Foresters from the large Middle Districts region are invited to Feilding next week to hear how their levy is spent and discover the latest trends in their industry.
The Middle Districts Farm Forestry Association is hosting an information session on Tuesday about the Forest Growers' Levy and how it isused. The levy of 27 cents a tonne of logs harvested has been in force since January 2014.
The meeting is from 1.30 to 4.30pm in the St John's Hall at 35 Bowen St in Feilding. Attenders are asked to let the organisers know, by ringing Bruce Bulloch on 06 357 7338 or emailing him on btbulloch@gmail.com.
Four speakers have been organised. Glen Mackie from the Levy Trust will talk about how levy money is spent and what benefits it brings. Hawea Kingi from WorkSafeNZ will talk about health and safety in the forest, under new legislation.
Marton's John Turkington will talk about forest harvesting and marketing. There are some exciting new developments in steepland harvesting that will interest Whanganui people - automated harvesting that's safer for forestry workers.
"You can be sitting up safe on a hill, driving the whole operation, and you can see what's going on from cameras," Middle Districts forester Denis Hocking said.
The increasing the price of New Zealand carbon units will interest forest growers. The price has climbed steadily and is now around $18 per tonne.
A project on "special woods" should also be of interest.
