PLC Member Weekly Update December 15, 2023

MAINE FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES A TEMPORARY BRIDGE COST-SHARE PROGRAM

The Maine Forest Service has announced its Temporary Bridge Cost-Share Program is now open for applications. This project is funded through a grant from the USDA Forest Service that was created as a result of input from the American Loggers Council.

The new cost share program was created to help loggers and other interested forestry professionals purchase temporary bridges for use on forestry operations on Dec. 8. Eligible applicants will be reimbursed for 80% of costs, up to a maximum of $2,000 per bridge, for the purchase or construction of up to three new wooden temporary bridges for use on timber harvests in Maine.

For timber harvesting operations, using portable bridges for temporary stream crossings is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to cross streams. In addition, temporary bridges that are properly installed and removed after use do not cause negative impacts to streams such as chronic sedimentation, damage to the stream banks or channel, or barriers to the movement of fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Who is eligible to apply?

Timber harvesting and forestry service providers based in Maine may apply. Eligible applicants include logging contractors, private consulting foresters, and companies employing licensed foresters. Program funds are limited and applications will be accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis for as long as funding is available. Note that preference will be given to sole proprietors and companies with fewer than 11 employees.  Companies with 11 or more employees should still apply and should not be deterred from submitting an application.

REMINDER: THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BEFORE A BRIDGE IS BUILT OR PURCHASED.

The first application period will be from December 8, 2023 through January 31, 2024. Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis for as long as funds are available.

For more information, visit the MFS Temporary Bridge Cost Share Program or contact Tom Gilbert at (207) 441-5282 or thomas.gilbert@maine.gov.

Welcome New Contractor Members!

Crown Point Excavation, LLC of Springfield, VT joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in December 2023.  The company is Master Logger® certified and has 17 employees.  To learn more contact Shawn Pollard at (802)-885-4979 or crownpointexcavation@yahoo.com.  You can also check them out on Facebook.

D. Harvey Timber Harvesting of Rutland, VT became a PLC Contractor Member in December 2023. For more information about D. Harvey Timber Harvesting please contact Dakota Harvey at (802)-282-9481 or dtimberharv@gmail.com.

Save The Date!

PLC Annual Meeting May 9-10, 2024

This year, the PLC Annual Meeting, Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Live Log A Load Auction will be held on May 9 – 10, 2024 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport!  Please be sure to block the dates in your calendars.

We are planning for a fun social event on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates.

Below is the reservation link for early booking information.

Reservation Booking Link:

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

Code: 051024plcm

Membership Renewal Past Due

Renew Now!

Thank you to all who have renewed already!  If you have not already done so, please renew your membership in the PLC for 2024.

The PLC is your voice and advocate and is fighting for your business, your industry, and your future. We need your support to continue standing up for Northeast loggers during these challenging times.

We have also made the online renewal process easier than ever and we encourage you to take advantage of this option. To do so, click on the link below.

Renewals were due by Dec. 1. Don’t delay, renew now!

PLC Christmas Ornaments to Support Log A Load 2023 – New Designs!

Add some extra cheer to your tree with PLC’s very own Logging Christmas Ornaments, this year in new designs crafted by third-generation logger Derrick Hardy of PLC Member Herbert L. Hardy & Son, LLC (doing business as D and K Kreations)!

100% of the proceeds from the sale of these ornaments go to our Log-A-Load for Maine Kids fund-raising efforts to benefit Maine’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Don’t wait, PLC ornaments sell out every year, so make sure you order yours TODAY! 

Price: 1 for $12 or 2 for $20

To order email office@plcloggers.org,  call the office at 207-688-8195, or visit the PLC online store.

Maine Agricultural Trades Show

2024 Dates and Times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January 9, 10, and 11, 2024, opening at 9:00 AM daily to the public.

Show Location: The Augusta Civic Center is located at 76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330.

The State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show is sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It typically takes place every January and is a place for farm, agricultural and related sectors to network and connect around business needs and trends. Producers and consumers alike visit this three day show to get professional expertise, learn about technologies and to gather information on the agriculture industry.

The event offers promotion opportunities for agricultural service providers, equipment and supplies, and organizations to exhibit on the trade show floor. It also includes a conference offering presentations about current topics, research and business trends, certification courses and annual meetings focused on agriculture, natural resource management and food systems.

There is no admission fee to attend the show. Please check the conference listings for any pre-registration and course fee requirements.

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

PLC Members Only!

Equipment Cost Calculators Available

Members,

With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.

These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.

These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.

DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.

PLC Online Store

Workplace safety and labor law requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming trainings!

Upcoming classes:

Developing and conducting Assessments, Audits, and Inspections –

December 13, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Identifying and analyzing hazards are key elements to an effective safety and health system. This training explores the methods to assess the workplace for hazards and implement controls to effectively control them. This half-day course looks at PPE assessment, behavioral and program audits, as well as equipment-specific and facility inspections.

How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment –

January 9, 2024 / 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM / SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This half-day course is designed to assist you in developing a PPE assessment 1910.132(d). Employers must conduct a hazard assessment prior to requiring employees to use PPE. The assessment provides information needed to select the appropriate PPE for the hazards at the workplace. Learn how to conduct a hazard assessment in this hands-on class.

To view all January 2024 classes, visit their website at www.safetyworksmaine.gov    

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.  

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

       Saco packaging manufacturer Tanbark gears up for growth

       HGA leverages Maine’s ‘working forest’ identity for a pair of mass timber structures at Bowdoin College

       Lessons in Wood

       What is the history of the logging industry in Maine? – EnergyPortal.eu

       Pollute less, profit more: How Maine industry is rewarded for cutting … – The Portland Press Herald

       Logger Lights Up Family Christmas

       Vermont wants your feedback on Worcester Range forest management plan

       Can we make Vermont’s forests more like old forests, faster?

       Wildlife crossing to connect Green Mountains moves forward – VTDigger

       Conservation in Victory to strengthen climate resiliency and support endangered wildlife habitat

       Is private wilderness a good idea? | News, History, Features from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont

       Aging forests faster | Vermont Public

ALC Member Discounts

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Fabian Oil Discount

Wallingford’s Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

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Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!