In conjunction with EXPO 2007, a pair of educational conference programs is being coordinated by Hatton-Brown Publishers and the Engineered Wood Technology Association (EWTA) for the benefit of all attendees. Eighteen sessions to be held June 21-22 cover industry trends, mill operations, plus leadership and management skills. The EWTA conference is a four-hour session on June 21, covering how to recruit, retain and replace employees now and in the future. All EXPO 2007 information can be found online; an 8-page Visitor’s Guide is now available for download, including conference session details and a registration form.

As of this week, just over 70% of the show floor is under contract to 182 exhibitors showcasing the latest technology, products and services for the forest products industry. As a reminder, SFPA’s Midyear Meeting will be held prior to EXPO 2007, June 19-20 at the adjacent Omni Hotel at CNN Center, so members should make their travel plans to attend both events. The tentative agenda for this meeting is available online, as well; visit www.sfpa.org. For more information about the SFPA Midyear Meeting, contact Dianne Breaux, dbreaux@sfpa.org, or call 504/443-4464 ext.225.

Proper lumber storage techniques address mold concerns of lumber dealers nationwide. SFPA’s Richard Kleiner, director of treated markets, offers some clear tips for preventing mold within an article in the current issue of Shelter magazine. The four-page feature, "The Blame Game", summarizes necessary steps for the prevention of mold on lumber during storage and construction, avoiding costly customer complaints and callbacks. Lumber dealers from Florida, Iowa, and New Jersey recap their preferred methods for preventing mold on lumber across a wide variety of climates.

SFPA has joined a national effort to increase allowable truck weights on federal highways and interstates. The Agricultural Transportation Efficiency Coalition (AgTEC) was formed by the Forest Resources Association (FRA) and the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of the American Trucking Association.

The coalition’s mission is to increase the efficiency of transporting unprocessed agricultural and forest commodities from the field and forest to primary processing facilities. AgTEC's goal is to insert language into the 2007 Farm Bill "to allow 6-axle truck/trailer vehicles to haul up to 97,000 pounds (with corresponding increases in single/tandem axle weights) on federal highways." A recent study commissioned by Congress supports this increase by listing several advantages of larger trucks, resulting in fewer loads: less road congestion and fewer fatal crashes, less fuel consumption, and reduced air pollution.