The Northern Logger: Recent Episodes
The Northern Logger and Timber Processor
In this episode, we speak with Derek Madden of Madden Sustainable Forestry, a Maine-based contracting company. We discuss how he’s diversified his business and how working on private lands has helped with that, branching out with new services, surviving through these times that we’re in, and the importance of taking the time to maintain your equipment for maximum profitability. The interview was recorded in mid-April.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Bandit. What chipper is right for you? With the most diverse line in the industry, Bandit has you covered with a variety of models. To learn more about Bandit equipment contact a local authorized Bandit dealer or visit www.banditchippers.com.
As mentioned in the interview with Derek, the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, a.k.a the Logger’s Expo, is coming up May 16 and 17, and takes place at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Pre-registration is highly encouraged – tickets are $15 on the day, but we’re giving you a code to register for FREE on our website. The code is LOGPOD and you can find the link to register at northernlogger.com.
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
In this episode, we check in with roadside buyer Matt Farr of Port Leyden, in New York’s North Country. He’s been in the industry since graduating high school, starting out as a logger, turned log trucker, and recently he was hired by Tupper Lake Pine mill as a log buyer. We talk about his journey over the years, the ups and downs of logging and log hauling, pine markets, impending tariffs, and more.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Bandit. What chipper is right for you? With the most diverse line in the industry, Bandit has you covered with a variety of models. To learn more about Bandit equipment contact a local authorized Bandit dealer or visit www.banditchippers.com.
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
In this month’s episode, we speak to Ethan Tapper, a Vermont forester who has spent the last eight years as the Chittendon County Forester for the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation. This June, he embarked on his own journey as a consulting forester, establishing his own company, Bear Island Forestry. In our interview we discuss the nuances of forestry and managing natural resources, educating the public about what good forestry really means, and his social media outreach. Ethan also talks about his new book, How to Love a Forest, which comes out this September.
To learn more about Ethan Tapper and his book How to Love a Forest, visit ethantapper.com.
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
In this month’s episode, we speak to Eryk Thurber, the sole proprietor of a small cable skidder operation in Etna, Maine. Eryk graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 2020 and is just starting out in his career. We often hear about the current workforce challenges and the lack of “younger people” getting into logging and forestry. How can a young person get into timber harvesting without much backing or taking out millions of dollars in loans? In our conversation, Eryk describes his education, both formal and informal, how starting out small has helped him gain footing in this tough sector of the forest industry, and some of the differences between logging in Rhode Island and Maine.
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Winter is here, and with the cold, snow, and ice forming across the northern US, there is no better time to be reminded of the dangers of working in the woods and what to do to avoid accidents and injuries.
This month on the podcast, we talk to Donald Burr, the Safety and Training Coordinator for the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC). Burr is also the lead instructor and coordinator for the 20-week Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program (MLOFT) courses, held in the central Maine region.
Donald Burr is also the recipient of the NELA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Safety for 2022.
In this episode, he talks about the essentials of staying safe and healthy while working in the woods.
You can check out our companion article on Donald Burr’s safety tips in the November 2023 issue ofThe Northern Logger and Timber Processor.Please consider sharing this show with a friend or family member if you think they can get something out of it. Thanks for your continued support and stay safe out there!
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Earlier in September, The Northern Logger attended the Great Lakes Logging and Heavy Equipment Expo in Escanaba, Michigan. The show is organized by the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLPTA) and alternates between Escanaba and Green Bay, Wisconsin every year. Thousands of loggers, foresters, and others attended the show, and there were over 163 exhibitors selling all kinds of equipment, from skidders and forwarders to feller bunchers and cut-to-length harvesters.
It’s not too often that you get so many forest industry professionals gathered all in one place, and we took advantage of that. To get a sense of the show and the current business climate of the Great Lakes and mid-west region, we interviewed several attendees and exhibitors, from Menominee Tribal Enterprises to the Director of Forest Sales and Marketing for Komatsu Forest, who talked about the Forwarder Operator Challenge.
Interviews are with:
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Bob Edwards – Resource Manager, Timber Products Company
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Dan Maruszczak – independent timber hauling owner-operator
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Rainer Shooter and Jason Swartz – Menominee Tribal Industries
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Aaron Beishlag, independent logger, and John (Jusse), retired power saw operator
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Marcus Stiegerwaldt – Director of Forest Sales and Marketing, Komatsu Forest
Read our article in the October issue of the Northern Logger entitled “Great Lakes Logging” for more information. To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
In this episode, Part 2 of our series on vertical integration, we interview Jason Brochu, who along with his brother and co-president Chris Brochu, have revived their family’s logging business after a 20-year hiatus under the umbrella of Pleasant River Lumber Company in central Maine. We’re also joined by Toby Pineo, the general manager of A&A Brochu logging.
For more background on vertical integration, and to hear my discussion with Lyme Adirondack Forest Company’s general manager Eric Ross about their decision to add an in-house logging and a road-building crew to their working forest conservation easement, check out our previous episode, Vertical Integration Part 1.
Read our article in the August issue of the Northern Logger entitled “Vertical Integration: A Tale of Two Operations,” for more on the LAFCO and A&A Brochu crews.
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
In recent years, in large part due to a lack of logging capacity and also other regional factors including available wood and changing weather patterns, the forest products industry has seen some mills and large forestland management companies bring logging and road crews in-house — examples oftaking direct ownership of various stages of a company’s production process rather than relying on external contractors, i.e., vertical integration.
In this episode, The Northern Logger speaks with Eric Ross, general manager of Lyme Adirondack Forest Company (LAFCO), about their recent foray into in-house logging and road crews. LAFCO manages 235,000 acres of land in the Adirondacks, the largest private ownership in New York State.
For more on this topic and to see photos of LAFCO’s crew, read our article in the August issue of the Northern Logger entitled “Vertical Integration: A Tale of Two Operations.”
To subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine or become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association (NELA), visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
From May 19-20, The Northeastern Loggers’ Association hosted the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, also known as the Loggers’ Expo, in Bangor, Maine. We had amazing weather and attendance of over 5,000 people. Around 180 exhibitors promoted their products and services to an enthusiastic crowd of loggers, truckers, saw millers, and others who make their living in the Northeast’s forest products industry. At the show, The Northern Logger magazine interviewed some of the exhibitors and attendees. Listen to find out what they had to say.
NELA is looking forward to next year’s Loggers’ Expo in Essex Junction, Vermont May 3-4, 2024.
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Check out our July issue (The Loggers’ Expo Review Issue) for an Expo recap and to read our Faces of the Industry Feature, where we recognize industry professionals for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
On this episode of the Northern Logger Podcast, I speak with photojournalist George Bellerose, from Weybridge Vermont, about his new book Portrait of a Forest: Men and Machine. Bellerose has spent 50 years as a writer, journalist, and photographer, and the last 20 years as a photojournalist documenting the lives of everyday people. In his own words, he says that he is interested in people who are essential to community well-being but who are often overlooked or understood only superficially. Portrait of a Forest: Men and Machine embodies those beliefs. The 304-page book, published by Vermont Folklife, documents how logging has shaped Vermont and examines the economic and environmental challenges facing the forest today.
The book can be purchased from The Vermont Bookshop in Middlebury, VT in-person or online.
We’ll also be selling the book at the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo (also known as the Logger’s Expo) in Bangor, Maine, held from May 19th to 20th. Stop by The Northern Logger booth to purchase a copy.
As a listener of this month’s podcast, we’d like to offer you a discount for attending the upcoming Loggers’ Expo in Bangor. To register, go to our website – www.northernlogger.com/loggers-expo-2023/ and click on the registration link. Enter the Attendee Discount Code – POD3333 – to get 50% off the entry fee. See you at the Expo!
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Magazine preview
One of the biggest challenges for forest products businesses is finding good workers and retaining them. The labor shortages across many industries in the US these last few years have made it even harder to attract and retain exceptional employees – essential to running a successful company. On this episode, five leaders in the industry share their thoughts, personal experiences, and the various things they are doing to attract and retain top-quality workers. We hear from Sam Lincoln, Brian Souers, Eric Kingsley, Jed Whiting, and Andy Irish.
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Magazine preview
Procurement forester Paul Snider talks to The Northern Logger about Baillie Lumber, a major hardwood lumber producer in the northeastern US. Paul speaks about Baillie’s Boonville operation, his experiences as a procurement forester, how the industry has changed in recent years, and the current economic climate. He also offers some advice for young people who are interested in getting into the forest sector.
This episode is sponsored by John Deere. Raise your game with Intelligent Boom Control. With IBC, loggers take control of the forest with easy-to-learn functionality and enhanced productivity.
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Magazine preview
Do you ever feel like a crooked tree? You’re not alone. In this episode, Steven Bick introduces his Vermont Forest Business School (FBS) program by sharing a recording of an alumni session from earlier this year. During the workshop, participants discuss the lyrics to the song “Crooked Tree” by Molly Tuttle and use them as a jumping-off point for conversation around their personal experiences as professionals in the logging industry, including owning their own business, forestry best practices, and perceptions of the industry. Steven also gives a brief introduction to FBS, how it all got started, and how you can apply.
Molly Tuttle’s “Crooked Tree” lyrics
Listen to Molly Tuttle’s “Crooked Tree” on YouTube
More information about the Vermont Forest Business School: https://vtfbs.com/
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Magazine preview
Learn how Thompson Native Lumber, a mid-sized mill in Hopkinton, RI, has thrived for over six decades. The mill has maintained a healthy balance sheet through diversification and finding niche markets amid the ever-changing forest products industry landscape. You'll hear Jim Thompson discuss the evolution of his family-owned and operated mill since the 1970s, his diverse range of products, agile production methods, and more.
Thanks to this month's sponsor, John Deer. Unlock your potential and experience a new level of innovation with Intelligent Boom Control (IBC), John Deer's latest operator assistance feature.
To become a member of the Northeastern Loggers' Association or subscribe to The Northern Logger and Timber Processor magazine, visit https://www.northernlogger.com/
Ed Berry is a Maine Logger who has worked the Kennebec River Land Base for over 60 years. This month, we heard his story.
Mike shares his path into a career of running a one-person logging operation, his choice to stay non-mechanized and how Game of Logging revolutionized his safety practices.
This month, we interview Chris Crowe of Timberwolf Logging, 2020’s NELA Award Winner for “Outstanding Use of Wood” and P&R Lumber, winner for “Outstanding Sawmill Operator”!
We speak with Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension Forester, about a new idea in forest management: slash walls for managing the deer population.
We spoke with longtime log trucker Jim Reynolds of Thurman, NY about the ins and outs of log trucking in the Adirondacks.
Thanks to our generous sponsor, John Deere!
While the American hardwood sector has managed to hold its own over the past year of global trade, no one predicted the changes that 2020 would bring to the forest products economy. To catch up on the state of international hardwood trade, The Northern Logger podcast spoke with Mike Snow of the American Hardwood Export Council and Dana Cole of the Hardwood Federation.
On this month’s Northern Logger podcast, we interviewed Kevin Braman, a logger in Central Vermont who works by himself and uses a chainsaw and skidder to get the job done. We spoke with Braman about his 35 years in the business and what he has learned about caring for the woods and growing good timber.
https://www.hearnehardwoods.com for speciality lumber
Thank you to our generous sponsor, John Deere!
It has been a rocky year for log and lumber markets, to say the least. In this month’s podcast, we give an update on the state of the industry in the northeast and talk to friends of the podcast, procurement forester Allan Ryder and logger Andy Clark , about the state of things.
This month we spoke to Tom Eichler, who works in Sales for mills here in New York. It’s no secret that the US hardwood market is heavily reliant on China’s imports. Eichler talks about the impact the trade war has had on the mills he works for and how this trade dispute looks different than a recession.
In this episode, Northern Logger Editor Eileen Townsend takes a recorder around the annual Great Lake Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo in Escanaba, MI. She catches up with our northern correspondent Mike Monte, chats with a logging father and his son, a longtime logging yooper and Henry Schienebeck, the organizer behind the annual expo.
This episode is sponsored by John Deere.
Subscriptions, questions and comments can be addressed at eileen@northernlogger.com. Production and music by E.T. Townsend
We spent the day at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, speaking with two researchers -- Elizabeth Studer and Laurel Symes -- about their work at the historic site for forest research. We spoke with Studer and Symes about the future of the ash tree and what will happen when ash goes extinct, bioacoustics and birdsong, what “biogeochemistry” is, and the history of research forests.
We spent the day at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, speaking with two researchers -- Elizabeth Studer and Laurel Symes -- about their work at the historic site for forest research. We spoke with Studer and Symes about the future of the ash tree and what will happen when ash goes extinct, bioacoustics and birdsong, what “biogeochemistry” is, and the history of research forests.
We spent the day at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, speaking with two researchers -- Elizabeth Studer and Laurel Symes -- about their work at the historic site for forest research. We spoke with Studer and Symes about the future of the ash tree and what will happen when ash goes extinct, bioacoustics and birdsong, what “biogeochemistry” is, and the history of research forests.
The last big budworm outbreak took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Those who worked in the forest industry in Maine during that period are no stranger to the words “spruce budworm.” Learn what different states and Canada are doing different and the same this time to help the wood products industry through the outbreak.
Thank you to our sponsor John Deere!
Subscribe to the corresponding print story on this rare and profitable logging technique at: https://northernlogger.com/shop/magazine-subscriptions/magazine-subscription/
Also, thank you to our sponsor John Deere for making this show possible. Check out their fine products for all situations.
Production by Emily Townsend
In this episode, our March cover girl, Tina Dyment tells all from breaking into a man's industry to advice for new truckers.
Production by Emily Townsend
Music by Ben Sound
Our weekly digest of hand-picked industry news, read for you by Northern Logger Editor Eileen Townsend. Subscribe to our newsletter by emailing eileen@northernlogger.com with the subject “Sign Me Up!”
The Northern Logger investigates the wood products industry's relations with China, Canada and smaller markets.
A small group of researchers and industry leaders are exploring the viability of hybrid larch in the Northeast by searching out long forgotten stands.
In this mini episode of the Northern Logger, we talk with David Jarzab about his journey from a career in the military to Paul Smith’s to the exciting beginnings of his business. Enjoy!
This month we explore folklore that is more fact than lore by looking into the mysterious phenomena of the Jumping Frenchman of Maine. Your editor, Eileen Townsend, also brings you interviews from some of the youngest members of the industry and their thoughts on the future and safety.
Music credit:
Chainsaw Calligraphy by 16 Bit
French American Folk Music (MIWI) French-Canadian fiddle tunes from Library of Congress Lomax Collection
A Note to Interested Advertisers:
As Northern Logger Podcast listenership is growing, we are opening up slots for interested advertisers. If you would like the logging industry to hear about your business, organization or even health PSA, please contact The Northern Logger Editor, Eileen@northernlogger.com.
As anyone who works in this industry knows, workers’ compensation rates vary widely from state to state. While Maine and New York have high participation in workplace payouts, states like Vermont are struggling to keep insurance rates low due to the scale of the industry and low participation rates.
Experts in the forestry and insurance industry weigh-in on the successes and short comings of workers' comp in Maine, New York, and Vermont in this month's episode.
A Note to Interested Advertisers:
As Northern Logger Podcast listenership is growing, we are opening up slots for interested advertisers. If you would like the logging industry to hear about your business, organization or even health PSA, please contact The Northern Logger Editor, Eileen@northerlogger.com.
This month we address a few different aspects of the lumber and log export business. We hear from a handful of Northeast wood product exporters. We learn how they broke into international trade, as well as about their successes and challenges.
As the phrase "trade war with China" haunts national headlines, it's hard not to think how this might affect the logging and timber industry. Several of our exporters also dive into the new inspection processes and tariffs that are having very real impacts on the industry.
The Logging Expo means two things, big iron and familiar faces. This month, Editor Eileen Townsend meanders through the Expo and speaks with many different parts of our industry. We hear again and again that the logging industry is a family.
Many logging experts say that this is an aging industry. While there’s some truth to that, there are still plenty of passionate young timber harvesters pursuing a career in the industry. Many have figured out how to start their own businesses, whether they be fully mechanized operations or chainsaw and skidder businesses.
It's hard to find a trucker or fleet owner that has a rose-colored view of new national E-Log requirements. We hear from both, as a USDOT official that reckons with this feedback.
Also, we hear a comparison between the United States and Canada's E-Log requirements. All this and MORE!
Music: Bensound.com // Prod: FREQ Flag Media
A new harvest notification requirement is likely to pass in New York state as a part of the 2018 Governor Budget Proposal.
Along with the impending changes in New York, we address harvest notification in the region at large. Your community members speak on how their state handles notification and they answer such questions as: Is it nuisance or necessary? Do market industry statistics outweigh the paperwork? Does regulation benefit good actors or bad actors? All this and MORE.
Music: Bensound.com // Pod: FREQ Flag Media