Forest Talk

The outlook for the fire season in Victoria, particularly in western Victoria, is looking particularly dire, with record low rainfall and low soil moisture readings creating ideal conditions for bushfires, says Australia’s Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA).

“All the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictors in the western part of Victoria are showing a drier than usual lead up to the fire season, with soil moisture low, and a high fuel load ringi..... more

Domestic timber demand remains low

The domestic demand for sawn timber in New Zealand remains well below production capacity, says PF Olsen’s Scott Downs in the company’s October Log market Report. Mills have reduced orders for logs, so forest owners have to export a higher percentage of their production. Fortunately, At Wharf Gate (AWG) prices for export logs increased by an average of 9 NZD in October. The CFR log prices in China have risen stea..... more

A new bridge suitable for logging trucks is nearing completion in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough.

The previous structure was washed away in the July 2021 storm and locals have made do with a temporary Bailey bridge servicing the upper valley since September that year.

“The new single-lane bridge is 110 metres long with seven spans. It towers nine metres above the river on piles that were sunk 10 metres into the river bed. It’s a very impressi..... more

An Otago logging contractor is using innovative harvesting techniques that offer both efficiency and environmental stewardship in a challenging area that would otherwise have been uneconomic to harvest.

Gillion Logging, owned and operated by second-generation bushman, Matt Winmill, has been tasked with extracting 40 hectares of mature Radiata pine with no disturbance to a Sensitive Natural Area (SNA) in Herbert Forest, North Otago, owned by..... more

Meanwhile Port Marlborough has reported a strong performance in its Annual Report for the 2024 financial year. With revenue surpassing $57 million and an EBITDA of $34 million, the port has strengthened its position as a key economic facilitator for Marlborough.

The year saw a significant investment of $26 million in infrastructure projects, up from $15 million in the previous year. These projects included further investment in the port’s forestry ex..... more

Deon Boynton is the first and only operator in the world running the brand new Woodsman Pro Tree Harvester 560 small wood/thinnings head when the NZ Logger Iron Test team arrives at the Jensen Logging operation in Kaingaroa Forest. 

The owners at Jensen Logging have been so impressed by its performance that they have already ordered a second 560 from the Rotorua-based manufacturers and it's easy to see why.

Usually when we ask if a regular..... more