Member Weekly Update - Nov. 22, 2024

Welcome to this week’s update from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast! We have important news and events to share that are vital for your business and the logging community. Let’s dive into what’s happening this week:

GENERAL NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Renew your PLC Membership on paper or online
✔ Waldo Logs Survey
✔ Welcome New Members
✔ RSVP – 12/6: VT Legislative Breakfast & Board Meeting
✔ PLC and MPFA Op-Ed Wood Heat
✔ PLC Launches New Website
✔ Logger’s Voice Fall Edition
✔ Q4 Forisk News

MAINE NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Rulemaking for Timber Harvesting Standards in Maine’s Unorganized and Deorganized Areas: Public Comment Period: Oct. 18 – Nov. 23
✔ Maine News Clips

VERMONT NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report
✔ Working Lands Enterprise Inititiative
✔ Vermont Low-Interest Loan Opportunity
✔ Vermont News Clips

SAFETY & EDUCATION

✔ Member Alert – Acadia Dividend Announcement
✔ Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! November Classes
✔ Small First Aid Pack
✔ Crew First Aid Pack
✔ Northeast Safe Logger

MEMBER BENEFITS

✔ Cost Calculators
✔ PLC Store
✔ Member Discounts

Reminder (Maine based contractors only): if at least 50% of your employees attended PLC Spring safety training sessions in 2024, your renewal dues are waived. Must be a Logger or Fleet Training (CPR does not qualify). If dues are waived, we do need the renewal form returned.

Renew Online Here

Waldo Logs Survey

You should have received an e-mail from the PLC regarding a survey we are facilitating with Waldo.

Click here to take the 2 minute survey

Welcome New PLC Members!

Day’s Timber Harvesting of Averill Park, NY,joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in November 2024. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of 1. For more information contact Stephen Day at (518) 929-4509 or email daystimber@gmail.com

Legendary Landworks, LLC, of Granville, NY joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 4. For more information contact Raymond Brewster at (518) 419-9249 or email legendarylandworksllc@gmail.com

LME Forestry, of Winthrop, ME. joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information contact Luke Emery at (207) 931-6010 or email luke@lmwforestry.com

Sweeney’s Tree and Land Mgmt., LLC, of Petersburgh, NY joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in November 2024. The company is Master Logger certified and has a professional staff of 3. For more information contact Ryan Sweeney at (518) 428-9164 or email ryan@sweeneystreeandlaw.com

Vermont Greenwood Resources, LLC, ofWaterbury, VT. joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 1. For more information contact Grahm Leitner at (802) 793-7224 Grahm@vtgreenwood.com

C Boss Logging, LLC, of New Canada, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 1. For more information contact Colby Bossie at (207) 316-3295 or email colbybossie111@hotmail.com

Hunter Timber Harvesting, LLC, of S. Londonderry, VTjoined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 8. For more information contact Hunter Kaltsas at (802) 384-2432 or email hunter@xvt.com

Kilburn Transport, of Eden, VT. joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in November 2024. The company has a professional staff of 5. For more information contact Chris and Michaela Kilburn at (802) 279-4228 or email kilburntransport@yahoo.com

If you have already sent in your RSVP – THANK YOU!

We invite you to join your fellow contractors at this important breakfast gathering where you will have the opportunity to connect with Vermont’s decision-makers and help shape the future of Vermont’s forestry tradition. This event is a unique opportunity to engage in vital discussions about the challenges and opportunities facing our logging industry and we need as many of our members to attend as possible to make it a success.

What you can look forward to:

In-depth Discussions: Speak directly to decision makers about the issues affecting your livelihood and the industry at large.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with legislators, industry leaders, and community advocates who can make a difference.
Influence the Agenda: Help shape policies during the 2025 General Assembly that will bolster the economic viability of Vermont’s forest economy.

Details:
-Date & Time: Friday, December 6, 7:30-9:30 am
-Location: The Capitol Plaza Hotel 100 State St., Montpelier, VT
RSVP TODAY at the link below!

RSVP

This event is sponsored by:

PLC and Maine Pellet Fuels Joint Op-Ed: Maine Shouldn’t Forget About Heating With Wood

A joint Op-Ed from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast and the Maine Pellet Fuels Association appeared today, Friday Nov. 22 in the Portland Press Herald, Morning Sentinel, and Kennebec Journal newspapers. For those without an account with those papers, you may view the piece below on the PLC website.

Read the Op-Ed

PLC Launches New Website

Have you checked out our recently redesigned website?
www.plcloggers.org

Our revamped platform is all about YOU, featuring:

✔️User-Friendly Navigation: Easily access important information and resources.
✔️Simplified Member Portal: Streamlined registration and renewal processes.
✔️Enhanced Resources: Discover better tools and information to support your needs.

Just added! Our new Events Page and calendar CLICK HERE to check it out!

We invite you to explore the new site and see all it has to offer. Your feedback means the world to us, so let us know what you think!

Check out the new site

The Logger’s Voice

Read The Logger’s Voice

Q4 Forisk News

Download the u0022Forisk Newsu0022 PDF

Maine News

Maine Forest Service Proposes Rulemaking for Timber Harvesting Standards in Unorganized and Deorganized Areas: Public Comment Period: October 18, 2024 – November 23, 2024

Augusta – The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Forest Service has announced a proposed rulemaking for Chapter 27: Standards for Timber Harvesting and Related Activities within Unorganized and Deorganized Areas of the State. The proposed amendments aim to align with statewide standards outlined in Chapter 21, which will take effect in unorganized and deorganized areas.

These amendments will eliminate duplicative regulations regarding shoreland areas and ensure consistency with the statewide timber harvesting standards. The public is invited to submit comments on the proposed rule changes until November 23, 2024.

Visit the DACF website for more information, including a summary of relevant information considered during rule development, deadlines, contact information, related documents, and online attendance registration.

Maine News Clips

📌 Maine Department of Labor to Hold New Paid Family & Medical Leave Portal Webinars
📌 Budworms ravaged Maine’s forests for years. They’re starting to do it again.
📌 Three ELDs revoked from FMCSA Registered Devices list
📌Key takeaways from Maine’s new climate action plan
📌Webinar Recording: Challenges and Opportunities to Address Logging Capacity in the U.S.

Vermont News

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report Nov. 11-15

Click below to read the latest weekly Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report from the Vermont Motor Vehicle Police.

Read the Report

Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Members,

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is now accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant.

This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses and organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses and organizations, as well as agricultural or wood processing and/or distribution businesses may be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or products.

Applicants can apply for grants of $10,000 to $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement.

The application portal is open through December 12th. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in late February 2024, and projects can begin in April 2025.

Learn More and Apply

Vermont Low-Interest Loan Opportunity

As a result of legislation that the PLC helped get passed this past legislative session in Vermont, we are pleased to announce that the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) is now offering low-interest financing opportunities for forest products industries in the state, which will benefit our Vermont Member companies and Master Loggers in Vermont.

VEDA, which is Vermont’s economic development finance authority, is now offering loans that will provide a 2% reduction from prime commercial rates for equipment, trucks and other business investments.

The PLC encourages you to click the links below to learn more about this opportunity and other VEDA resources, and/or apply for a loan. You may alsoreach out to VEDA directly with questions. Our contact is Sarah Isham, Director of Agricultural Lending, sisham@veda.org or (802) 828-5463 and tell her the PLC sent you!!

VEDA Loan Options
Forestry Loan Fact Sheet
VEDA Agricultural and Forestry Loan Application

Vermont News Clips

📌 Marsh-Billings hosts horse logging program
📌 Assistance for Flood Damage to Farmland and Forests | Vermont Business Magazine
📌 Three ELDs revoked from FMCSA Registered Devices list
📌Webinar Recording: Challenges and Opportunities to Address Logging Capacity in the U.S.

Safety & Educational Resources

Acadia Insurance has announced it will pay $419,241 in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $14.5 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group.

This is a monumental total and reflects nine straight years when the loss ratio of our group has been low enough to provide a dividend. This is due to the PLC’s membership, our focus on safety, and our efforts toward risk mitigation. A total team effort and a job well done.

If members have questions on their dividend status, they should contact their insurance agent directly or contact the PLC.

You may read the full Acadia announcement by clicking the link below.

Read the Announcement

Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! December Classes

Upcoming classes:

Developing & Conducting Assessments, Audits, and Inspections –
December 11, 2024 l 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.

Establishing or Improving Your Safety & Health Committee –
December 17, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Whether starting a new safety and health committee or improving your existing one, this course will provide employers with the key elements to a successful team, safety committee design recommendations, facilitation basics, and common practices of effective safety and health committees.

Combustible Dust Safety –
December 18, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
It is now well known that OSHA is enforcing current recognized and generally accepted engineering practices for combustible dust prevention. This half-day course provides an overview of the hazards associated with combustible dust generation in the workplace and avenues to abate those hazards.

10-Hr. Construction Standards –
December 19 & 20, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.(Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.(Day 2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This one-and-a-half-day course offers basic information on a variety of construction industry safety/health standards (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

2025 SafetyWorks! Training Institute course listing and registration is now open at www.safetyworksmaine.gov/register

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/.

New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!

In response to demand for a smaller/”must have in an emergency” first aid pack to be stored in a machine or pickup, the PLC has created a new Operator/Driver First Aid Pack.

Contains “must have in an emergency” bleeding control items
One pack is recommended per machine/truck
Detachable velcro panel ideal for mounting in a machine or truck
Meets OSHA requirements for a logging first aid kit
Supplements PLC’s larger first aid back pack but is not a replacement

More information on the pack and its contents is available HERE.

Purchase

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid Pack: In response to widespread interest from members, we have created a PLC First Aid Pack that has everything you need for emergencies in the woods.

This Military Elite Tactical Trauma First Aid Backpack was designed for the PLC by Paul Stewart – EMT Houlton, ME.

Purchase

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

Member Benefits

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.