Off the Leash - By Hank

Well, the day finally happened.  The neighbor cat and I finally met to fight to the

death.  With my personal trainer and brother Buck in my corner, the cat, which I found out is named Leonard, and I squared up and traded blows.  First, I hit him with my famous double back leg flip.  Though I completely missed him, it was a show of force that visibly intimidated him.  Leonard came back with his mighty 5 finger knife stab which I narrowly missed.  I countered with the downward dog pose and he came back with his devastating body rub of death.  Through all this my tail was unexpectedly wagging while Leonard started this rhythmic humming like an old Detroit.  Next thing I know, we start talking.  Come to find out Leonard has a wife and three kids with the oldest starting college in the fall.  Actually, a pretty decent cat and I think we are going fishing next Sunday.

If any of you fine two leggers have read much of my ramblings, I’ve been preparing for this day for quite possibly my whole life, studying many forms of martial arts from Jiu Jitsu to Silambam which is the ancient Indian art of stick fighting.  Now that the day has come and gone you may ask how I feel that this is over…disappointed.  When a dog has this much time into something and it doesn’t work out as planned, well it just stinks like the neighbor’s cat… wait I can’t even say that anymore!

Disappointment is something you loggers know well.  Just a short few seasons ago demand for lumber was through the roof and not only was the market strong but every mill across the nation needed logs.  Almost like a flick of a switch things have changed but like my new relationship with Leonard, there is always a silver lining.  Though we have been through a season of disappointment, good things are happening.

First off, lets chat about the federal timber program.  The Trump Administration has been very active in our timber industry.  From executive orders to a realignment within the USFS, a lot of good things have been happening.  The folks that are left in the agency are wanting to get work done and it is showing.  Recently on AFRC’s monitoring meetings and field trips, Industry was shown some good projects on the horizon.  Everything from Nepa reform to finally getting a Cottonwood fix is a priority to the administration.  In the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill, (which I thought was about me until I realized my name isn’t Bill), there are provisions for increased timber production and long-term logging contracts.

On July 30^th, the State of Montana and the USFS formalized a landmark Shared Stewardship Agreement.  The historic agreement establishes a new framework to dramatically increase the pace and scale of forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction and sustainable timber production across Montana’s national forests and adjacent lands.  The initial focus is on a landscape of at least 200,000 acres in northwest Montana.  The agreement is effective for 20 years and may be renewed or extended.  This cross-boundary project will be the first of many and will be a huge help to the industry and forest health.

Next up, after decades of land managers being hamstrung by the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, the USDA announced plans to rescind the rule in June.  Instead of protecting our forests, the rule has led to a cycle of devastation with 8 million acres burned in roadless areas since the rule was enacted.  The rescinding of this rule should release some constraints from land managers and we can start managing these areas.

Lastly, you are still here.  The loggers of this great state are a resilient bunch and without you we can’t get the work done on the ground.  Through hard times you keep going, finding different markets and more efficient ways to get the logs to the mills.  I commend you and your dedication to your company, crews and this profession we call logging.

Just like my new relationship with Leonard, things in our life rarely go as planned.  The last season of this up and down life of the timber industry has not been the easiest but sometimes when things seem to be falling apart, they are actually falling into place.

Until next time…. Hank