The mission of the Louisiana Forestry Association is to promote the health and productivity of Louisiana's forests for present and future generations through the practice of Sustainable Forestry.

The Louisiana Forestry Association was formed in 1947 to foster the practice of forestry, to rebuild the state's cut-over lands, and to build a healthy forest industry. Now, 50 years later, forests cover 48% of the state's land area and forestry is the second largest manufacturing employer in Louisiana. That is the true Louisiana success story.

The Louisiana Forestry Association today is a statewide, private, nonprofit association made up of 5,000  members, mostly large and small landowners along with foresters, employees of forest products industries, wood suppliers , loggers and related industries.

You can also keep up with the activities of the Louisiana Forestry Association on our Facebook page with up-to-the mnute notices of interest to the forestry community.

• Going to New Orleans for the LFA annual meeting: The LFA annual meeting will be Aug. 27-29 at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans. This charming hotel just completed and $11 million renovation. Read more
  

  Severance tax for 2013   The La. Forestry Commission and the La. Tax Commission have set severance taxes for 2013. Click here for info.   Supreme Court sides with forestry The U.S. Supreme Court ruled March 20 that runoff from forest roads should not be considered industrial pollution and will not require a permit from the EPA. Forest interests still want Congress to pass legislation that will make the issue ironclad.   German Pellets looking for procurement team:  The pellet company building in Urania, La. is looking to hire a procurement team. For more information, click here.   BMP Survey shows 96% compliance The numbers are just in showing a 96% compliance with recommended Best Management Practices for logging sites in the state. The previous survey showed only 74% compliance. Longleaf Field Day in Provencal A longleaf field day and tour will be Thursday, May 23 at the Kisatchie Ranger District Office in Natchitoches Parish. For a registration brochure, click here.   Alexandria Biofuels plant announced Sundrop Fuels, Inc. will build a plant off I-49 in Alexandria that will use woody biomass and natural gas to produce "green gasoline."  The company has received an investment from Chesapeake Energy. Production is expected to start in 2014 and financing is already in place. Sun Drop would use 200,000 tons of chipped green wood each year. The Southern Research Station will soon announce openings for 10 forester positions in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The work assignment will be permanent duty stations in these three states to conduct the  Forest Inventory and Analysis work. The contact for the Louisiana positions will be Kathy Tillman at kmtillman@fs.fed.us Forester needed for Temple-DeQuincy – A forester position opening has been announced for Temple. For more information, click here. Plum Creek forester position in Winnfield - Plum Creek has announced an opening in the Winnfield area. See more.

  Specialty License Plate The Office of Motor Vehicles is now selling the specialty forestry license plates. Those who signed up for number 1-100 have received their instructions. Others can go to www.expresslane.org and check special plates to receive one of your own.proceeds going to the Office of Forestry for its fire fighting fund.   Pa. judges sides with labor on H2B The federal judge in Pennsylvania has sided with the Dept. of Labor that they may be involved in setting wages for migrant seasonal workers like those used in forestry for tree planting. Hopes to stop the 70% wage increases lie with a similar case in the Florida district.   Timber Operator Class in Winnfield       The technical school in Winnfield begins a 16 week class in timber harvester and equipment operator training in June. For more information, click here.   Rayonier forester position: Rayonier is looking for an experienced forester in the Lufkin, Texas area. Click here for more details. Plum Creek forester position: Plum Creek has four open positions for resources forester in Farmerville, Joyce, Brookhaven, Miss. and Brunswick, Ga. Check out www.plumcreek.com. Forester needed for pellet plant: Biomass Power Louisiana LLC is looking for the fiber procurement manager. They require a forester to develop a team responsible for acquiring fiber for a biomass pellet plant being built at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. Submit resume to jim@biomasssecurepower.ca   Molpus has 2 forester positions: Molpus Timberlands Management has two positions for foresters in their DeRidder office. For more information, click here.

Loggers and mill operators can exclude three cents from the state sales tax on parts and labor in July 2012. Two years ago the bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to phase in the sales tax exclusion.

A logger who buys a $20,000 transmission will be able to exclude three cents of the state sales tax in July 2012 -- a $600 saving. The exemption  is removed entirely in 2013.

To receive the exemption loggers must fill out the same paperwork as they do for the equipment exemption (see above). The form to look for Under Applications for Exemptions is R-1070 and there will be special instructions for the Dept. of Revenue for this new program. The website has both the form and instructions to download. For questions or help call the Dept. of Revenue at (225) 219-7462.
 
Check the website link at http://revenue.louisiana.gov/sections/taxforms/default.aspx?code=SLS&year=2012