The Sinclar Group (British Columbia), Interfor and Domtar (Ontario) production reductions trigger a call (COFI) to make the US-Canada lumber dispute a national priority. In related news: a CIBC report says BC and New Brunswick economies are most at risk; Arkansas timber industry is in crisis; Ohio’s hardwood industry seeks tariff relief; Mercer secures support for expansion in Spokane; Mississippi celebrates Southeast Timber’s expansion; and Metsä and Billerud report Q3 earnings.
In other news: First Nations pan Nova Scotia’s law blocking protests; Oregon looks to forests to tackle climate change; and Drax faces lawsuit over wood dust health problems. Meanwhile: CWC promotes mass timber solutions in healthcare; forester Dan Macmaster receives a UBC Alumni Builder Award; and two plastics industry organizations are merging.
Finally, a 1930 Temple Lumber No. 20 steam locomotive is on the move again.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor
US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to all trade negotiations with Canada over an advert critical of the tariffs he has imposed on the nation. The advert, sponsored by the province of Ontario, quoted Trump’s predecessor, Ronald Reagan saying tariffs “hurt every American”. …In the minute-long advert published last week… the video excerpts a 1987 national radio address by Reagan that focused on foreign trade. …The Ronald Reagan Foundation said the advert “misrepresents” the former president’s address, without specifying why, and accused the Ontario government of not seeking permission to use and edit the remarks. The foundation said it was “reviewing its legal options”. Trump referenced this statement, and said the video was designed to “interfere with” the US Supreme Court’s upcoming decision in November on whether Washington’s sweeping tariffs on many nations’ products are legal.:
TILLEDA, Wis. – A groundbreaking moment in Tilleda, with the introduction of the first chip mill in the United States purchased by a logger co-op, marking the start of a new chapter for the industry. “Because it’s the first of its kind in the country there were a lot of hoops that we had to go through first to figure out what it all looked like legally and logistically,” said Dennis Schoeneck, president of Timber Professionals Cooperation Enterprises. Founded five years ago, Timber Professionals Cooperation Enterprises aims to sustain and grow the timber industry. The co-op is made up of loggers and truckers, and it was those groups who helped raise the $418,000 that went towards the purchase of the mill. They don’t want to stop here, the co-op has big plans for the future.
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ leading industry, agriculture, is facing a crisis. But it’s not just row-crop farmers that are struggling — the forestry industry is as well. The market for timber has become so bad that mills are closing and loggers are getting out of the business. “This is devastating to the timber industry in South Arkansas. Eight of the last 11 weeks, we have experienced mill closures in Arkansas, some permanent, some temporary,” said John Dawson, president of Arkansas Pulpwood Co. in Camden. “We’re seeing loggers drop out. Lifelong families that are two, three, four generations of loggers are getting out of the business. Banks in South Arkansas are moving away from loaning money to loggers,” Dawson said. As you’d expect, demand for paper has plummeted. …But demand for lumber is down too. …There’s simply too much supply for the diminishing demand.
Lumber futures tumbled toward $590 per thousand board feet, a near one-month low, as weakening US housing activity and pre-tariff front-loading left wholesalers awash with stock while stacked US duties on Canadian imports and trade uncertainty pushed prices lower. US homebuilding has slowed, with housing starts falling 8.5% in August to a 1.307 million annualized pace and building permits drifting lower. Many US buyers front-loaded inventories ahead of expected import tariffs earlier this autumn, leaving distributors to work down excess stock before fresh order flow returns. On the supply side, a 10% Section-232 tariff added in mid-October atop roughly 35% in existing duties lifted border costs above 45% for many Canadian shipments, forcing sellers to find new markets or accept lower domestic prices. Producers like Interfor have trimmed output since mid-October, but the cuts are too recent to significantly reduce inventories or regional log supply.
See these stories and more in the October newsletter: As we mark Manufacturing Month and Ergonomics Month, we’re highlighting ways employers can help keep workers safe. 
Ten lawsuits have been filed against Drax after diagnoses of asthma allegedly linked to its wood pellet fuel, it has been revealed. Current and former workers at the UK’s largest power station claim they have not been adequately protected against sustained exposure to wood dust, which can cause serious health problems including asthma, dermatitis and nasal cancer. Six compensation claims were settled out of court and four have trial dates in 2026, an investigation by Land and Climate Review found. A class action lawsuit was also filed against the company this month over health concerns in the US, representing 700 people who live near one of Drax’s wood pellet mills in Mississippi. The company is also being investigated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority over “historical statements” made about its wood pellet fuel. 
MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – Provincial officials upgraded the wildfire danger rating to high across the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Thursday as a new wildfire erupted in the area earlier in the day. Parts of Mountain View County are included in the forest area, namely west of Sundre and Bergen, covering Coal Camp and Bearberry west of Range Road 60 from Township Road 312 to the north boundary of the county. “The wildfire danger in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area has increased to high,” the province’s Oct. 23 update said.”Continued warm temperatures, windy conditions and dry vegetation are contributing to the elevated risk. The wildfire danger will remain high until the area receives consistent and lasting moisture.” A wildfire was detected in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area earlier in the day on Thursday. RWF080 is estimated at 80 hectares in size.