What's the difference?
Governor Mills has encouraged Maine small businesses affected by the COVID-19 virus to apply for loans, but which one would work best for your business? Paycheck Protection Program vs. Economic Injury Disaster Loan? Check out links to information on disaster loans and how to access them.
COVID-19 Resources and Guidance
The COVID-19 virus brings many challenges for Maine's forest products industry, but fortunately there also are resources and guidance that can help. MFPC is working with Gov. Janet Mills’ administration, the congressional delegation and national trade associations. We have compiled and will constantly update information about what's happening, what options are available to your business and how you can respond.
What can drones do? A lot
In Maine's forests, drones (aka UAVs or UAS) are contributing to sustainable forest management plans, monitoring harvest operations, finding forest fires, tracking invasive insect infestations, search and rescue, and much more. Drone enthusiasts everywhere are finding new uses for them, including catching fish, washing windows, and selling homes 68 percent faster than houses without aerial images.
Innovation is Fueling Maine’s Forest Products Industry
Sen. Susan Collins: Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products industry has helped drive local economies and sustain rural communities. As the economy changes, this vital industry is evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century. I have seen firsthand this evolution around our state in recent months. In addition, they are the hosts for our increasingly important recreation economy and uphold the Maine tradition of public access to private lands.
Intro to mechanical engineering
We often hear that students in northern Maine may no longer see job opportunities in the forests, with wood and with wood products. If that's true, it may be because students don't heard about the wind turbines, bridges, composites, pulp and paper, health and engineering research. Fortunately Project Learning Tree's statewide network includes outstanding teachers who seek to bring the best of Maine to their students.
Importance of forest products industry to Maine's economy
Last spring MFPC added one question to the Critical Insights on Maine survey, a comprehensive, statewide public opinion survey of registered voters, which has been documenting the attitudes, perceptions, and preferences of Maine’s residents for more than 20 years. “On a scale from 1 to 7, how important to Maine’s economy is the state’s forest products industry? (1 not at all important to 7 very important).”
What's up with Maine's white pine?
Ken Laustsen, biometrician for the Maine Forest Service, reported on the status of white pine at the MFPC Board meeting Nov. 9, saying “Eastern White Pine is still ranked statewide as #3 in total live merchantable volume and #1 in sawtimber volume,” Laustsen said. “Over the last 20 years, concerns have been occasionally raised about the status and prospects of this species.The presentation addresses both issues, looking at the forest type’s core area and the broader statewide trends.”
After a dark decade, secondary wood manufacturing rebounds
Secondary wood manufacturing once played an enormous role in Maine’s rural economy, with mills in many towns across the state. Then from roughly 1998 to 2008, a flood of imports put many mills out of business. In 2003 alone about a dozen closed. But the survivors learned how to survive in global markets and their industry is now growing again.
Check out Maine's budworm website
A new spruce budworm website, designed to be a comprehensive communications outreach tool and resource for the coming outbreak in Maine, has been launched by a statewide task force.The website provides facts about the natural cycle of the budworm, current information regarding the approach and potential impacts of the next outbreak, an historical backdrop, and interactive maps on current outbreak status and citizen science. It also includes an interactive Q&A on the site, and the ability to request experts to ...
Amazing lynx photos
MFPC just sent comments, reports and photos regarding the Canada lynx status review. Foresters working for a number of MFPC members in the northern forests are seeing a lot of lynx. Even if you just want to look at the great pictures of beautiful lynx, this report is worth a look.
Maine's 'Battle of the Budworm'
Most Mainers barely recall the last spruce budworm infestation, when the northern forests turned red as they came under attack. Nor do they realize how budworm has shaped Maine’s history, economy, laws and culture. But those who lived through the 1970s outbreak are watching with dismay as another outbreak heads our way. They vividly remember the devastation, including moth flights “so severe that they literally had to be scraped off the road with snow plows.”
Join us!
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine's forest economy, including landowners, paper mills, sawmills, wood pellet plants, biomass energy plants, loggers, truckers, primary and secondary wood processors, and related service industries. The primary purpose of the Council is to provide a supportive economic and public policy climate for the forest products community and promote a healthier, more vital forestry sector.About MFPC
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine’s forest economy. The MFPC represents the diverse needs of Maine’s forest products community. Our members are landowners, loggers, truckers, paper mills, tree farmers, foresters and lumber processors, but they are also bankers, lawyers and insurance executives. We feel we represent anyone who has an interest in seeing the Maine woods remain a viable, sustainable resource.
We serve our community by gathering information, bringing groups together to discuss concerns, hosting events, conducting tours and helping people find common ground.
We represent our members at the Maine Legislature, across the state, in Washington D.C. and across the nation.
The MFPC Board is very active, and holds weekly policy teleconferences during each legislative session to discuss legislation of interest and arrive at a position.
Drones are changing forestry in Maine and across the world
Think of Maine’s 17.6 million acres of forestland – as well as the rest of the world — as a giant laboratory where ingenious new uses for drones are discovered all the time. Drones are contributing to sustainable forest management plans, monitoring harvest operations, finding forest fires, tracking invasive insect infestations, search and rescue, and much more.“Right now, we’re using UAVs to help identify wet areas that need to be checked ahead of spray operations and to monitor active harvest operations for BMPs and utilization,” said Chris Fife of Weyerhaeuser. Read more.
It will take time for markets to return to pre-COVID levels
By Executive Director Patrick Strauch
Calendar of Events
MFPC Golf Tournament
adminassist@maineforest.org
MFPC Exec. Meeting
Let’s preserve public access to private land
Maine has a tradition that’s unique in our nation. Maine landowners have traditionally allowed the public to use their properties for recreational activities, while in other states access to private land is often severely restricted. The Council’s report — Understanding public access to private working forests in Maine — is designed to help preserve that tradition. Read more.
Covid-19 resources
Mills Administration Announces Update to Restarting Maine’s Economy Plan
Maine Expands Contact Tracing to Limit the Spread of COVID-19
Rural Maine businesses not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may be able to get funding under the Business and Industry CARES Act Program. Loans must be used as working capital to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Application deadline is June 22, learn more. USDA is hosting a webinar to provide an overview of requirements: Wednesday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m. Register
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Proposed rule would restrict bear feeding
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has received a petition to restrict the feeding of bears with the required number of signatures (150+) from John Glowa, president of the Maine Wolf Coalition. See attached Beer feeding rule-making Proposal and fact sheet. No public hearing has been scheduled, but comments will be accepted until Friday, June 5, on the proposal to amend Chapter 16 rules to establish a bear feeding season, establish a bear feeding permit and set limits on the number of bear feeding permits issued annually.