News photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Monday, trees are seen broken and lying across Wikaryasz Road. Foresters are working across counties to salvage damaged trees.

ALPENA — Many agricultural industries have been affected by the recent ice storm, and the forestry industry is just one. Michigan foresters have grim outlooks for the next couple of years but are confident that the forest product industry will rebound in the long term.

David Kossak, a wood procurement representative at PotlatchDeltic Corporation located in Gwinn, explained that depending on how many acres of red pine were damaged during the recent ice storm, his saw mill could be affected for years to come.

Kossak explained that his mill has harvested timber all the way from Gwin to Mio, and targets red pine, specifically. According to Kossak, red pine is most commonly used in construction in Michigan.

Currently, Kossak’s mill is harvesting salvaged red pine as a result of the recent ice storm. Kossak is hoping that they will finish harvesting the timber by July 1.

Because of the damage, Kossak said that the wood quality is compromised. Kossak said that the mill will have to reduce the prices on this salvaged timber to account for the imperfections.

However, Kossak is doubtful that much of the salvaged wood will actually be harvested.

“We are spending a lot of time inspecting sites … (there are) not enough loggers and mills to take salvaged wood,” Kossak said. “What’s going to happen to it?”

Kossak explained that red pine numbers have decreased over the years in the state, and the recent ice storm has exacerbated the shortage. Because red pine already has a short lifespan and minimal benefits to wildlife, Kossak said that there haven’t been many incentives for private landowners to replace the dwindling species.

According to Kossak, even if more red pine were planted now, they wouldn’t be salvaged until 30 to 50 years from now.

Brook Alloway, a forester at BN Forest Management in Alpena, said that the forest product industry will be fine, but they might have a few challenging years ahead of them. Even if the red pine market dips, Alloway is certain that the market will respond accordingly, as it always has.

“Some years people want maple…then oak prices go down,” Alloway said.

Because red pine was heavily damaged due to the ice storm, the forestry product market will be flooded with salvaged red pine, Alloway said. Mirroring Kossak’s assessment, Alloway also stated that mills will have to reduce prices of salvaged red pine to account for the damage.

This will have rippling effects within the logging industry.

Because many trees were damaged, loggers won’t be paying landowners as much for salvaged timber, Alloway said. She also stated loggers’ production costs and labor costs will increase as a result of the ice storm.

Due to the extensive damage in Michigan forests, Alloway said loggers will have to be more cautious and mindful of broken limbs hung up in other trees. This will undeniably slow down crews.

“There are plenty of opportunities for injury,” Alloway said.

Alloway stated that because of these factors, coupled with the declining value of damaged timber, the forest product industry will be affected no matter what.

“It is going to be challenging … (but) I think the forest product industry will rebound,” Alloway said.

Alloway also mentioned that because current loggers and truckers are aging out of the profession, there is not enough manpower to salvage everything. And as lying dead trees rot, it will attract insects.

According to Alloway, because there will be an increase in diseased, dying, and dead trees, insect populations will feed and multiply, thus migrating to healthier, neighboring trees. Though it is an unfortunate reality, Alloway noted the inevitability.

In the coming years, Alloway predicts that landowners will most likely get paid less for timber from loggers as the quality will decline.

Many young aspen trees were snapped in half, and Alloway said those don’t hold value. Even damaged hardwoods won’t be valued the same.

“It is devastating to see the damage,” Alloway said.

Though it may be a race for landowners to salvage what they can, Alloway explained that spring thaws and flooding make it even more difficult for loggers to navigate wooded areas, not to mention the current safety concerns.

In the end, however, Alloway is still optimistic for her industry.

“Long term … everyone will be fine,” Alloway said.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.