Minding the Forest

Send us Fan Mail Brooks Mendell is founder, president and CEO of Forisk Consulting and has been a guest speaker at the Louisiana Forestry Association's annual convention often over the years. His expertise in researching markets and trends is stellar and he is happy to share his knowledge of the forest products industry and the many facets of it.  Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisi...

Send us Fan Mail Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming talks about taxes and potential changes that could be considered in the future by lawmakers. Included are his views on dedicated taxes and tax exemptions. Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media Specialist Jeff Zeringue. Comments can be sent to jzeringue@laforestry.com . If you want to find...

Send us Fan Mail Invasive species are troublesome for many reasons, but especially because they can harm native species of trees. Be they plants, insects or pathogens. Dr. Jaesoon Hwang and Dr. Wood Johnson of the U.S. Forest Service talk about these inventive pests and what to look out for. Jaesoon Hwang: jaesoon.hwang@usda.gov Wood Johnson: Crawford. Johnson@usda.gov LSU AgCenter Invasive specie...

Send us Fan Mail Trey Maxwell was a rising star in high school baseball before joining the college ranks. His drive and determination were strong in the sport, but he knew that wasn't going to be his future. Almost 30 years ago, he took his intensity to start a log truck business, married his then-girlfriend Melinda and soon turned that into a logging business. The two from Sarepta have been...

Send us Fan Mail Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about how the forestry industry faired during the latest session of the Louisiana Legislature.  Landowners narrowly escaped another try at allowing people to travel on any waterway, even if it isn't traditionally navigable and meanders through private property.  The perpetual attempts at that law closed...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Laura Sims, assistant professor at Louisiana Tech University, is leading a study in the state on Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB), a fungus that has spread more among loblolly pine in Louisiana. Although early on in the study, samples of possible BSNB has shown BSNB in several parishes. Landowners who believe they might have BSNB on their trees can contact a regional forester i...

Send us Fan Mail Melanie and Gaston Lanaux were selected the 2023 Tree Farmer of the Year by the Louisiana Forestry Association for their tree farm, Chardet, in Husser, Louisiana. Affectionately called "The Krumpi", the Lanauxs have enjoyed the rural setting and practicing sustainable forestry. They also have endured two major hurricanes — Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Ida in 2...

Send us Fan Mail Louisiana is coming out of an extreme drought as spring rains bring more moisture to the land, but the effects of the extreme, hot drought can last for years. Minding the Forest talks to Jim Meeker and Colin Bonser with the USDA Forest Service about the drought in Louisiana, its effects and for what forest landowners and folks with trees in their yards that have been stressed by t...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 37: Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about the regular session of the Louisiana Legislature which starts Monday, March 11. If you're an LFA member and want to receive the Legislative Update email newsletter, submit the request by email to lfa@laforestry.com . Not a member, visit our website to find out more and how you can becom...

Send us Fan Mail Carbon storage is still a new topic for landowners with few acres of forest, but there are programs out there that owners of smaller forests can learn more about carbon storage and their forests. Michael Lauve of NativState talks about this emerging topic for owners of smaller forests and issues landowners need to learn bout to determine whether carbon storage could fit into their...

Send us Fan Mail Tax attorney Paul Spillers of Theus, Grisham, Davis & Leigh, is a past president of the Louisiana Forestry Association and makes presentations at forestry forums all over the state. We've taken the opportunity to have Paul talk about the issues he presents at forums.  Please be sure to take this information only as general. No one should take any of the information provid...

Send us Fan Mail Each year, forestry associations across the Southeast United States gather in Alabama to share what each is doing to spread the word about the benefits of managed forests and support the forestry industry. The people who work in communications for the associations often work on a joint project and this year decided to talk about what the associations do and forestry issues in each...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Temple was selected Louisiana insurance commissioner before the primary election. Now he faces challenges to an ever-growing crisis in insurance in many areas. Temple talks about the issues and his hope to have insurance in a special session in 2024 before the Legislature's Regular Session in March.  Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association an...

Send us Fan Mail Wildfires have destroyed thousands of acres of forest and several homes, costing Louisiana millions of dollars to suppress them. Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain talks about the causes and dangers of the 2023 wildfires that also destroyed homes.  Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media Speciali...

Send us Fan Mail Bette Kauffman is president of the Louisiana Master Naturalists Association, a statewide organization that promotes learning and conservation. The conservation message the group gives coincides well with managed forests. Want to find out more, check out the LMNA's website at https://www.louisianamasternaturalist.org/ Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry A...

Send us Fan Mail State Rep. Jack McFarland is a Smart Logger (Master Loggers who go the extra mile to get audited by a third-party) and is the only Logger in the Louisiana Legislature. McFarland talks about how he has been able to educate his colleagues about the forest industry and its contributions to the state's economy and jobs. If re-elected for a third term, it would be his last eligibl...

Send us Fan Mail Jeremy Poirier, senior manager for fiber certification at International Paper in Shreveport, talks about IP’s responsible fiber sourcing policies and how they meet the evolving sourcing requirements from their stakeholders. Jeremy also was part of a group of Louisiana Forestry Association members who participated in updating the state's Best Management Practices manual, which...

Send us Fan Mail LFA Executive Director Buck Vandersteen takes a look back at the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Some bills were close calls for the forest industry. You can contact Mr. Vandersteen  if you'd like to learn more by emailing lfa@laforestry.com .  Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA Media Specialist Jeff...

Send us Fan Mail The new list of Louisiana Champion Trees is out for 2023. So how are champion trees discovered? Louisiana residents contact us and we put LFA Champion Tree Chairman Rick Williams on the case! Rick also is the State Forester for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana. This episode was recorded in February, so comments about measuring trees while leaves have fa...

Send us Fan Mail Whitney Wallace, forestry and wildlife agent for the LSU AgCenter in Southeast Louisiana talks about how sustainable forestry fits perfectly in the idea of conservation. We caught up with Whitney at a 4-H event in Amite City, Louisiana, and also got a chance to talk to a few 4-Her's.  Minding the Forest is a podcast of the Louisiana Forestry Association and his hosted by LFA...

Send us Fan Mail Lots of issues are expected to be debated in the 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, including how surplus money will be spent, property rights and the possibility of a ballot initiative. Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen talks about those issue and more in this episode of MTF.  If you're a Louisiana Forestry Association member...

Send us Fan Mail Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an international program that teaches educators about trees and the benefits of forests through interactive programs that involves science, math, vocabulary and other disciplines they can incorporate in their classes. Stacy Blomquist is Interim State Coordinator for Louisiana PLT talks about the program and encourages teachers in the state to partici...

Send us Fan Mail The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry does  plenty to help the small landowner and has an important role in the forest products industry. Included in its offerings is the Forestry Productivity Program, which is geared to the small forest landowner who wants to manage forestland perpetually for the owner's goals that actually benefit all in the region. Want mo...

Send us Fan Mail The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) supports standards that help keep forests as forests, using science. Gordy Mouw is director of network relations for SFI, working with SFI State Implementation Committees in states across the U.S.  Want to find out more about what SFI does and the standards it develops and promotes, check them out online at forests.org . Have a question, c...

Send us Fan Mail John Michael Kelley calls himself an amateur botanist who has a passion for finding unique ecosystems in Louisiana.  In his enthusiastic efforts, he also has found several new state champion trees. This interesting young man seeks opportunities to contact landowners who might have old-growth forests or unique ecosystems to share and educate. Minding the Forest is a podcast of the...