Daily News for May 25, 2026

Today’s Takeaway

Forest Safety Week kicks off in partnership with the BC Forest Safety Council

The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 25, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Forest Safety Week—delivered in partnership with the BC Forest Safety Council—kicks off today with four stories. They include manufacturing hazard identification and risk assessment; combustible dust cleanup; preventing congestion in forest operations; and prioritizing mental health.

In Forestry news: Nova Scotia moves against the spruce budworm; Alaska faces renewed logging debate; researchers say woodchips may reduce ticks; and the EU delays chemical restrictions for forestry. Meanwhile, an ENGO questions Mosaic’s role in Mount Underwood fire; Lake Tahoe breaks ground on fire and forestry training complex; and new wildfire risk warnings for BC and Oregon.

In Business news: Prime Minister Carney walks a tightrope, as US Trade Rep. Greer says re-shoring manufacturing is key; the American Wood Council and AF&PA support EPA’s new formaldehyde risk assessment; Nova Scotia buildings plan to switch to wood heat; US consumer sentiment hits record low; and what the lumber & gold futures say about the US economy.

Finally, Don Pigott’s latest forestry memoir turns a 1984 cone-collecting expedition in northeast BC into a story of camps, ghost towns, squirrels and colourful characters.

 Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Special Feature

Combustible Dust Cleanup: Why Using Compressed Air is Risky

BC Forest Safety Council
May 25, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

In sawmill operations, combustible dust can accumulate on equipment, rafters, floors, and production surfaces. If the dust becomes airborne, it can create a serious fire or explosion hazard. Good housekeeping is essential, but some cleaning methods can unintentionally increase risk. One of the most common examples is using compressed air to blow down and clear dust. There are many challenges and risks with using compressed air for blowdown. It doesn’t actually remove dust; instead, it instantly generates a dense dust cloud creating a significant explosion risk. The dust gets redistributed, shifting from one place to another, spreading across machinery, product lines, and other sensitive areas. It can be forced into hidden spaces or up into rafters, making future cleanup more difficult. When hazards like static discharge or sparks combine with airborne dust, conditions for an explosion can develop quickly. …Combustible dust hazards are manageable when dust is prevented from becoming airborne and ignition sources are tightly controlled.

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Manufacturing Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment – Being Proactive Matters

BC Forest Safety Council
May 25, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

Wood products manufacturing operations have their share of hazards to workers. Identifying hazards, assessing the risk level and building controls are essential in both harvesting and manufacturing settings. BCFSC offers a wide range of resources and training courses to assist those who work in forestry. Visit the following web pages to learn more:

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Connection to Care: Supporting Mental Health Across BC’s Forestry Sector

BC Forest Safety Council
May 25, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

BC’s forestry sector has always been known for its resilience, strong work ethic and deep connection to communities. In recent years, though, that resilience has been tested. Mill curtailments, closures, workforce reductions and ongoing economic uncertainty have taken a toll on workers and communities across the province. As we continue to adjust, one thing is becoming increasingly clear, supporting and prioritizing mental health is essential to keeping forestry workers safe. Workers across harvesting, silviculture, log hauling, sawmills and wood pellet operations are no strangers to demanding work conditions. Long hours and physical work are part of the job. But when mental strain like job uncertainty and financial pressure are added to the mix, it creates another layer of stress that can quickly start to weigh on people.

Stigma and concerns about job security can make it hard to speak openly about mental health and many workers continue to push through without reaching out for support. It will take a collective effort across industry to close the gap between needing support and asking for it without feeling judged or like they have to tough it out on their own.

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Safe Phase Integration: Preventing Congestion in Forestry Operations

By Alexandra Skinner
The Truck LoggerBC Magazine
June 25, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Overlapping work activities are one of forestry’s most complex safety challenges; without proper controls, phase congestion can pose serious hazards to workers. However, with proper management, forestry operations can achieve safe, efficient phase integration. …Phase congestion occurs when multiple harvesting phases overlap in the same or nearby area, often due to insufficient time or distance between phases. It often builds gradually and can go unnoticed until a serious incident occurs. When phases aren’t properly coordinated, workers face greater risks of being struck by or caught between equipment, or missing other hazards. In 2019, a young worker was fatally injured after being caught between the counterbalance of a log loader and the cut slope beside the road. WorkSafeBC’s investigation found that four phases of work were happening simultaneously in an area less than 90 metres long. …Safe phase integration begins before work starts. Daily activities must be planned with separation in mind.

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Business & Politics

First USMCA negotiations to focus on content rules, economic security, Greer says

By David Lawder
Reuters
May 22, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Jamieson Greer

MANASSAS, Virginia, — US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on ​Friday that the first round ‌of formal negotiations to update the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement next week in ​Mexico City will focus on ​strengthening regional rules of origin ⁠and economic security provisions. He told ​reporters at a Micron Technology memory ​chip plant in suburban Washington that regional content rules needed to be changed ​to help re-shore U.S. manufacturing, ​adding: “If you’re going to get a special ‌deal ⁠on trade with the United States of America, we want to make sure that there’s U.S. ​content in ​that.” Greer ⁠added that he was aware of automakers’ calls ​to keep the six-year-old USMCA ​a ⁠trilateral trade deal. Next week’s talks will be between the ⁠U.S. ​and Mexico only and ​exclude Canada. [END]

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Finance & Economics

Is The Lumber-Gold Ratio Signaling Caution For Markets?

By Alison Coughlin and Gregor Spilker
Seeking Alpha
May 21, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Lumber is a strong proxy for economic health, as demand for the product, which is essential for housing and construction, is closely tied to economic growth. Gold has historically been seen as the ultimate safe-haven asset, which people buy when they fear volatility and stress in the financial ecosystem. By dividing the price of lumber futures by gold futures, a forward-looking gauge of risk appetite emerges.  Today’s lumber prices reflect a functioning, albeit cautious, housing sector. Builders are navigating a higher interest rate environment, but demographic demand for housing continues to provide a solid floor. The lumber market is simply reflecting steady, normalized demand. …Because lumber is steady while gold is surging, the lumber-gold ratio has fallen to levels that signal a more cautious market environment. …The relative prices of these two commodities seem to say that the economy’s base is holding up, but the need for financial safety has rarely been higher, signaling caution ahead.

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US Consumer Sentiment fell for the third month in a row

The University of Michigan
May 22, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

US consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to boost gasoline prices. Sentiment is now just below the previous historical trough seen in June 2022. The cost of living continues to be a first-order concern, with 57% of consumers spontaneously mentioning that high prices were eroding their personal finances, up from 50% last month. …Year-ahead inflation expectations inched up from 4.7% last month to 4.8% this month. The current reading substantially exceeds the 3.4% reading seen in February 2026 prior to the start of the Iran conflict, along with all 2024 readings. Long-run inflation expectations climbed from 3.5% in April to 3.9% in May, notably higher than the 2.8% to 3.2% range seen in 2024.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Introducing the updated Canadian Wood Council eLearning Centre

The Canadian Wood Council
May 25, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Advanced wood construction requires new knowledge, new systems, and new skills. To help support the next generation of building professionals, the Canadian Wood Council is proud to introduce the redesigned CWC eLearning Centre, a flexible online learning platform focused on advanced wood construction, engineered wood systems, and innovative building solutions. Designed for both students and industry professionals, the eLearning Centre provides expert-led courses that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re looking to expand your technical expertise, explore emerging wood systems, or strengthen your understanding of modern construction practices, the CWC eLearning Centre offers accessible, industry-focused education built for today’s evolving construction sector. For students. For professionals. For the next generation of builders. Register for your first course today: www.cwc.ca/elearning-centre

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Organizations Around the Country Support EPA’s Science-Based Reassessment of Formaldehyde

The American Chemistry Council
May 22, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) applauds EPA’s updated draft risk evaluation, joining broad support from organizations that recognize the importance of science-based decision-making at EPA. …As the EPA continues its work under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), this support signals confidence in a more rigorous, evidence-driven approach; one that aligns with statutory requirements while protecting both public health and the industries and supply chains Americans depend on every day. Here is what they are saying:

  • American Wood Council: “The purpose of the Memorandum and Notice is to correct serious scientific misjudgments in the December 2024 risk evaluation…AWC appreciates EPA’s willingness to reexamine those and other scientific judgments. The changes now proposed by EPA better reflect the best available science and the weight of the scientific evidence.” 
  • American Forest and Paper Association: “AF&PA supports the Memorandum, the Notice, and many of the corresponding draft changes to portions of the 2024 risk evaluation. 

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Forestry

Wildfires: “An Overwhelming Challenge for BC” But 7 in 10 British Columbians Ready to Act

By British Columbia Automobile Association
PR Newswire
May 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

BURNABY, BC – New research from BCAA reveals nearly two-thirds of British Columbians expect this summer’s wildfire season to be worse than usual, with half reporting they feel scared about potential impacts. Yet, despite nearly three quarters describing wildfires as “an overwhelming challenge for BC”, a powerful resolve for action and a sense of hope shine through: Over two-thirds are likely to take action to reduce wildfire risk; six in ten say taking even a small action would give them a sense of hope; and three-quarters are hopeful that BC can become more resilient to wildfires. Championing this collective spirit of hope and resilience, BCAA’s summer Fireweed Pin Campaign is kicking off for its second year… One hundred per cent of Fireweed Pin proceeds directly supports wildfire resilience and recovery work through two organizations: First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and Canadian Mental Health Association BC (CMHA BC).

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Powell River Community Forest grants approved

By Paul Galinski
The Powell River Peak
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

City of Powell River Council has approved the spring 2026 not-for-profit organization grants from the Powell River Community Forest reserve fund, with 12 grants, totalling $304,836.68, to be distributed to community organizations. At the May 21 city council meeting, interim manager of partnerships, intergovernmental and public relations Susan Auchterlonie outlined the granting process, indicating the community forest board reviews the applications and recommends grants to be awarded for council consideration, in both spring and fall allocations. She said the community forest board also provides input on projects submitted by the city that utilize the community forest reserve fund. Auchterlonie said a budget of $1.2 million was approved in the 2026 to 2030 financial plan, which is $600,000 for spring and $600,000 for fall grant distribution.

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Mosaic partially blamed by Evergreen Alliance for Mt. Underwood fire

By David Wiwchar
The Nanaimo News Now
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

David Broadland of The Evergreen Alliance is asking the Forest Practices Board to launch an investigation into the role that MOSAIC Forestry played in the Mount Underwood fire last summer. …MOSAIC communications manager Olivia Lyle said the Mount Underwood was deemed not related to their harvesting practices and they are confident in their fire hazard management practices. Listed as “human caused”, within 70 hours the August 11th fire became the biggest fire on Vancouver Island in almost 60 years… The Forest Practices Board has yet to comment on the complaint.

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New Forest Landscape Plan to reshape timber and ecosystem management in North Okanagan

By Bowen Assman
Castanet
May 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Local residents are being invited to help shape the next decade of local forestry management at an upcoming public open house in Coldstream. The provincial government, in partnership with local First Nations groups, are hosting a joint engagement session on Monday, June 8, to gather community feedback on the development of the tmíxʷ naqscn Forest Landscape Plan (FLP). …The new FLP framework is a legal mechanism designed to replace older Forest Stewardship Plans. Once established by the chief forester, the 10-year plan will govern all timber harvesting, road layout and silviculture activities for BC Timber Sales and local forest licensees across the region’s watersheds. …The finalized FLP will shift the focus toward long-term ecosystem health, addressing critical modern challenges such as wildfire risk reduction, climate change adaptation, old-growth protection, and biodiversity, while maintaining a predictable and sustainable timber supply

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The secret to keeping ticks at bay this summer: Woodchips

By Paul Logothetis
University of Ottawa
May 19, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East

Manisha Kulkarni

Spread of tick populations and rising rates of Lyme disease in Ottawa highlight the importance of effective strategies to minimize human exposure in recreational areas. New research has shown woodchips to be the secret weapon to keeping ticks off recreational woodland trails, including eliminating nearly all Lyme disease-carriers when treated with insecticide. The two-year experimental field study led by Katarina Ost, doctoral candidate at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa under Manisha A. Kulkarni’s supervision … provided evidence that both treated and untreated woodchip interventions can effectively reduce tick populations in a recreational context, a simple and cost-effective way for communities to combat these critters. “This study shows that different environmental management strategies can be effective in reducing the number of host-seeking ticks along trail edges, where people are likely to encounter them,” said Dr. Kulkarni, a Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Epidemiology and Public Health.

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Early Spruce Budworm Treatment Planned for Northwestern Cape Breton

By Natural Resources
The Government of Nova Scotia
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East

©Gov.ca

NOVA SCOTIA — A small, targeted area of spruce and fir forest in northwestern Cape Breton will be treated this June as part of an early intervention strategy to stop rising spruce budworm populations before they become a widespread outbreak that can severely increase the risk of forest fires. “By acting early in a small, focused area, we can help prevent much larger impacts on Nova Scotia’s forests in the years ahead,” said Kyle MacQuarrie, Ministerial Assistant for Natural Resources. “Other parts of the country have recently seen the devastation the spruce budworm can have on their forests, and the risk it poses for forest fires. We want to be proactive in managing the effect of this species on our province.” The spruce budworm has historically been the most destructive softwood forest pest across North America, causing more damage to Nova Scotia softwood forests than any other insect. 

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Lake Tahoe Community College breaks ground on 100,000-square-foot public safety training complex

By Brenna O’Boyle
KOLO 8 NewsNow
May 21, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.  – On Wednesday, May 20, Lake Tahoe Community College broke ground on a nearly 100,000-square-foot Tahoe Basin Public Safety Training Complex, the first facility of its kind in the Tahoe Basin dedicated to training firefighters, forestry professionals, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders. …The facility is scheduled to open in fall 2027. The complex will include a multi-story training tower with live-fire capability, more than two acres of training tarmac, a 7,000-square-foot equipment storage facility, and multiple training hydrants with a water reclamation system. It will support the college’s Fire Academy, Fire Science, Forestry Education, Emergency Medical Services, and Search and Rescue programs. The project is funded through $17 million in state, federal, and local support, including California Community Colleges’ Fire and Forestry Pathways funding, its voter-approved Measure F bond, and federal appropriations.

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AccuWeather releases 2026 Oregon fire forecast and it’s … not great

By Ginnie Sandoval
The Statesman Journal
May 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

AccuWeather has released its latest outlook on what Oregon could expect for the 2026 fire season, forecasting another active year for wildfires for much of the western half of America. Experts said that 2026 may see fewer fires overall, however, drought conditions, dry vegetation and extreme heat are likely to cause fires to spread more quickly and grow larger before crews are able to contain them, resulting in more land burned. According to the company’s newly released wildfire forecast, between 65,000 and 80,000 wildfires are expected nationwide this year, burning an estimated 5.5 million to 8 million acres. That compares to 77,850 fires that burned 5.1 million acres in 2025. …Forecasters said the highest wildfire risk this year is expected across the Southwest, Rockies, Great Basin and Interior Northwest, including parts of Oregon and Washington. AccuWeather meteorologists said drought and prolonged heat are continuing to intensify wildfire conditions across much of the west.

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Changes could be coming to Alaska’s Tongass forest. Some are putting the forest service on blast

By Julien Greene
CBC News
May 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Tlingit and Haida recently harvested totem trees in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska whose rings suggest they are 500 years old. Members of those nations don’t often take saws to those giants — if they do, it’s done with the utmost care and gratitude. …The president of the Craig Tribal Association, which represents Tlingit and Haida, is unequivocal. “We are the people of the Tongass,” he said. …It’s been a decade since the federal government last updated the management plan for the region, which covers roughly 80 per cent of the Alaska panhandle. …The Forest Service states that with younger trees approaching harvestable age, it proposes increasing the sale of timber to 72 million board feet every year during the next decade. That’s an increase of roughly 56 per cent. …While the tribes are concerned about the impact of logging on their lands and practices, some conservation and fisheries advocates say they’re concerned about its impact on fish and their habitats.

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EU delays chemical crackdown while forestry still relies on pesticides

By Markku Björkman
PulpaperNews.com
May 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

The European Union’s ambition to sharply reduce the use of hazardous chemicals is losing momentum. Several planned restrictions have been delayed or frozen as industrial competitiveness gains increasing political weight in Brussels. The shift is also affecting forestry and forest management, where chemical pesticides are still widely used to protect seedlings, control competing vegetation and reduce damage from insects and fungal diseases. Environmental organisations now warn that the European Commission’s efforts to restrict several groups of hazardous substances have slowed significantly in recent years. …Across Europe’s forestry sector, chemical plant protection products remain an important part of forest management practices. …Many of these substances are regulated under the EU’s extensive REACH chemicals legislation and pesticide rules governing plant protection products. At the same time, large parts of the EU’s ambitious chemical strategy — launched in 2022. …The slowdown comes amid growing pressure from Europe’s chemical industry, which is struggling with high energy prices and weak demand.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Five more Nova Scotia public buildings slated for switch to wood heat

By Michael Gorman
CBC News
May 23, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada East

The Nova Scotia government has issued a tender to convert five public buildings to wood heat systems — a move one member of the forestry sector says will have widespread benefits. The tender targets heating infrastructure at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Kingstec campus, Roseway Hospital in Shelburne, Digby General Hospital, Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middleton, and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish. …Successful bidders will also be responsible for procuring the wood fuel. The province stated in the tender documents that it “expects the focus of wood procurement to be from small private woodlots,” stipulating that 100 per cent of the lower-grade primary wood fuel must be harvested within Nova Scotia. …Marcus Zwicker, Forest Nova Scotia, added that requiring boilers to be fed with Nova Scotia product opens up new markets for local forestry contractors and woodlot owners while ensuring cheaper wood cannot be brought in from outside jurisdictions.

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Forest History & Archives

Dease Lake and Cassiar Lodgepole Pine Collections in 1984

By Don Pigott
The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 25, 2026
Category: Forest History & Archives
Region: Canada West

In this latest installment of his memoirs from the seed collection camps of northern BC, veteran cone collector Don Pigott recounts an unforgettable 1984 expedition through the Dease Lake and Cassiar region in search of lodgepole pine cones destined for Sweden’s forestry program. What begins as a straightforward collection job quickly becomes a vivid portrait of life in the north — from remote campsites, mining towns and ghost settlements to colourful characters, First Nations communities, and the ingenious habits of squirrels whose cone caches supplied much of the harvest.

Filled with humour, hardship and rich historical detail, Pigott’s story captures a fascinating era in BC forestry when cone collection was part adventure, part entrepreneurship, and entirely dependent on relationships, trust and resilience. Along the way are tales of cash deals, bush cooking, CBC interviews, roadside encounters, and “Mighty Moe,” one of the memorable personalities of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway.

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