USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Senator David Perdue Visit with Georgia’s Forestry Community

On July 13, Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and his cousin U.S. Senator David Perdue met with forest landowners and forestry-related businesses from across the state at the Georgia Forestry Association’s (GFA) headquarters in Forsyth. Attendees were given the opportunity to discuss issues ranging from the 2018 Farm Bill, to markets for forest products and forest management issues.

“We were honored to host Secretary and Senator Perdue with our community in Forsyth,” GFA President and CEO Andres Villegas said. “We are proud to be represented by two individuals who care so much about working forests and understand our issues.”

Click the image below to view a video of the event and to hear from Secretary Perdue and Senator Perdue.

Several elected officials attended the meeting. From left to right: Rep. John Burns, Secretary Sonny Perdue, Rep. Susan Holmes, Senator David Perdue, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Rep. Chad Nimmer, Rep. Robert Dicky and Forsyth Georgia Mayor Eric Wilson.

Over 75 people attended the meeting in Forsyth.

Hurricane Irma Safety

September 8, 2017

Dear GFA, FFA, & SWPA Members,

Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with anyone who finds himself in the path of Hurricane Irma. While we at GFA, FFA, and SWPA are hoping for the best, we want everyone to be as prepared as possible for the worst case scenario. Your personal safety comes first. Tractors and trailers can be replaced, you cannot. That is why we have taken some time to compile the below tips and advice for Georgia and Florida’s logging community who will be potentially impacted by the storm. We hope you find this helpful as you brace for Irma.

Resist the urge to harvest until the very last moment, and instead use that valuable time to prepare for the storm.
Move equipment out of the woods, if possible, or to higher ground at the very least.
Although it may not be feasible to move all equipment to the shop, all equipment should be moved to paved roads and onto firm open areas away from trees, power lines, unsecured structures, and other hazards.
Make sure all trailers are unloaded ahead of the storm.
If you park equipment next to a building, try to park on the northeast side of the building as the strongest winds from a hurricane typically come from the south and west.
Remove or secure loose items from a harvest site that could potentially be washed away by flooding.
Remove all oil, fuel, lube, and other fluid containers as well as trash from the logging site.
Make sure that all employees cell numbers are up-to-date, so that information can be distributed as needed. Assign one person to oversee distribution of information.
Be mindful of increased roadway traffic caused by hurricane evacuees.

Please stay current on the path of the storm, and more importantly, please do all you can to protect your own personal safety.

Stay safe,

Andres Villegas
President & CEO
Georgia Forestry Association

Alan Shelby
Executive Vice President
Florida Forestry Association

Tommy Carroll
Executive Director
Southeaster Wood Producers Association

Chuck Williams Announced as Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission

Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) Board Member, Chuck Williams, was announced as director of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Williams is a landowner in Oconee County and has been a longtime supporter of Georgia’s thriving forestry industry during his tenure in Georgia’s House of Representatives since 2011.

“We are pleased to see another strong champion for forestry has been selected to lead the Georgia Forestry Commission,” said GFA President Andres Villegas. “As a forest landowner and GFA Board member, Chuck Williams has demonstrated his passion and commitment to forestry time and again. I look forward to working with him to continue ensuring Georgia is the number one forestry state in the nation.”

As a state legislator representing district 119 (Watkinsville/Oconee County area), Chuck Williams was a strong advocate for legislation that supported GFA’s core principles of private property rights, sensible taxes and regulation, and healthy markets. As a member of the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and the House Natural Resources & Environment Committee, Williams has been a strong voice for working forests. In 2014, Williams acted to protect tree farmers by being the lead sponsor of HB 790 which gave GFC law enforcement the authority to investigate cases of timber theft.

Chuck Williams will continue uphold the mission of GFC, ‘To provide leadership, service and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia’s forest resources.’

Deal announces Georgia Forestry Commission director

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced Chuck Williams as director of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Williams’ nomination was approved by the commission earlier this month and takes effect Sept. 1. The vacancy was created when former GFC Director Robert Farris retired in May.

“Chuck Williams is a dedicated public servant and an effective leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to forest management and sustainable forestry,” said Deal. “As a forest landowner, Chuck has a keen understanding of the forestry community in our state and country. His years of service on the GFC Board of Directors, coupled with his extensive background in economics, make him uniquely qualified to lead GFC as it provides leadership, service and education in the protection and conservation of Georgia’s forest resources. Georgia’s 24.1 million acres of commercial timberlands, more than any other state in the nation, offer a number of benefits to our citizens, from clean air and water to wildlife habitats, products and jobs. I am confident that under Chuck’s guidance, GFC will continue to provide critical support of Georgia’s timberlands and help to solidify our status as a top state for forestry.”

Chuck Williams

Williams has represented the 119th District in the Georgia House of Representatives since August 2011. He has held leadership roles on various committees, including Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and Natural Resources and Environment. Williams was named as Georgia’s Tree Farmer of the Year in 2005 in recognition of his passion for forestry and stewardship of the land. He has served in leadership positions for many forestry and agricultural organizations, including the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Forestry Association, the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Georgia Agribusiness Council. Williams also has experience in banking and financial services. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia. Williams and his wife, Beth, live in Oconee County.

Jen Talaber Ryan

jen.ryan@georgia.gov

Alyssa Botts

abotts@georgia.gov

GFA Members Host Panel Discussion for Secretary Perdue and Administrator Pruitt in Cochran, Georgia

On Friday, July 7, Georgia Forestry Association (GFA) members, Earl and Wanda Barrs, welcomed esteemed members of the national and local forestry community to address key issues impacting Georgia’s forestry industry.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt traveled from Washington, D.C. to Gully Branch Tree Farm in Cochran, Georgia located in the center of the most productive wood basket in the world. Secretary Perdue and Administrator Pruitt sought input from over 60 forest landowners on how to grow the forest economy. The group celebrated the $32.2 billion annual economic impact from Georgia’s forest industry in 2015 from 24.7 million acres of forestland.

“We are very encouraged Secretary Perdue and Administrator Pruitt took the time to visit one of Georgia’s premier working forests and listen directly to landowners and stakeholders from Georgia’s forestry community,” said GFA President Villegas. “The visit serves as a proof point the Administration is focused on enhancing the forestry economy in the United States.”

President Villegas opened the meeting with locally focused facts recognizing Georgia as the number one forestry state in the nation. Villegas referenced the Association’s three core principles which have served as the foundation of growth of forestry in Georgia and are vital as it looks to optimizing the industry’s potential.

“One of GFA’s core principles is sensible taxes and regulations, it was very refreshing to hear Administrator Pruitt’s common sense approach to energy, air, and water regulation to allow Georgia’s forest economy to grow”, said GFA President and CEO Andres Villegas.

The Georgia Forestry Association will continue to be the leading advocate for a healthy business and political climate for Georgia’s forest environment, forest landowners, and forest-based businesses. Click HERE for further information on the Association’s position statements regarding top matters that arise throughout the year.

William Flynn Miller, Jr., Former GFA Executive Committee Vice President, Dies at 94

William Flynn Miller, Jr., 94, beloved leader in the forestry community and former Georgia Forestry Association Executive Committee Vice President, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19, 2017, at the First Baptist Church of Jesup with Dr. Michael VonMoss and Dr. Felix Haynes officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until the hour of the funeral at the church. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Fair Haven Women’s and Children’s Shelter, P.O. Box 1153, Jesup, GA 31598 or the First Baptist Church of Jesup, Capital Campaign Fund, P.O. Box 1115, Jesup, GA 31598.

W.F. Miller, Jr. (right) pictured with his grandson Flynn Miller (middle), and son Bill Miller III (left). All three generations graduated from the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and have dedicated their careers to the forest industry. Photo Credit: J.P. Bond, *The Log*

Bill was born on March 23, 1923, in Lake City, Florida to the late William Flynn Miller, Sr. and Julia Crouch Miller. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Forestry from the University of Georgia in 1947 and one year later, received a Master’s Degree from Duke University in Forestry. Bill was a charter Big Jay Hook of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia and was the first of three generations that would graduate from the program.

Bill began his career with Rayonier at the Fernandina Beach location where he worked in land management and tax administration for twenty years. In 1970 he relocated to Jesup to be Woodlands Manager until his retirement in 1986 with thirty-nine years of service.

Bill was a devoted servant to the forestry industry and his local communities. He served as president of the Fernandina Beach Jaycees and was a member of the Jesup Kiwanis Club where he served as President and Lieutenant Governor. He was a member of the Altamaha Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He served as vice president of the Georgia Forestry Association Executive Committee and was on the board of trustees for Coastal Pines Technical College where he was awarded Trustee Emeritus.

Bill also served as chairman of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the Community Service Above Self Award and was an honorary lifetime member. He was appointed to the Georgia 8th Congressional District Advisory Board by the U.S. House of Representatives and served as Lieutenant Colonel, Aide De Camp, to Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1987. Bill was a former member of First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach and a current member of First Baptist Church of Jesup where he taught Sunday School for many years and attended the Golden Ruler’s Sunday School Class.

In his spare time, Bill enjoyed golfing at the Pine Forest Country Club and was proud of his two holes-in-one. He also enjoyed traveling, hunting, bridge, attending Georgia football games and spending time with his beloved family.

In addition to his parents, a son-in-law, Richard Vincent, preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife of seventy years, Carolyn Morrison Miller of Jesup; a son, Bill Miller III and wife, Nancy of Fernandina Beach, Florida and their children, Carrie and Steve Molinari and children, Drew, Dean and Kate; Katie and Will Bennett and children, Libby and Davey; Flynn and Brook Miller and children, Wills and Doss; daughters, Marilyn E. Miller of Jacksonville, Florida and Marcia Miller Vincent of Atlanta; daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Bill Henning of Oxford, Mississippi and children, Christine and Will Reed, Caroline and Catherine Henning; daughter and son-in-law, Julia and Mike Burch of Jesup and children, Michael and Jena Burch and children, Myla and Will, and Julianne Burch; sister, Betty Kirby of Clermont, Florida.

Friends are encouraged to sign the funeral guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.

GFA President and CEO Champions Private Property Rights on NPR

On March 6, 2017, NPR aired an interview with Georgia Forestry Association President and CEO Andres Villegas. Villegas provided insight on the political landscape in Georgia as it relates to eminent domain for petroleum pipelines and highlighted the core principle of the Association in protecting private property rights.

As protests against the use of eminent domain for petroleum pipelines continue in the northwestern U.S., NPR’s Molly Samuel asked Villegas to provide political context reguarding the Palmetto Pipeline, a proposed petroleum pipeline stretching across 210 miles of East Georgia. Last year, the Association championed House Bill 1036, which put a temporary halt on the project while the state reviewed the use of eminent domain (see: “State-Level Priority Issues for the Forestry Community in Georgia”).

“That threat of losing land with no recourse is something that can keep a landowner awake at night,” Villegas said. “Forestry and land ownership that comes with it has been woven into the fabric of Georgia since the time of the colonization of the state. It’s been a central part of the economy. It’s been a central part of the culture.”

Provisions of HB 1036 protected the private property rights of forest landowners in Georgia by:

establishing a moratorium for petroleum pipelines in Georgia until July 2017;
suspending the use of eminent domain powers for a private company; and,
creating a study commission to review the future use of eminent domain and the environmental impacts of pipelines.

In an attempt to address the recommendations from the 2016 Joint Study Committee on Petroleum Pipelines, Sen. Rick Jeffares, R-McDonough, introduced Senate Bill 191. This bill clearly requires any petroleum pipeline company to secure a permit from the Environmental Protection Division and a certificate of need from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for use of eminent domain. It also increases the voice of affected landowners in the petitioning process during the Environmental Protection Division’s permitting process.

As this legislation continues to progress through the legislative process on the House side, the Association will ensure the private property rights of forestland owners are protected.

Learn more about the core principles, vision and policy solutions of the Association, including private property rights. The GFA Government Affairs Team is on the ground each day the legislature is in session, learn more in our weekly Capitol Forestry Reports.

Forestry Featured in Georgia Trend Magazine

The Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Foundation and Georgia Forestry Association were recently featured in the March issue of Georgia Trend magazine.

The feature, written by staff writer Jennifer Hafer, focuses on the economic impact of the forestry community in Georgia, providing background on the importance of markets to economic and environmental benefits. 2013 Southeast Regional Tree Farmer of the Year and GFA Executive Committee Member Johnny Bembry and GFA Board Member Tim Lowrimore were also interviewed for the story.

“Forestry is Georgia’s second-largest industry with more than 24 million acres of land providing 133,000 jobs and generating a $32.2-billion economic impact,” reads the subtitle of the story.

You can access the online version of the article here.

Did you know that Georgia is the #1 Forestry State in the Nation? Learn how at www.gfagrow.org/numberone.

Forestry Community Launches New Magazine to Tell the Story of Georgia’s Working Forests

Georgia Forestry Magazine (GFM) was printed and distributed to thousands of forest landowners, forestry-related businesses and forestry enthusiasts this week. The magazine is focused on telling the story of Georgia’s working forests and forest product industries.

GFM is published by HL Strategy in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Association, Georgia Forestry Commission and the Georgia SFI Implementation Committee. The editorial content and design of the publication is focused on highlighting the landowners and producers who steward the land, and the manufacturers who are promoting innovative uses of wood.

The design direction for the publication was set by a nationally-acclaimed designer. In addition, well-known writers were assigned feature stories about private forest landowners and about the sustainability of Georgia’s forests. Others covered departments of the magazine focusing on the economy, environment, recreation, government affairs, and innovation. Finally, a photojournalist whose work appears in national magazines and newspapers will captured images reflecting the breadth of the forestry community.

Access to the digital version of the magazine can be found here. If you have questions about advertising or how you can be involved, contact Director of Communications and Public Relations Matt Hestad at 678-378-3513 or at matt@hlstrategy.com.

NPR’s Here & Now Interviews Architect Michael Green on Using Wood in Tall Building Construction

For more than a century, the designers of tall buildings have used mostly concrete and steel. But advances in structural engineering have sparked new interest among architects in one of the world’s oldest building materials: wood.

Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson talks with Michael Green, a Vancouver-based architect who says wood is just as strong as concrete or steel — and more sustainable. Click the play button below to listen to the interview.

0927_wood-design-1000x667 — The seven-story Wood Innovation and Design Centre, designed by Michael Green Architecture, in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. (Courtesy Michael Green Architecture)

This piece was originally published by Here & Now. Click here for the full story.