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NELMA Partners with UMaine for Lumber Grading Workshop

NELMA recently partnered with the University of Maine to provide a one-day lumber grading workshop for students within the School of Forest Resources. As part of the School’s Spring Camp, 28 students participated in the hands-on exercise held May 19 at Camp Roosevelt in Eddington, Maine.  A more extensive, two-day workshop was conducted by NELMA at the School’s 2016 Camp for students.UMaine School of Forest Resources

Floyd Corbin (NELMA Lumber Inspector) and Don Pendergast (NELMA Lumber Inspector – Retired) shared their 53 years of combined lumber grading expertise to the group. Beginning with classroom instructions, students viewed a selection of boards to learn about the numerous natural and manufacturing defects that occur in lumber that can affect the final grade. The second half of the day moved outdoors where multiple logs were scaled and then sawn for use by Floyd and Don to demonstrate the grade yield and comparison of scale measure versus actual lumber production by log.

“For most of these forest resource students, this interactive educational opportunity was their first exposure to the process of lumber grading,” explained Jeff Easterling, NELMA President. “Hopefully the workshop, albeit only one day, will instill the importance of the grading profession to the success of the sawmill industry.”

NELMA would like to thank University of Maine faculty, Douglas Gardner – Professor of Forest Operations, Bioproducts, & Bioenergy, and Louis Morin – Instructor of Forest Resources, for their support and on-site assistance in making this a successful workshop for Camp students.

 

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