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Global Markets Slow in Early 2025, Trade Deals Could Be Light at the End of the Tunnel

Global Markets Slow in Early 2025, Trade Deals Could Be Light at the End of the Tunnel

Exports of US Hardwood Lumber were down 13% by volume through May of 2025 compared to the same period last year, as many of our largest markets have faced tariff...
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Webinars: A Modern Tool for Industry Advocacy

Webinars: A Modern Tool for Industry Advocacy

In the 1960s and ’70s, if I wanted to learn more about a particular topic, I would go to our bookshelf and pull out the best resource available, our complete...
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The NHLA Evaluation and the Rules Discussion

The NHLA Evaluation and the Rules Discussion

The NHLA Board of Directors asked the NHLA staff to do a three-part study. PART 1: An evaluation of the resources the NHLA provides to the industry. This resource assessment...
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Uninsured on the Highway, Uninvested in the Industry

Uninsured on the Highway, Uninvested in the Industry

I have so many reasons why Memphis is a cool place to live. We have the best food in the world, great music, and great people. But one of the...
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ADVOCACY 101:The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

ADVOCACY 101:The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

When it comes to advocacy, the best defense is a good offense. This isn’t about being combative or striking first; it’s about proactively building relationships with elected officials. The goal...
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Thermal Modification: Advancing Sustainability, Durability, and Advocacy in the Hardwood Industry

Thermal Modification: Advancing Sustainability, Durability, and Advocacy in the Hardwood Industry

In recent years, thermal modification has become a transformative force in the hardwood industry—enhancing durability, promoting sustainability, and encouraging smarter, more responsible wood use. At the forefront of this movement...
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Maximize Your Yield, Multiply Our Voice

Maximize Your Yield, Multiply Our Voice

From internal benchmarks to collective impact, sawmills use yield studies to improve decision-making, build team culture, and advocate for more innovative, sustainable industry practices. The Power of MeasurementIn a time...
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Thermal Modification of Wood: Pioneering Sustainability and Performance in the Hardwood Lumber Industry

Thermal Modification of Wood: Pioneering Sustainability and Performance in the Hardwood Lumber Industry

As the global demand for sustainable building materials accelerates, the hardwood lumber industry must examine the applicability of current methods and the sourcing of raw materials. One promising path is...
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Building Skill, Building Confidence, and Giving Back This month, we’re proud to feature National Inspector & Technical Services Advisor Tom Byers, a seasoned lumber professional whose passion for teaching is only matched by his deep respect for the industry and its people. Tom has traveled across North America representing NHLA, and he credits his career with connecting him to a community of genuinely kind, hardworking people. “The many places I’ve been able to go around the country and the great people I’ve met have made it a great experience. There are a lot of good, kind people in the lumber industry.” His favorite moments on the job come when he gets to teach others and see their success unfold firsthand. “Anytime I teach someone to grade hardwood lumber, and they go on to better themselves and the mill they work, it makes me feel like I’ve given back some of what other lumber workers have taught me.” That spirit of mentorship was especially present during his most memorable experience: teaching his first NHLA class, Class #198, in March 2022, hosted by Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve and Quality Hardwoods in Ontario, Canada. “I had 13 students from those mills and others. They were a great bunch, eager to learn. After almost two months with them, I felt like I had made some new friends and had an all-around great experience with the students and the many others who helped with the class. Also, spending all that time in Canada, Canadians are wonderful to be around.” Tom’s skill set goes far beyond the classroom. “I have run everything in a lumber mill except the head saw. I’ve operated high lifts and loaders, the planer, straight-line rip saws, and chop saw.” His technical knowledge gives him a unique perspective when conducting QC work and NHLA Yield Analysis studies, which are services he particularly enjoys. “I enjoy QC work and like doing the Yield Analysis studies and other tests offered by the NHLA.” Tom believes deeply in the importance of education and consistency in the hardwood industry. “I feel that the rules are the root of the industry. Keeping people educated on the rules gives the industry a baseline from which to work to buy and sell hardwood lumber.” In an industry where advocacy begins with knowledge, Tom’s work exemplifies how teaching, technical services, and standards enforcement strengthen individual operations and the hardwood community as a whole. From the classroom to the mill floor, he reminds us that progress is personal and that investing in people is one of our strongest forms of advocacy.

From the Field: Tom Byers

Building Skill, Building Confidence, and Giving BackThis month, we’re proud to feature National Inspector & Technical Services Advisor Tom Byers, a seasoned lumber professional whose passion for teaching is only...
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New this Month: More Member Perks Just Rolled In!

New this Month: More Member Perks Just Rolled In!

Being part of NHLA isn’t just a badge of industry credibility. It’s a direct line to exclusive savings, smarter business tools, and partnerships that work as hard as you do....
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Trade Concerns Continue to Dominate

Trade Concerns Continue to Dominate

The continuing evolution of the Trump Administration’s trade policy remains the top issue for the Hardwood Federation… and most of Washington, D.C., as we hit the midway point in the...
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Rules in Action –A Sawmill’s Commitment to NHLA Standards

Rules in Action –A Sawmill’s Commitment to NHLA Standards

After spending many years in the hardwood industry, I’ve had the opportunity to visit numerous sawmills, dry kilns, and finished goods operations. On a recent trip to a mill in...
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