When Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle, it left a path of destruction through the heart of the state’s forestland. Almost three million acres of timberland fell victim to the storm’s incredible strength, dealing a $1.3 billion blow to the state’s top agricultural commodity.
“Timberland owners and managers are scrambling to salvage as much of that wood as they can before pests and decay set in,” said Alan Shelby, the executive vice president of the Florida Forestry Association. “That generally gives them a window of about three months.”
Shelby explained that installing wet decks — which, as the name suggests, keeps the wood wet, making it less susceptible to pests and decay — allows for more time, but not everyone has the capability to do so.
According to Shelby, much of the timber has suffered damage that degrades its potential use. Some will be useful as pole or saw logs, but most of the wood salvaged will likely be chipped for use as pulp, pellets or biomass.
“The force of the storm not only uprooted the trees,” he explained, “it also snapped and twisted the wood, piling trees on top of each other.”
“Imagine that your house is for sale,” Shelby continued. “You have taken great care of it for 20 years, maybe financed a new roof and appliances to make sure you receive top dollar for your investment. And then a hurricane blows through, mangling the roof, creating water damage, and blowing out windows. Even if you can sell it, it will only be worth a small percentage of its previous value. That’s the hand our Tree Farmers have been dealt.”
Greg Marshall, President of the Florida Tree Farm Program, agreed. “The salvage value of the wood is minimal compared to the investments made over the past 10, 20 years or more,” he said.
Marshall also explained another challenge Tree Farmers face: “Tree Farmers are unique in that they are not able to plant another crop and harvest again in a few months. Even after reforestation, more than a decade will pass before a Tree Farmer receives the first income from his or her investment.”
Tree Farmers are not the only ones impacted by the storm, noted Shelby.
“The conditions certainly add to the degree of difficulty and the amount of time it takes for loggers trying to salvage the wood and get it to market,” he said. “The market is limited, not just by the condition of the product but by the condition of the mills. Several in the impacted area suffered damage to their equipment and/or facilities and aren’t running at full capacity, if at all.”
“That obviously affects their employees and the consumers who buy their products,” he said. “Lumber, paper towels, processed foods, fragrances, and cell phone screens are just a few of the more than 5000 items that require forest products.”
It doesn’t stop there, noted Association President Edward Cole. “Several communities in Florida are built around forestry. The impact to the forestry community will undoubtedly be felt across the state.”
Cole sited a 2017 study conducted by the University of Florida/IFAS, illustrating that forestry’s economic impact isn’t confined to the back roads of rural North Florida. Thanks to secondary markets and the processing of finished products, such as box plants, the impact can be felt in in surprisingly large degrees in Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and Polk Counties as well.
“When Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle, it struck a blow to the state as a whole.,” said Cole. “Our forests are an invaluable resource, a key element to both our economy and our environment. In light of the severe financial losses incurred, the need for help with reforestation cannot be stressed enough.”
Shelby echoed the importance of reforestation efforts to both the economy and the environment. “The industry’s recovery affects the entire state on multiple levels,” he said. “We will be working with state and federal officials to chart a path forward.”
Currently the Farm Service Agency is accepting applications for its Emergency Forest Restoration Program, which will provide cost-share assistance with reforestation practices in impacted areas. Interested parties are advised to contact their local FSA service center.
“Recovery will require a long-term commitment,” said Cole. “There was extensive damage to timber in an area covering almost three million acres. Even if every acre is replanted, the new trees won’t be merchantable for another 15 years. In the interim, consuming mills will be faced with a serious lack of raw material.”
A tough road lies ahead but, according to Shelby, the forestry community is known for its resilience and resourcefulness: “No matter what the challenge, I would bet on them every time,” he said.
The Florida Forestry Association is a statewide membership trade association representing all facets of the forest industry. The Association’s mission is to promote the responsible and sustainable use of Florida’s forest resources. For more information, visit www.FloridaForest.org.