to take the state scaling licensure test.

To Register: Please send an email confirmation of your intention to attend the school, along with your contact information (name, phone, representing) to: SMcCormick@idl.idaho.gov and list IDL Scaling School registration in the subject. Scaling school will be offered free of charge this year. The registration deadline is February 26, 2024.

If you can, please provide your own hard hat and reflective vest. If you have any of the following, please bring them as well: scale stick, 50 foot logger’s tape, scaler’s hatchet, data recorder or scale sheets, clip board and a small calculator. We will have some supplies available to borrow.

This year’s course qualifies for up to 20 Idaho Pro-Logger credits through ALC.

For those needing accommodations, there is a block of rooms reserved at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel for March 12-14. Please make your reservations as soon as possible by calling the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel at (208) 799-1000. Reservations are available on a first come, first serve basis. To get the group rate, indicate you are with the IDL Scaling School.

Questions? Please contact Shannon McCormick at (208) 666-8641 or SMcCormick@idl.idaho.gov For those interested in pursuing a scaling career with the Idaho Department of Lands, additional training and/or internships may be available in preparation for the 2024 Idaho Board of Scaling Practices licensure exam. Contact Shannon for more information.

In addition, North Idaho College is offering an online self-study course that could be helpful to students seeking a scaling license. Find more information online: https://northidaho.augusoft.net/ or call: 208-769-3333

Annual Wildland Fire Refresher RT-130 Training

Inland Forest Management has opened registration for the Annual Wildland Fire Refresher RT-130 training classes! Head over to www.inlandforest.com/shop/ to take advantage of early bird rates and reserve your spot in the class. All classes will be held at the Ponderay Event Center in Ponderay, ID.

Class dates are as follows:

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 (early bird registration ends March 13th, 2024)

Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 (early bird registration ends March 26th, 2024)

Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 (early bird registration ends May 22nd, 2024)

 

Weekly WrapUp 1/31/24

EVALUATING OPTIONS: Feds to draw up plan to return grizzly bears to Idaho, Montana. MORE HERE

CLEARWATER REGION: IDFG and USFS come together for elk and forest health. MORE HERE

BUREAUCRACY: As old growth forests burn, Biden launches misguided policy to ‘protect’ them. MORE HERE

COLUMN: Awake at the wheel, how fatigue impacts log truck driver safety. MORE HERE

Weekly WrapUp 1/24/24

COMING UP SHORT: Winning legal argument raised too late in Idaho forest project lawsuit, judge rules. MORE HERE

COMMENTARY: Old growth is burning up in wildfires. This calls for better land management. MORE HERE

BITTERROOT ECOSYSTEM: Feds launch effort to update grizzly bear recovery plan in Idaho. MORE HERE

WORKING FORESTS: Idaho expands Forest Legacy Program, adding 33,000 acres of timberland. MORE HERE

Weekly WrapUp 1/17/24

LISTEN: The impact of wildfires and how Idaho is protecting against them. MORE HERE

GREEN LIGHT: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests announce decision on Limber Elk project to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. MORE HERE

VIDEO: How Managing Forests and Using Wood Benefits the Climate. MORE HERE

WORLD RECORD: Tallest Mass Timber Building in North America to Break Ground in 2024. MORE HERE

LEAP Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for this spring’s 2024 LEAP Update and 3-Day LEAP courses.

The Logger Education to Advance Professionalism (LEAP) program is a nationally acclaimed University of Idaho Extension program. It began at the request of loggers who want to improve their skills, document and market their services and communicate more effectively with family forest owners and managers. Credits are available to participants to fulfill continuing education requirements of the Idaho Pro-Logger Program.

Please note that you must register through the University of Idaho at https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/forestry/programs. Below are dates and locations for this spring’s LEAP courses.

LEAP Update Course:

The 2024 LEAP Update is being offered at three different locations. The class runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST. Check-in begins at 7:15 a.m. The cost is $45 per person.

March 5 – Lewis-Clark State College Williams Conference Center, Room 801-899, 4th Street, Lewiston, Idaho
March 6 – American Legion Hall, 1138 E. Poleline Ave., Post Falls, Idaho
March 7 – Boundary County Fairgrounds, 6567 Recreation Pk Rd, Bonners Ferry, Idaho

3-Day LEAP Course:

The 3-Day LEAP course is being offered at two locations and costs $75 per person.

April 23 to 25 – UI Pitkin Forest Nursery, 1025 Plant Science Rd., Moscow, Idaho
April 30 to May 2 – UI Extension at Kootenai County University of Idaho Research Park, 958 South Lochsa Street, Classroom 302, Post Falls, Idaho.

Questions? Please contact the UI Extension nearest to you:
Moscow/Lewiston – (208) 885-7718
Kootenai County – (208) 292-2525
Boundary County – (208) 267-3235