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Several environmental, social, and economic factors are affecting the ability of loggers to find stumpage and maintain profit margins. Some of these factors include: 1) increased regulation of forest practices; 2) reductions in stumpage volume put on the market by public land management agencies; 3) increased stumpage prices are causing a decrease in profit margins; 4) difficulty in locating capital for mechanization; and 5) changing landowner attitudes about what they want from their forestland. Continuing education could help loggers respond to these changing factors and has been found to be a valuable source of information for helping loggers deal with critical problems (4).
A logging business management survey asked loggers in northern Minnesota to identify their primary business problems (4). Finding and purchasing raw material and financial or business management issues topped their list of concerns. While nearly 60 percent of the respondents said they had participated in continuing education programs dealing with safety and environmental rules or regulations, only 33 percent of the respondents had attended a financial management session. Almost 90 percent of the respondents indicated they would be willing to attend future workshops if they were of value to their business and available at little or no cost.
This willingness to attend continuing education programs that involve safety or regulations indicates that loggers attend sessions when the rewards are immediate or obvious. It was recently suggested that the perception of value and immediate returns from education activities will largely determine the attendance at many programs (2). Programs on topics like safety or environmental rules provide immediate and tangible benefits of injury reductions, cost savings, or the translation of regulatory requirements. Programs where the economic benefits may not be obvious (e.g., silvicultural education) are not high priority, as loggers feel their time is better spent with their operation.
This paper reports the findings of a survey of Minnesota loggers and industry representatives. The purpose of the survey was to identify high-priority needs that could be addressed through continuing education during the period 1993 to 1995.
MINNESOTA LOGGERS
In Minnesota, two organized groups represent loggers' interests--the Minnesota Timber Producers Association (TPA) and the Associated Contract Loggers (ACL). The TPA is a statewide organization with a membership of about 500 including small and large wood-consuming...