University-Based Forestry Research and The Little Red Hen

Universities have three basic mission areas: service, teaching, and research. Through the service mission, many forest landowners participate in forestry extension programs and use university-based out reach materials and resources. Many forest landowners also recognize the teaching mission of universities by interacting regularly with forestry professionals who were trained through academic programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters. These two mission areas, service and teaching, have been and continue to be relevant to millions of forest landowners across the nation. But what about university-based forestry research? As a forestry dean and as current president of the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs, and (just as importantly) as a forest landowner, I\u27d like to address three key questions about forestry research, including what this has to do with The Little Red Hen

Potential reasons for publicly funded forestry research

The general rationale for public support of research and specific reasons for support of particular research areas are of potential concern to many people. Those directly concerned with research ·funding and its rationale, for example, range from legislators to research administrators, scientists and graduate students. Public support of specific research areas is often defended for socio~polit~ ical and economic reasons. As an example, although private-sector research in forestry is conducted by large, diversified firms, the benefits of even highly applied research can be difficult to capture. Public support is necessary in such cases, since social benefits exceed the benefits considered in private-sector funding. These and other reasons for publicly funded research are reviewed and applied to forestry and forest products

Innovate or evaporate . . . business concept innovation in the furniture industry in the age of information

Introduction The U.S. furniture industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Furniture manufacturers, for example, have recently faced competition from foreign producers that has been particularly intense – resulting in factory closings and job losses in many areas of the country, including the Mid-South. In Mississippi, for example, the number of employees in furniture and fixtures industries dropped by 2,100 (6.8%) in the year 2000 (Center for Policy Research and Planning 2001). Similar job losses have been occurring in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and other important furniture-producing states. Nationwide, employment in furniture and fixtures manufacturing dropped by 40,000 (7.2%) from August of 2000 to August of 2001 (USDL Bureau of Labor Statistics 2001)

Maximizing expected profits in competitive bidding

Forest products firms often buy much of their raw material through competitive bidding. The bidding process is vital to such companies, yet models are often used which merely help predict winning bids. Managers should consider expected returns from potential timber buying contracts-the product of profit and the prob· ability of realizing that profit. A general approach is summarized for maximizing expected profit in competitive bidding. For timber buying, profits are net returns minus stumpage costs. The probability of obtaining the profit is the probability a given bid will be accepted, and can be represented by a probability density function. The product of profit and the probability of acceptance is then maximized with respect to bid price. The approach is demonstrated for a simplified case, but can be adapted to meet the needs of individual firms

The MSU Student Chapter, Society of American Foresters

Forestry students at Mississippi State are encouraged to participate in organizations that strengthen their sense of professionalism and point them toward continued development after graduation. The Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters is one of those organizations. Forestry students who take part in its activities are aided in developing communication and leadership skills that are difficult to learn in a classroom. Forestry is not just trees. Forestry students deal with the biology of the forest and the economics of timber. They learn how to use these tools to achieve a forest landowner\u27s objectives. Foresters not only make decisions-they must also effectively communicate their decisions

If it Pays, it Stays - Rewarding Private Forest Landowners

Article discusses monetizing the ecosystem services provided by private landowner forests. It discusses the potential of workable vehicles for rewarding landowners of private forest landowners for the many benefits their forests provide

The geography of home furnishings sales in the U.S.

Sales by U.S. furniture and home furnishings stores were nearly $75 billion in 1987, the year of the most recent Census of Retail Trade. The sales total includes$26 billion for furniture stores, $16 billion for homefurnishings stores,$8 billion for household appliance stores, and $24 billion for radio, television, computer, and music stores. The 1987 Census of Retail Trade reports sales for the combined category, furniture and home furnishings, for all U.S. states, counties, and metropolitan areas. In this article, therefore, the term furniture and home furnishings refers to combined sales for all of the store types in Table 1. Combined figures allow sales and growth to be examined in greater detail

Engineered wood products may dramatically impact timber markets in the southern U.S.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. This bumper sticker saying relates well to recent developments in fo rest products and their potential impact on forest landowners in the South. Change is inevitable-and very important changes are occurring today in how the trees-we grow are processed and used in the US and around the world. These changes have the potential for very dramatic changes in timber markets in the US South, where there are millions of acres of commercial forestland. Changes in timber markets, of course, affect landowners\u27 profits from timber growing, and they may therefore impact our objectives for growing timber and management strategies for reaching those objectives

The McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program: The Driving Force of Sustainable Forestry

The McIntire-Stennis (M-S) Cooperative Forestry Research Program has provided fundamental support for creating and strengthening forestry research and graduate training efforts at colleges and universities across the nation for nearly 50 years. M-S funding has helped produce thousands of forestry scientists and other research professionals, and M-S–supported research has provided critical basic understanding and applied solutions to extend the benefits that flow from forests and related rangelands across the nation over time. The 1962 legislation that created the M-S program authorized funding of up to one-half of the funds appropriated for federal forestry research conducted directly by the USDA. Throughout the program’s history, however, M-S appropriations have been far below the authorized level. In 2012, the M-S program’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated. Congress and the President therefore have a truly significant “golden anniversary” opportunity to strengthen the nation’s investment in research and training that represents an essential and powerful “driving force behind progress” in sustaining forests for ecological, economic, and social benefits for present and future generations

Trends of hardwood lumber use in making household furniture.

Hardwood lumber has long been a mainstay raw material for U.S. furniture makers. Its importance relative to other raw materials, however, has changed significantly during the past 40 to 50 years