Use of georeferenced data to study clustering in the primary wood products industry of the US South

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2494-2504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco X. Aguilar ◽  
Robert K. Grala ◽  
Stephen M. Bratkovich
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Transportation Infrastructure ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Land Values ◽  
Us South ◽  
The Us ◽  
Wood Products Industry

Forest business clusters offer a unique opportunity to improve competitiveness of the forest products sector and stimulate economic development in rural areas. This study utilized georeferenced data on the location of primary wood products manufacturers in the US South to examine spatial clustering within this industry. Independent spatial analyses, F-hat and L-hat, and a χ2 statistic provided evidence of regional clustering. A count data model was used to determine location preference of primary wood-using mills and identify factors promoting industry clustering. It was determined that access to a labor pool, low cost of primary inputs, presence of related industries, adequate transportation infrastructure, and low land values positively influenced clustering among primary wood-using mills. A marginal analysis indicated that counties with adequate transportation infrastructure and presence of related industries were most likely to attract new primary forest products manufacturers. These two factors increased the predicted number of sawmills by 26.83% and 22.65%, respectively. Increases in prices of logs and energy can deter the spatial aggregation of wood-using mills. Results provide evidence that public investments in infrastructure can have an important role in attracting wood products industry firms.

Work climate, innovativeness, and firm performance in the US forest sector: in search of a conceptual framework

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1703-1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Crespell ◽  
Eric Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Work Climate ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
The Us

Innovativeness can help companies differentiate themselves, with the ultimate goal of securing survival and improving performance. Modern theories in organizational behavior look at innovation as something that starts with individual creativity but that is also affected by the work environment. Using one broad industry sector, the US forest products industry, this study attempts to integrate into a unifying model the concepts of work climate, innovativeness, and firm performance using structural equation modeling. Results support the proposed theoretical model, with some modifications, finding a positive and significant relationship among all factors. Having innovation as a core part of a company’s strategy and fostering a climate for innovation positively affects the degree of innovativeness and performance of a company. This is especially true for secondary or value-added wood products manufacturers. A climate for innovation is characterized by high levels of autonomy and encouragement, team cohesion, openness to change and risk taking, and sufficient resources available to people. Lack of a validation sample suggests treating the model as tentative until further testing.

scholarly journals Collection of Nontimber Forest Products from State Forests in the US South

2016 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory E. Frey ◽  
James L. Chamberlain
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Nontimber Forest Products ◽  
Us South ◽  
The Us

scholarly journals Consulting Forester Timber Sale Practices in the US South

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M Grove ◽  
Joseph L Conrad ◽  
Thomas G Harris ◽  
Joseph Dahlen
Keyword(s):  
Forest Products ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Us South ◽  
Southern States ◽  
Lump Sum ◽  
Timber Sales ◽  
Consulting Firms ◽  
The Us ◽  
Timber Sale ◽  
Percent Response Rate

Abstract Private timber sale transactions are vital to the forest products industry in the US South. Consulting foresters often assist private landowners in administering timber sales, and their decisions and practices have a major impact on landowner compensation, satisfaction, and market efficiency. This study used a mixed-mode survey of consulting foresters in 11 southern states to examine contract terms, timber sale practices, and market conditions on private sales. Responses were received from 430 consultants, resulting in a 37 percent response rate. Final harvests are primarily offered to bidders, whereas thinnings are more likely to have timber prices negotiated. Pay-as-cut payment terms are typical for thinnings, but less common in the Mountains where lump sum is relatively more common. Well under 50 percent of firms from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont conduct presale inventories on thinnings, whereas nearly two-thirds of firms in the Mountains use inventories on these types of harvests. Fewer than 25 percent of responding foresters suggested that restrictive quotas reduced landowner revenue on pay-as-cut timber sales. Consulting firms reporting that sawtimber quotas were never a problem in their area reported at least two more sawtimber outlets than those concerned about restrictive mill quotas.

scholarly journals Improving Timber Trucking Performance by Reducing Variability of Log Truck Weights

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Hamsley ◽  
W. Dale Greene ◽  
Jacek P. Siry ◽  
Brooks C. Mendell
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Level ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
The Other ◽  
Us South ◽  
The Us ◽  
Variability Level ◽  
Gross Vehicle Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Weight Data

Abstract We evaluated weight data from 79,760 truckloads delivered to 24 southern forest products mills to assess opportunities for improving trucking efficiency by reducing the variability of gross, tare, and net weights. We compared the mean gross vehicle weight (GVW) at each mill to the federal weight limit of 40 tons and to any mill overweight policy. A benchmark group of suppliers was identified at each mill as the five with the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) on their GVWs to compare with the other suppliers at each mill. All mills had mean GVWs significantly different from the federal limit at the 90% confidence level or stronger. A majority of loads delivered to each mill (77–100%) complied with mill GVW policies. At most mills, the benchmark group had higher mean GVWs and net weights, as well as lower GVW variability. Decreased GVW variability was associated with higher payloads. Mean tare weight and mean net weight exhibited an approximately 1:1 relationship at 15 mills. Benchmark groups at 14 mills had significantly larger payloads, and we project that they had 4–14% lower per-ton hauling costs than other suppliers at the mills. These results suggest that operating at the reduced variability level of the benchmark groups across the 221 million tons of roundwood annually consumed in the US South could result in a savings of $100 million annually.

scholarly journals Flood exposure and social vulnerability in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Tate ◽  
Md Asif Rahman ◽  
Christopher T. Emrich ◽  
Christopher C. Sampson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Vulnerability ◽  
Spatial Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Us South ◽  
Flood Exposure ◽  
The Us ◽  
High Flood

AbstractHuman exposure to floods continues to increase, driven by changes in hydrology and land use. Adverse impacts amplify for socially vulnerable populations, who disproportionately inhabit flood-prone areas. This study explores the geography of flood exposure and social vulnerability in the conterminous United States based on spatial analysis of fluvial and pluvial flood extent, land cover, and social vulnerability. Using bivariate Local Indicators of Spatial Association, we map hotspots where high flood exposure and high social vulnerability converge and identify dominant indicators of social vulnerability within these places. The hotspots, home to approximately 19 million people, occur predominantly in rural areas and across the US South. Mobile homes and racial minorities are most overrepresented in hotspots compared to elsewhere. The results identify priority locations where interventions can mitigate both physical and social aspects of flood vulnerability. The variables that most distinguish the clusters are used to develop an indicator set of social vulnerability to flood exposure. Understanding who is most exposed to floods and where, can be used to tailor mitigation strategies to target those most in need.

Elasticity of demand for Canadian logs and lumber in China and Japan

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1196-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt Niquidet ◽  
Jingwen Tang
Keyword(s):  
Price Elasticity ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Demand System ◽  
Elasticity Of Demand ◽  
Price Elasticity Of Demand ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
China And Japan

Over the past decade, Chinese demand for forest products has increased substantially. While domestic production has risen, this increased demand has been met mostly by imports. The boom has been a welcome benefit to large forest products exporting countries such as Canada, especially in light of the weakened demand that occurred in the United States (US) following the financial crisis. While estimates of demand parameters for the US are vast, little is known about Canada’s other two leading markets: China and Japan. Furthermore, many existing trade models assume that logs and lumber are homogenous, perfectly substitutable regardless of their origin. In this note, we apply a source-differentiated Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model to Chinese and Japanese log and lumber imports, with an emphasis on imports originating from Canada. Results indicate that the price elasticity of demand for Canadian lumber and logs in China is elastic. In contrast, in Japan, the price elasticity of demand for Canadian lumber is inelastic, but like China, demand for Canadian log imports is elastic. Expenditure elasticities suggest that Canadian wood products are expected to be favoured relative to other countries as demand in China grows; this finding may be attributed to marketing programs.

scholarly journals HARDWOOD TRADE IN SELECTED COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE

Wood Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1064-1075
Author(s):  
AGNESA MRAČKOVÁ ◽  
MILAN ŠIMEK ◽  
EVA HAVIAROVÁ ◽  
ZOLTÁN PÁSZTORY
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Musical Instruments ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Tropical Hardwood ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Hardwood Lumber ◽  
The Us ◽  
Wood Products Industry

This study focuses on trade of hardwood products in selected countries of Eastern Europe, specifically the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It was supported by a survey conducted with companies producing products made of hardwoods. It monitors trade trends in the wood products industry, specifically focusing on lumber, wooden veneers, furniture production, musical instruments, and wooden accessories. It also addresses the current and potential import and use of the US hardwood lumber in these countries. The study is also pointing out the shortcomings of the monitored markets. The online questionnaire and follow-up phone calls were used to obtain information from companies in countries of interest. Results showed that 83.3% of Czech respondents already use imported hardwoods in their production, followed by Hungary (69.2%) and Slovakia (54.6%). Despite the relatively high values of imported hardwood products, the overall results show that there is only a small potential for an increase in import of the US hardwoods in the wood products industry in chosen countries. The utilization of tropical hardwood species will continue because of their superior properties for specialized products such as musical instruments. Results also point out the grooving importance of certified hardwoods, their utilization, and trade.

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