The
following seminars are offered on a regular basis throughout the
Northeast.
Check
with your local state training coordinator or with the NELA office
regarding
the possibility of scheduling one in your area.

Instructor:
Jerry Miller
Miller Forest Products/Consulting Forester
This seminar
is organized to help with finding and purchasing private and public stumpage.
Determining timber value and bid presentation worksheets will be discussed using
prices from the bi-annual NYS Stumpage Price Report (or equivalent) for purposes
of the exercise. This is an opportunity for loggers, landowners and procurement
people to pick the brain of a timber buyer with years of experience buying
standing timber. He'll focus on locating standing timber and connecting with the
landowner and/or forester. Appraising and determining bid timber value will also
be discussed.
Content
* Sources
for locating timber.
* How to
contact the landowner.
* How to
present yourself and your company.
*
Developing a working relationship with the landowner and/or his(her) forester.
* Conflict
Resolution
* Sizing
up the timber.
*
Evaluating the hurdles to harvesting.
*
Preparing your offer.
* Timber
Contracts
* Bidding
on Timber
* Extra
things you can do to help make the purchase happen.
Price
comparisons will not be discussed as they vary with your costs
and markets.

Instructor:
Steven Bick, Ph.D., ACF
Northeast Forests LLC/Consulting Forester
This two-part
introductory level seminar will introduce you to common software applications
and the vast amount of information to be found on the internet that can help to
make any small business more efficient. Hands-on workshop will help to minimize
the initial frustration of learning how to use common software that comes
installed on most computers and begin to find useful information on the World
Wide Web.
Content
Basic
Computers for Loggers
(3 hours)
Focus on
software applications in the Windows environment including MS Word and Excel.
* Basic use
of word processing and spreadsheet software to make your business letters and reports more professional in appearance.
* Toolbar
and Key Functions,
* How to
send a fax from a computer.
* File
management in Windows Explorer.
* Overview
of types of software available for small business management, mapping and wood
measurements.
Internet
Surfing for Loggers
(3 hours)
Focus on internet navigation and
email.
* An overview of the secrets to
smooth surfing using common browsers.
* An introduction to search
engines and
how they are used to find
information.
* A tour of forest industry
related sites
and directories
specific to the
forest products industry to be found on the World Wide Web.
* Participants will be introduced
to free services for individuals and small businesses to be found on the
internet.

Instructor: Steven Bick, Ph.D., ACF
Northeast Forests LLC/Consulting Forester
Buyers of
standing timber need to make reliable estimates of timber volume when they are
purchasing standing timber . This workshop presents a proven, simple method of
volume estimation for loggers and others who buy timber. The instructor will
demonstrate the tools and procedures for taking tree measurements and
"cruising". After lunch you will go to a woodlot to practice these
skills. After collecting measurements, we'll calculate and summarize volumes. The
procedures and math are not difficult. You'll go home
with the fundamental skills needed to help make your own inventories.
Content
* Estimating
Individual Tree Volume - dbh, height, cull deductions, and volume tables
* Basal Area
Measurements - Angle gauge use
* Timber
Cruise Design and Implementation - point sampling techniques, acreage
determination, compass
use, and cruise layout
* Volume
Calculation from Samples - simple formulas for turning field measurements into
useful information.
http://www.northeastforests.com/NEindex.htm

Instructor: Steven Bick, Ph.D., ACF
Northeast Forests LLC/Consulting Forester
Boosting
revenue by increasing production isn't the only approach to assuring or
increasing your profits. The business of logging requires an understanding of
costs and how controlling them contributes to profitability. This workshop will
provide loggers with information and methods for evaluating and controlling
these costs. If this is your responsibility, this course is for you.
Content
We will
examine the following aspects of your business to help you develop a better
understanding of your costs.
Evaluating
Equipment Purchases
Financing
Options
New vs. Used
Estimating
Production Costs for Individual Jobs
Fixed Costs:
(Equipment
payments, insurance)
Variable
Costs:
(Payroll,
fuel, maintenance, workmen's compensation)
Cost of
implementing BMP's and other Contract Compliance
A guideline
for Valuing
Income Taxes
Associated with Cutting Your Own Timber
Capital
gains on the Timber
Ordinary
Income from Logs
Putting it
All Together
Maximizing
Production vs. Maximizing Profits
http://www.northeastforests.com/NEindex.htm

Instructor: Various
To Be Announced
This
workshop is an introductory overview of bucking, scaling and grading
considerations and how they impact the return received for logs in the
marketplace. It will provide valuable information and hands-on practice on the
identification and evaluation of hardwood log characteristics and on methods of
determining log value.
Content:
Classroom:
*
How a tree grows
*
Log scale & grade considerations
*
How log defects are manifested in lumber
*
How log grade affects lumber grade
*
Avoiding machine/man made defects during harvesting
*
Marketing logs to maximize profit
-------------------------------------------------
Mill or
Landing:
* Practice
making bucking decisions
*
Discussion of the impact of those bucking decisions on market value
* Discuss
why some logs are delegated to the trash log pile

Instructor:
Jerry Miller
Miller Forest Products/Consulting Forester
This seminar is organized
to help participants in developing their knowledge and skills to create a
successful strategy to promote their business and the forest products industry.
Some simple worksheets will be
introduced to help you track your raw material costs, product analysis, and aid
in following an organized and efficient marketing plan. This
is an opportunity for logging contractors,
sawmill operators and
lumber/log sales personnel to pick the brain of an industry veteran with years
of experience marketing all facets of wood products both domestically and
internationally.
Content
*
Developing a Marketing Plan
*
Marketing Strategies:.
Domestic vs. International
Commodity vs. Specialty Markets
Niche Markets
* Product
Preparation and Presentation
* Log
re-sale programs, veneer, low grade, etc.
* Locating
Customers
* How to
Contact Potential Customers
* Building
Good Customer Relationships
* Customer
Maintenance
* Sales
Contracts
* Extra
things to do to help make the sales happen
Price
comparisons will not be discussed as they vary with your markets.

Instructors:
Jeff Worrall
W. J. Cox Associates/Loss Control Specialist
This seminar is organized
to help participants in developing their knowledge and skills to create a
successful strategy to promote their business and the forest products industry.
Some simple worksheets will be
introduced to help you track your raw material costs, product analysis, and aid
in following an organized and efficient marketing plan. This
is an opportunity for logging contractors,
sawmill operators and
lumber/log sales personnel to pick the brain of an industry veteran with years
of experience marketing all facets of wood products both domestically and
internationally.
Content
*
Developing a Marketing Plan
*
Marketing Strategies:.
Domestic vs. International
Commodity vs. Specialty Markets
Niche Markets
* Product
Preparation and Presentation
* Log
re-sale programs, veneer, low grade, etc.
* Locating
Customers
* How to
Contact Potential Customers
* Building
Good Customer Relationships
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