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At least one economist and a local timber products manufacturer see a bright future for the Southern forest industry. Lynn Michaelis, president of Strategic Economic Analysis, told participants at the Georgia Forestry Association conference last month that the next 10 years could be the decade of forestry in Georgia.

Hal Storey, vice president at S.I. Storey Lumber in Armuchee, also sees a positive outlook for the industry — with one caveat. Storey said the softwood lumber agreement with Canada is due to expire in October 2015, and there’s been little movement to negotiate a new one. The trade agreement addresses the U.S. contention that the Canadian industry is unfairly subsidized by provincial governments.

Still, Storey said his company has had a good year. “It’s a little slower now than it was a few months ago, but this feels like a more typical pre-recession year,” Storey said. “We feel good about where we are and the industry as a whole.”

Michaelis said the economy has been as unpredictable as the World Cup, but the state is well-situated to take advantage of a rebound. “Georgia’s abundance of trees could position the state to reap some big rewards: more production, new jobs, greater revenues. A triple play,” said Michaelis.

The economist believes that one of the factors that should benefit the Georgia forestry industry is a comeback in the housing sector. Since the Great Recession, demand for new homes was almost nonexistent — until the last 18 months.

From the Rome News-Tribune: https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/business/economist-says-future-looks-good-for-southern-forest-industry/article_06354332-1a9f-11e4-b6fc-0017a43b2370.html