Page 16 - D16489 - LBMAO - Jul-Aug-2020 REPORTER - web optimized

to his customers to keep their
inventories more manageable for
turnover and profit. His trucks
leave the yard most days with
6-8 LTL orders to fulfill customer
requirements.
Starting with three employees,
National Forest Products now
employs twenty-five in its total
operation. This includes owning
its own logging company in BC
with control of a Non-Renewable
Forest License (NRFL) allowing
National to sell logs both
domestically and to overseas
markets. Dan’s daughter Katie
started working in the business
three years ago and is learning
the ropes from her dad and the
other knowledgeable staff in the
office. Katie is adapting to the
business and takes an interest
in all the details of running this
customer driven company. When
asked about the challenges in
coming into a commodity driven
business like this, she says she
loves the challenges and hopes to
see an increase in younger people
becoming involved with the
building supply sector.
Dan says, "Times are definitely
different since COVID-19 has
affected our lives and economy;
the lumber industry is challenging
enough at the best of times. With
COVID-19, we have all had to
take the initiative to step up and
work a little harder. I get asked
regularly, “What’s really causing
the shortage of material in the
market?” The short version is that
we have been hit with the perfect
storm. I can’t speak on behalf of
other various facets of the lumber
business, but I can elaborate on
the cedar industry and I’m sure
there is some crossover. As we
were entering the fall of 2019,
there were a few schools of
thought about the economy going
forward. Some were optimistic, A beautiful lakeside cottage featuring Pinnacle™ Engineered Shingle Panel
some were pessimistic, and some by National Forest Products; A stunning deck made from 100% PVC Endeck Decking -
were neutral. It was evident the perfect place for a 'staycation'
that several mills were being
cautious about gearing up their
logging operations, for various This became part of a strategic plan for between late fall and spring when the mills
reasons. The fact that the world the future. Unfortunately, this plan did not can’t harvest) in the west due to a rainier
export markets were showing fare well to meet the new pent up demand than normal spring (and again mentioning
signs of slowing down and lower because of COVID-19. So, combined with the hold off on harvesting in the interest of
stumpage fees would be available looking at curtailing logging, it directly obtaining lower stumpage fees come July
in the future, it became a waiting hit the production of wood. The unknown 1st) created the perfect storm.
game until July and until more demand in the beginning of COVID-19, along It was very evident that cedar logs were
harvesting would take place. with a longer than normal break up (the time becoming scarce when mid-winter hit. We

16 LBMAO Reporter - July-August 2020 www.lbmao.on.ca