GFC eUpdate [Nov. 15, 2012]

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GFC eUpdate

Contents

Big Buzz for Bioenergy in Georgia

Big Buzz for Bioenergy in Georgia
Forest Management Issues Roundup
Evaluating and Planning for Prescribed Burning
in Georgia
GFC Seedlings are the Way to Grow
Upcoming Events
Southern Forest World Day Camp
11/19/2012 Waycross, GA
Meeting the Challenges for Forest
Landowners 11/27/2012 Athens, GA
Energy Solutions for the Southeast
11/28/2012 - 11/30/2012 Tifton, GA

New and existing energy technologies will be
showcased at the 2012 Energy Solutions for the
Southeast Conference, November 28-30 in Tifton.
Bioenergy, solar energy, biomass energy, waste to
energy, fossil energy and more will be featured;
visit www.seeoptions.org for details.

GFC's Utilization Department has provided assistance to five new
forestry mills on Georgia's horizon:
Piedmont Green Power - Barnesville, Lamar County. The 54 MW biomass electricity plant began commercial operation in October 2012. It will utilize 600,000 tons/year of fuel chips and logging residues. www.piedmontgreenpower.com. SEGA Biofuels, LLC - Nahunta, Brantley County. A former wood briquetting plant is being converted to a wood pellet plant, creating 35 jobs. The plant will use sawmill residues and fuel chips to produce 214,500 tons/yr of wood pellets for export to electric utility customers in Europe. Plant conversion will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2013. http://segabiofuels.com. Fram Renewable Fuels - Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County. Fram's second wood pellet plant is a $91 million investment and creates 80 new jobs. The plant will use pine logs and sawmill residues to produce 550,000 tons/year of wood pellets for export to European energy utilities. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2013 and pellet shipments should begin by the end of first quarter 2014. www.framfuels.com. General Biofuels Georgia, LLC - Sandersville, Washington County. Wood pellet plant is a $60 million investment and creates 35 jobs. The plant will use timber and sawmill residues to produce 440,000 tons/year of wood pellets for export to a European electricity utility. Production is scheduled for first quarter 2014.www.generalbiofuels.com. Rayonier, Inc - Brooks County, Quitman, GA. Ground recently broken for a $5 million chip mill that is expected to create 50 new jobs. Construction expected to be completed by spring 2013. The Price Companies will operate the chip mill on behalf of Rayonier. The facility will convert hardwood pulpwood logs into chips that will be shipped to the Rayonier pulp mill in Jesup, GA, which will process the chips into cellulose fiber products used in the manufacture of products including filters, pharmaceuticals and LCD screens. www.rayonier.com.

Forest Management Issues Roundup
Come one, come all! The GFC has organized a landowner/resource manager/master timber harvester workshop highlighting the challenges facing forestry in Georgia (click here). The event will be held November 27th at UGA's Continuing Education Center in Athens. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear the forest road permitting case in December. Since the 1970's, forest roads have been exempt from permitting, as part of normal ongoing silvicultural activities. The Oregon court ruling against this stance is being appealed to the highest court in the U.S. Concerns about this far-reaching case have polarized the forest community. For more information, click here. As we enter the fall and winter seasons, landowners should asses their forestlands and plan for prescribed burning where appropriate. The GFC is available to plow firebreaks and also maintains a list of vendors who offer prescribed burning services. Huber Engineered Woods LLC has donated funds to provide GFC pine seedlings to landowners with prepared sites in the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, White and Wilkes. The initial signup period runs until November 30th. Contact your local GFC forester for more information. Did you know we have the Champion Tree Program in Georgia? The GFC maintains and oversees the program, which recognizes the largest specimens of nearly 350 tree species. The largest champion tree in Georgia, which is also the national champion southern red oak, lost a big section of its canopy during a recent storm. Even though the section that broke was quite significant, the tree still retains both titles.The tree is located in Upson County, is over 28 feet in circumference and 137 feet tall. (See photo above.)

Evaluating and Planning for Prescribed Burning in Georgia
Fifty prescribed fire professionals from Georgia and Florida met in October to review progress made on "Georgia's Prescribed Fire Strategic Plan," which was created in 2008. The group met at Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy to share accomplishments to date, review the plan and make recommendations for improvements that will carry prescribed fire use into the next decade.
Some of the accomplishments identified include:
Prescribed burn resolutions signed by 157 county governments One Message Many Voices multimedia campaign Media advisory protocol for large burn operations Meetings with GA EPD Air Quality Division Smoke management training to GA State Patrol troops Prescribed burn acreage increase of 17% since plan's inception
Some of the recommendations for improvement being considered include:
Begin using "Visit My Forest" as the logo/brand for RX fire Expand outreach opportunities using social media Deliver latest smoke monitoring technology to burners Support science-based research to better predict visibility issues on roadways for public safety Seek partnerships and creative solutions to recover lost capacity due to budget cuts Clearly illustrate to state and federal law-makers Rx fire's roles/benefits in the three major elements of the National Wildland Fire Cohesive Strategy
All recommendations are under review by Georgia and Florida's State Foresters. The updated Prescribe Fire Strategic Plan for Georgia 2012-2020 is expected to be finalized and made public by the end of the year.
GFC Seedlings are the Way to Grow
Some Georgia Forestry Commission-developed rust-resistant loblolly clones are getting new recognition for their fast growth qualities. Recent evaluations by the North Carolina State University Tree Improvement Program (NCSU-TIP) show three of the four fastest growing coastal loblolly clones are GFC products.
For various reasons, these trees were never included in NCSU-TIP family rankings until now. When finally compared directly to other clones in the program, many of these families proved to be not only rust-resistant, but fast growing as well.
Landowners planting GFC seedlings (RR3 Select) have been reaping the benefits from these rapidly growing families for years. In coming seasons, these trees may be available as individual families or as part of an elite clonal mix. Stay abreast of updates at GaTrees.org under "Reforestation."
Copyright 2005 Georgia Forestry Commission, all rights reserved 1- 800- GA- TREES
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