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A four-year program has begun testing whether predatory flies can control giant pine scale, an exotic sap-sucking pest that Australian authorities can currently fight only by cutting infested trees down. Source: Timberbiz The project is worth more than $2.45 million, including $1.1 million from Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), and is led by Agriculture Victoria through the Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. It is underpinned by a partnership with the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and its members and runs to November 2029. Giant pine scale (Marchalina hellenica) feeds on the sap of pine, fir and spruce, and heavy infestations dry a tree out and kill it. Infestations in Australia are confined to urban areas of Melbourne and Adelaide rather than the commercial softwood estate the industry is working to protect, and tree removal remains the only available control measure. Earlier work funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia identified three predatory insects, silver flies from the genus Neoleucopis, as potential biological control agents. The new project evaluates those predators, maps current infestations and identifies priority release sites using remote sensing, with the aim of delivering a national management program that targets core infestations while rapidly detecting and controlling new and outlier ones. Paco Tovar, National Forest Biosecurity Manager at the Australian Forest Products Association, said the combination could contain the pest before it reached plantations. “Biocontrol plus smarter surveillance could turn a runaway softwood pest into a manageable pressure,” Tovar said in the AFWI Highlights Report 2024-2026, released in Canberra on Tuesday. Researchers at the Hellenic Agricultural Organisation in Greece, where the pest is native, and at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International in Switzerland are working on the program alongside Australian forest health specialists ArborCarbon. The work sits inside a wider AFWI forest resilience and biosecurity portfolio worth more than $4.5 million, including more than $2.2 million of the institute’s own investment. That portfolio covers climate-driven risk models for pine pests and diseases led by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, hardwood plantation pest management through Adelaide University, and pheromone push and pull systems and insecticide-treated netting as alternatives to broadscale spraying against Ips bark beetles. A University of the Sunshine Coast study due to report in September is testing whether a previously unrecognised parasitic nematode strain has been undermining the inoculation programs growers run against Sirex woodwasp.

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A team developing an aerospace and environmental project based in Montreal is currently working at the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base, testing its technology. Source: CTV News The SAFARI-APEX project team from Montreal’s École de technologie supérieure has developed a prototype that uses cameras and artificial intelligence to monitor forests from above. The system is designed to spot conditions that could make an area more vulnerable to fire before one actually starts. “We are trying to just map all the forest and with this, we would be able to predict the risk of a fire happening in those areas,” said Serguei Markov, an IT engineer and one of the people behind the project. Markov said the system analyses factors such as vegetation, soil and humidity, information that could help focus fire prevention efforts where the risk is highest. “If we see that our risk is really high in this area, we could send a team over there, trying to cut some trees, maybe trying to diversify the type of plantation in those areas,” he said. A prototype, called Borealis, was sent into the atmosphere on a Canadian Space Agency stratospheric balloon in Timmins. The team plans to continue testing the technology, with the goal of getting this vital information to emergency services faster. Alex Vaillancourt, another member of the SAFARI-APEX team, said the project is also about young people taking on a problem that could affect future generations. “We kind of want to put the youth up front for a problem that is concerning us and our children and grandchildren,” Vaillancourt said. “Just to make a difference in what seems to be a super imminent threat.” The team has already won an Innovation in Research Award and was a finalist in the University Programs category of the Space Tech Challenge in California. The team hopes this is just the beginning.

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Logset Oy has a series of new products and upgrades across its harvesting range. The new Harvester 4.0 and the new generation of two-roller harvester heads and transmission upgrades bring improvements in operator comfort, serviceability, machine performance and harvesting technology. Source: Timberbiz The new products will be at FinnMETKO 2026 in Jämsä, Finland, from September 3–5. Customers, contractors and forestry professionals will have the opportunity to discover the latest Logset developments at stand 76. These developments are the result of Logset’s ongoing cooperation with operators, customers and its international dealer network. Feedback continues to play an important role in product development, from the operator’s working environment and machine serviceability to performance and harvester head technology. With Harvester 4.0, Logset introduces a completely renewed harvester cabin, designed around one of the most important factors in professional forestry: the operator. Larger front and side windows provide improved visibility of the working area and the surroundings of the machine. The redesigned cabin also offers more space for a passenger, increased storage capacity and improved integration of frequently used equipment. The new cabin concept includes integrated optional solutions for equipment such as an electronic measuring calliper, food heater and refrigerator, creating a more practical and comfortable working environment. Other new options include a heated windscreen and smooth HiFi, with a subwoofer and multiple speakers. The radio controls have also been upgraded for easier use. A significant reduction in cabin noise further improves operator comfort. A quieter working environment helps reduce fatigue during shifts and supports concentration throughout the day, which result in higher productivity. The interior has also been upgraded with a higher level of finishing and a more refined overall design. At the same time, materials and surfaces have been selected for the realities of forestry work, making the cabin easier to clean and maintain. Increased air-conditioning capacity provides better climate control in challenging working conditions. The new Smooth Ride option further enhances operator comfort by reducing vibrations generated during crane and harvester head operation, as well as the effects of machine movement. The result is a smoother working environment throughout the harvesting cycle. The technology has already proven its reliability over several years on Logset forwarders and is now available for Logset harvesters. The Harvester 4.0 generation also introduces a new electrical architecture across the machine. The redesigned system improves serviceability and provides easier access to the engine and other key components. Increased CAN communication capacity also provides a foundation for future functions and reliable machine operation. Cooling capacity has been increased by 15%, supporting reliable operation and machine performance in challenging working conditions. The Harvester 4.0 generation also introduces a new electrical architecture across the machine. The redesigned system improves serviceability and provides easier access to the engine and other key components. Increased CAN communication capacity also provides a foundation for future functions and reliable machine operation. Cooling capacity has been increased by 15%, supporting reliable operation and machine performance in challenging working conditions. The two-roller feeding concept combines a compact design with straightforward construction. The compact dimensions help keep the head agile and easy to handle, while the simplified structure supports reliability and ease of maintenance. Selected models also feature dual-speed feeding, allowing higher feeding speeds within an optimised diameter range to support productivity. The new generation harvester heads are now available with 360 rotator as an option. The 360 rotator is provided by Black Bruin and is fully integrated in the tilt arch with optimised hose routing. The 360 rotator is mainly intended for loose heads in processor use but is also available together with Logset harvesters. Alongside the new product launches, Logset continues to develop its existing machine range. The latest drivetrain upgrades are designed to increase transmission capacity, durability and performance. The transmission system receives a significant upgrade with a new heavy-duty (HD) differential combined with a revised transmission ratio. The new configuration increases transmission power capacity and will be introduced on 4F GT to 8F GT forwarders and 6HP to 8H GTE Hybrid harvesters. The 6F GT and 8F GT also receive a larger drive pump. The increased pump capacity complements the drivetrain upgrades and provides improved driving performance for demanding forestry operations. These upgrades reflect Logset’s approach to continuous product development: introducing new technologies while continuing to improve the performance, reliability and efficiency of the existing machine range.

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British Columbia’s forestry industry expects it will be one of the hardest-hit sectors by the United States’ new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. Source: CBC https://www.cbc.ca/ BC is the largest producer of lumber in Canada, and the industry plays a large role in the province’s economy. Most wood and forest products exported by B.C. are sold to the US, valued at about CAN$6.7 billion by the provincial government in 2024. “This is clearly an attack on Canada,” said Derek Nighbor, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada. Nighbor said the most recent trade action by the US government captures more than CAN$4 billion in Canadian lumber products that include not only raw materials, but also value-added and processed goods like fibreboard, particleboard, paper packaging, and wood moulding products. “We have billions of dollars worth of product that are caught up in this. We’re among the hardest-hit [industries],” said Nighbor. “It makes buying from Canada more expensive for American consumers.” He said the new tariffs come in addition to existing duties and tariffs, which have already weakened the softwood lumber industry. More than 20 mills have closed across BC since 2023, with three ending operations in just the last month. David Elstone, a strategic advisor to the forestry industry, said the trade negotiations that fell apart between Canada and the US come at a very tough time. “Unequivocally, this is the worst, absolutely worst situation we’ve ever been in,” said Elstone. Kim Haakstad, CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries, said the lumber industry as a whole is deeply invested in developing international markets and relationships overseas, but cannot compete on a global stage. “[What] we’re hearing is that Canadian products are getting a bit more expensive than some of our global competitors,” said Haakstad. She said the high cost of Canadian lumber is driven by both federal and provincial harvesting regulations, which drive up the cost to harvest and make it difficult to diversify to markets beyond the United States. Haakstad said the additional tariffs are going to make it even more difficult for the forestry and lumber industries, and that while she expects job losses as a result of the trade war, she hopes to prevent it. On Saturday, after he suspended trade talks with the US, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a speech that the decades-long process of increasing integration and collaboration between the Canadian and American economies was over. On Monday, he said Canada will return to the negotiating table when the US shows the “right attitude” and treats the country as a sovereign nation.

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The Tasmanian Government has released its nation-leading Modular Housing Finance Guarantee legislation for public consultation. The scheme will guarantee construction loans while homes are being built off-site, where limited collateral has historically restricted lending. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government is removing one of the biggest barriers to faster, more affordable housing with a nation-leading Finance Guarantee. “The draft Modular Housing Finance Guarantee Bill 2026 sets out the framework to partner with banks to unlock finance for modular homes during the construction phase, where traditional lending models fall short,” Mr Rockliff said. “Modular homes can be built in months, not years, and this reform ensures financing keeps pace with that innovation.” Treasurer Eric Abetz said the Government’s guarantee will reduce as construction progresses and cease once homes are installed and become standard mortgage security. “By addressing the financing gap, the initiative will accelerate housing supply, lower upfront costs, and improve access for first-home buyers,” the Treasurer said. “As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we are making targeted investments to deliver more homes across the State. “We will continue to work with industry and lenders as we progress the legislation.” Consultation will close on September 4.

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