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Lumber is on fire. Not literally of course, that would be a bad thing, but lumber prices and expansion plans continue to explode in the United States.
Georgia Pacific just announced plans to build a $150 million plant in the Albany, GA area this week. For more information, see the full article here.
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One of the things that we do on a regular basis is to monitor the news within the lumber industry. We do this for several reasons, but the main reason we monitor everything is so that we can consistently find great suppliers to make our shavings and grow our business.
While monitoring the latest lumber news, I came upon an article that made me smile and laugh. I call it business speak, and it happens all the time with big companies. As a consumer, it kind of makes me mad. Here is the link to the article, and here is the quote I am referencing; "This acquisition advances our growth strategy by expanding our geographic presence and product mix, and adds an exciting new set of capabilities to our company," said U.S. Lumber President and CEO Jeff McLendon in a news release. "We're particularly pleased that combining these complementary businesses will enhance the value proposition we collectively offer our trading partners." Stuff like this drives me crazy. Who are we impressing with all that jargon and mumbo jumbo? Why not just tell it like it is. So for your comedic pleasure, we have translated the quote into plain english. "We bought this company so we can grow our business in new parts of the country that we don't service now. We will also be able to sell products to the customer that we don't currently. Because we will now be a larger company, we should be able to offer our vendors better terms and bigger deals." Have a great weekend all! Wood shavings are one of the most popular types of stall bedding used in the barn, but horse owners need to be aware of the varieties used to make their shavings as a few tree species are toxic to your animals.
The first variety of wood that people know not to use already is black walnut. Black walnut trees are native to the eastern US, but they can exist outside their native homes as well. Horses that stand in black walnut shavings are susceptible to laminitis within 24-48 hours. The good news is that black walnut shavings are a dark chocolate brown color and stands out in contrast to lighter colored tree varieties. Several other tree species are also best avoided. Below is a quick list of the most commonly found in the United States.
Another good rule of thumb to use is to remember not to use any shavings from a tree that would be hazardous to your horses's health when ingested orally. To ensure that your bedding is safe, always purchase from a reputable supplier that has ecxperience with horses and livestock in general. Do not ever buy shavings that can not be sourced back to a specific tree species. Avoid bedding from tree trimmers or carpentry shops. They can not ensure the tree varieites that were trimmed down, and they can not be sure that the lumber used wasn't treated. If you ever have specific questions about toxic materials in your bedding, you should check with your local veterinarian or consult the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) 24-Hour Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888-426-4435. There website is also available at www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control. |
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April 2019
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