The US House narrowly passed the farm bill yesterday, which according to the critics includes rollbacks to the Clean Water Act related to pesticide use and environmental protections for national forests. In other Forestry news: US forest mortality is trending upward, exceeding net growth; BC will make restrictions of cedar volumes logged enforceable as forest company disputes over-logging on Haida Gwaii; and California is considering endangered species status for the super cute/super ferocious marten.

In other news: NAFTA talks are reported to resume within weeks; US housing permits and starts were strong in May; but home sales sank along with homebuilder share prices.

Finally, a mid-rise wood design workshop is promoted in Ontario; a best use of timber award is announced in Scotland; and the UK’s first MSc on timber architectural design and technology is introduced in Edinburgh.

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor