Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association Meetings:

There were two OVLDA meetings conducted in this reporting year.  Each meeting lasted for two days. UK Forestry Extension personnel planned and facilitated each meeting. The fall meeting was held in Knoxville, TN at the Courtyard by Marriot Knoxville Hotel and Conference Center. The meeting included tours of Havco (truck flooring manufacturer), Genera Energy (biomass facility), and Benton’s Country Hams. The technical presentations included; Dr. Gene Wengert, retired Extension Specialist from Virginia Tech and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Quality Drying Options and Techniques Prior to Kiln Drying: Detailed Description, Pros and Cons (emphasis on oak)), Dr. Adam Taylor, Wood Products Extension Specialist from the University of Tennessee (UT Research and Phytosanitation), and Mr. Tommy Stiles of A.W. Stiles Contractor (kiln maintenance). The spring meeting was held in Glasgow, KY at the Holiday Inn Express. The meeting included tours of Roy Anderson Lumber in Tompkinsville, KY and Kingsford Charcoal plant in Summer Shade, KY. The technical presentations included; an informal Q&A session with Dr. Gene Wengert, Practices and Procedures for Drying Quality Walnut and The Wood Doctor’s Crystal Ball Shows The Future for Furniture, Cabinets, Flooring Millwork and Other Forest Products – Dr. Gene Wengert, Hardwood Log Exports Throughout the Region — Current Situation, Concerns, and the Future – Chad Niman, and White Oak Supply Perceptions and the Economic Contribution of the Forest and Wood Industry in Kentucky by William Thomas. These meetings provided information and technical assistance to 69 hardwood industry people trying improve their drying facilities yields and production. The meeting attendees increased their knowledge of drying hardwood lumber by 16.7% and 4,594,454.93 dollars were saved or earned as a result of the meetings.