Ohio Forestry

By Jim Harding, OFA Director of Workforce and Professional Development

For nearly three-quarters of a century, young Ohioans have been learning about and developing an appreciation for the forests and wildlife of our state. Camp Canopy (previously known as the Ohio Forestry & Wildlife Conservation Camp) began in 1950 and has welcomed more than 10,000 high school aged students. It is a testament to the impact that this camp has had on young people when you hear camp stories from many professionals throughout Ohio today.

Some young people arrive at camp having spent many hours and days exploring woodlands and wildlands. Yet, every year it seems that more and more campers arrive at Camp Canopy with relatively little experience in the great outdoors. Regardless of their level of experience, the camp always has new and exciting ways to get the campers engaged in their natural world.  Campers experience what it takes to be a professional forester by practicing tree identification, forest measurements, and learning about silviculture and forest products. … Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, Inc.

There are nearly 8 million acres of forests in Ohio, which account for 30% of total land use in the state; that means standing timber covers more of the state than corn and soybeans combined. The majority of those 8 million acres, 85%, are privately owned family farms. Drilling down a little further, 116,000 landowners in Ohio own more than 10 acres of woodland, but a shocking 234,000 Ohio landowners have 10 acres or less, according to The Ohio State University Extension. A large portion of those landowners are not actively managing because they are small woodlots adjacent to their row crop and livestock operations. The $30 billion Ohio forest products industry relies on the random acts of conservation from nearly 400,000 landowners.

The Ohio Forestry Association (OFA) is the only state organization that represents the entire forest products industry in Ohio.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

Having completed the steps outlined in Managing Your Woodlands (Part I), you are ready for a timber harvest. Time to contact a certified crop advisor and trained professional to do the technical and dangerous work of felling timber, which in Ohio is a Master Logger. The Ohio Forestry Association, Inc. (OFA) maintains a safety training and voluntary certification program for logging contractors and their employees known as the Ohio Voluntary Master Logging Company Program. The program involves training loggers in chainsaw safety, Best Management Practices (BMP) for soil and water protection, and first aid and CPR. It also requires participating companies to maintain Workers’ Compensation coverage on employees and provide liability coverage on request. In addition, each logger must sign a code of ethics agreement.

Through the certification program each logger must complete re-certification every three years, keeping the logger up to date on new innovations, techniques, industry issues, etc.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

Whether you have recently acquired a woodland property or are not sure what to do with the woodlands you have owned for a long time, the first step is to identify your individual goals for the property. Landowner goals and expectations are a large part of forest management plans and will guide the decisions of the forester and logger you choose to work with. For example, your goal may be to create wildlife habitat to increase hunting on your property. It also could be that you are looking to increase the quality of timber on your property to diversify your operation and establish a crop with longer rotations. The decisions landowners make today regarding forestland will impact the landscape for a century, so it is critical to establish both short and long-term goals at the beginning of the process.

Once your goals are established, it is time to contact a certified crop advisor to visit your property.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

Like other industries in agriculture, hardwood competes for market share with a long list of imitation and substitute products. Since 1999, hardwood consumption in the United States has declined.  There are a host of contributing factors to this decline, but a key factor for consumers is the price tag. It is no secret that hardwood products like flooring, cabinetry, and furniture are more expensive than fake alternatives. Consumers are flocking to places like IKEA and Amazon to find the best bargain when decorating their homes and are ditching the advice of professionals for do-it-yourself solutions to save money. Unfortunately, price has driven the conversation for decades, but that is changing. With disasters like the East Palestine derailment, consumers were confronted by large quantities of toxic vinyl chloride released into the environment; vinyl chloride is used in PVC, which is the main material used in vinyl flooring.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

A crisis is imminent, and the average bourbon drinker is unaware. The bourbon industry depends on Ohio’s supply of white oak trees for their favorite beverage. Bourbon distilleries and other contributors in the supply chain have been concerned for several years about the impending crisis and are becoming involved in initiatives to regenerate white oak.

One such contributor is Speyside Bourbon Cooperage, LLC in Jackson. Speyside is a manufacturer of barrels specifically for the bourbon industry. Kentucky Bourbon regulations require a white oak, or more specifically Quercus alba, barrel that has never been used and is properly charred. After a barrel is used for bourbon, it can then be sold for other products like spirits, wine, beer, maple syrup, etc., but its time in the bourbon industry is over. Speyside operates at maximum capacity and has three stave mills to support their production.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

The Paul Bunyan Show, the trade show of the Ohio Forestry Association, showcases the scale and scope of the forest products industry and demonstrates the need to actively manage Ohio’s forests. With a concentrated focus on safety, it is one of the few shows in the United States that feature live demonstrations of equipment and technology. You will find demonstrations of whole tree chippers and grinders, tree felling and cutting demonstrations and safety training for anyone operating forestry equipment, from professional loggers to landowners, at the Show. Entertainment such as the   Great Lakes Timber Show and state and international lumberjack competitions will run throughout the weekend.

Emmett Conway, Jr. was 9 years old when he attended the very first Paul Bunyan Show in McArthur, Ohio, in 1957.  His father was the committee chairman, so he grew up around the show. In addition to being an industry trade show, the event also initially served to educate and demonstrate to the public that the process of cutting timber is a natural part of the life cycle of forests.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

More than 37,000 Amish live in Holmes and the surrounding counties in Ohio. People come from all over to experience the food, hand-crafted wood items, culture, antiques, bed and breakfasts, wineries and breweries, entertainment, and the charm of a simpler way of life and a time long gone for the English. The entire area, referred to as Amish Country, is a popular tourist destination.  What many people miss, however, is the heart of U.S. hardwood furniture production happening amidst the quaint shops. 

Amish craftsmen have been refining their work for generations largely using hand tools. The public is fascinated with the quality and care taken to craft Amish hardwood furniture by hand, which has contributed to the tourism boom of the area. You cannot drive a quarter of a mile without seeing another furniture shop in many parts of Holmes County.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

For one thing, summer adds unique challenges for different types of wood, said Eric Doll, sales manager for Doll Lumber Co. in Trumbull County and current president of the Ohio Forestry Association.

“I’ve got a lot of poplar logs right now and it’s not something people want; part of that’s the time of the year as well. White wood is not going to keep very well in the summer. It’s a product that is prime for spoilage particularly, when it’s 90 degrees out, so those hickory logs are going to dry out and split, those maple logs are going to start getting log stain on them and turn blackish, and then the logs will keep for certain amount of time but then as soon as you saw it, that speeds up the spoiling process,” Doll said.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, Inc., and Jeff Jenkins, Past President of the Ohio Forestry Association, Inc.

Harvesting timber is a forest management practice that requires technical expertise to do it right. Foresters can obtain professional certification through the Society of American Foresters and/or the Association of Consulting Foresters and loggers can be certified through the Ohio Forestry Association’s (OFA) Master Logger program. Certification is voluntary in the State of Ohio, so the best way to ensure a forestry or logging professional is properly trained is to only work with certified professionals. The OFA recognizes the exemplary work of Ohio Master Loggers each year through their Logger of the Year Award.

OFA’s 2022 Logger of the Year, John Jefferson with Jefferson Logging of Crown City

In 1999, John Jefferson was following in his father’s footsteps: he was going to school to become a machinist. He enrolled in the first machinist class ever at Marshall University.… Continue reading

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association

Despite many advancements in technology and equipment, the chainsaw remains a foundational tool for landowners looking to clear invasive species or general property upkeep, power line technicians or local governments charged with clearing material from utility lines and public rights-of-way, and loggers harvesting timber. With the month of June being National Safety Month, it is the perfect time to talk about proper chainsaw use. Many individuals fire up a chainsaw without fully considering the loss to life or limb that can occur when operating this piece of equipment. Between 2013 and 2023, 200 deaths involving a chainsaw were reported through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Clearinghouse. Many deaths and injuries resulting from chainsaw use are preventable through PPE, maintenance, and technical training.

Proper PPE is essential for protecting yourself from the many hazards of operating a chainsaw. Anyone operating a chainsaw needs to protect the following:

• Head, Eyes, Ears – A helmet that combines a hardhat, safety visor, and earmuffs is best for working professionals, but a hardhat, safety glasses and ear protection will suffice for private use.

By Jenna Reese, Executive Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, Inc.

There are nearly 8 million acres of forests in Ohio, which account for 31% of total land use in the state. As recently as the 1890s, only 10% of Ohio’s landscape was forested. There have been significant conservation and reforestation efforts since that time to bring about the 31% Ohio enjoys now. Prior to European-American settlement, it is rumored that a squirrel could travel from the Ohio River to Lake Erie without ever touching the ground, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Due to the slopes and poor soil quality in large portions of eastern Ohio, it is not suitable for croplands, so that is where the bulk of Ohio’s forests are found today.  The majority of those 8 million acres, 86%, are privately owned family farms. Of those forests, 96.3% are hardwood due to the native species that thrive here.… Continue reading