Forest Industry in Vermont   Programs: Industry Assistance Forest Statistics For Vermont Wood Energy   Publications: Economic Importance of Vermont's Forests Forest Exchange Bulletin Forest Resource Harvest Summary Industry Directories   Personnel: Staff

The Forest Product Marketing & Utilization Section is staffed by staff specialists who are knowledgeable in the economic and technical aspects of wood availability and processing-from the forest to the finished product, including the use of wood for energy.

Some of the Section’s activities and the services available to Vermont forest products companies include:

Direct Assistance

• Participation with industry associations in Vermont and the region to provide technical assistance to the organizations and to assist in peer-to-peer education and collaboration.
  
• Provide “technology transfer” services, linking US Forest Service and university researchers with potential users in the wood using industry.
  
• Organization and/or sponsorship of workshops, conferences and demonstrations for the wood using industry. Past workshop topics include:

  
  Value-Added Processing
  New Marketing Opportunities
  Log and Lumber Grading
  Regulations
  Safety

• Marketing Assistance is provided through:

  
  1. Requests for assistance from individual companies.
  2. Production and distribution of industry directories and the bi-monthly VT Forest Exchange and Information Bulletin.
  3. Participation in statewide marketing initiatives (ie. the “Vermont Brand” Project).
  

• Assist forest product businesses with Processing & Yield, Quality Control and Time & Motion studies.

Collection and Analysis of Forest Resource Information

• Data collection and publication of the Annual VT Forest Resource Harvest Summary.
  
• Collaboration with the US Forest Service Forest, Inventory and Analysis Project on inventory design, analysis and reporting.

Participation in Applied Research, such as:

• Improved wood utilization and uses of northeast species.
  
• Wood preservation and coatings research using northeast species.
  
• Strength testing of northeast hardwoods for structural applications.

Wood as a Source of Energy

• Promote the use of low-grade wood for energy in commercial, industrial and institutional settings for heating and/or co-generation.
  
• Support the further development of a fuel supply infrastructure to support small to medium size wood energy users.