West Fraser and Boise Cascade report big first quarter returns on record lumber prices. In related news: West Fraser plans to expand five US mills amid boom; the lumber spike keeps EACOM mills humming; New Brunswick defends not raising timber royalties; the US remodelling industry has fully recovered; and builders employ price escalation clauses to cope with rising costs. Meanwhile: Northern Pulp withdraws court challenge against Nova Scotia; and Drax starts work on 3 pellet plants in Arkansas.

In Forestry news: the BC Forest Alliance defends forestry workers in altercation with protesters, but Western Forest/Huumiis Ventures calls their action unacceptable. In other news: EACOM is paying its workers to get vaccinated; the National Observer says Canada’s forests moved from carbon sink to source; and sustainable timber structures debut on Vancouver Island and Spokane.

Finally, a chainsaw-carved wooden statue of Colonel Sanders (+ 3 chickens) debuts in Kentucky.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor