Friday Offcuts – 7 November 2025
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week’s issue of Friday Offcuts.November is shaping up to be a big month for forestry, with Australasia’s premier forestry technology series, ForestTECH 2025, returning to Rotorua and Melbourne. The event brings together researchers, tech providers, and forest managers to explore the latest in AI, remote sensing, and precision silviculture. Don’t miss out - register today. In news this week, AFPA has highlighted the industry’s A$100 million annual contribution to bushfire prevention, while the government is consulting on a new National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy, backed by A$1.1 billion in investment. In New Zealand, new limits on farm-to-forest conversions aim to protect productive land, while a newly discovered fungus, Penicillium rotoruae, could boost the bioeconomy. Foresta has welcomed support for its wood energy plant, and new tech is improving forestry road safety. Also featured: Interpine’s access to 1m satellite imagery, CHH’s mill sale, stable log prices, Air NZ’s carbon removals, Tasmania’s emission cuts, and Finland’s data-driven wood trade model. Read these stories and more in this packed edition of Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
The forestry sector’s critical role preparing for bushfires
Australia’s forestry sector is responsible for more than
$100 million of direct annual investment into bushfire prevention,
mitigation and response nationally, so it’s important to
remember this critical industry contribution as the bushfire season in
the southern states commences, Australian Forest Products Association
(AFPA) Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said.“Australia’s forest industry managers make an enormous contribution to bush firefighting, prevention and mitigation efforts alongside government agencies, volunteer groups and other landholders. As the weather warms up and our forests and landscapes dry out, forest industries are well prepared to fight potential threats to forestry assets, farms, reserves and regional communities,” Diana Hallam said. “While the bushfire season is underway, fire management is a year-round process, and our forestry companies invest a significant amount of effort and resources into prevention and preparedness activities to ensure our staff are educated and prepared to the best of their ability to protect Australia’s forest estates.” A new survey of AFPA members shows the contribution the sector makes towards reducing and managing bushfire risk and fighting fires when they start. AFPA members are responsible for:
This year’s outlook suggests an increased risk of bushfire during spring in parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. The official summer 2025-26 bushfire outlook will be issued in November. Source: Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Full NZ farm-to-forest conversion limits now in place
Legislation to protect productive farmland by limiting farm-to-forest conversions is now in place, marking a campaign promise
fulfilled, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says.
The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme - Forestry Conversion) Amendment Act came into effect on 31 October 2025 and forest owners will notice these changes in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) system from this week. “Through this Act the Government delivered on protecting food production, supporting rural communities, and ensuring foresters can continue to invest with confidence,” Mr McClay says. The legislation restricts exotic forests from entering the ETS on Land Use Capability (LUC) class 1-6 land - New Zealand’s most productive soils - with certain exceptions, including for Māori-owned land and erosion-prone areas. Farmers will retain flexibility to plant some land should they choose. Transitional exemptions from the restrictions are available for those who can demonstrate both a clear interest in the land and a qualifying forestry investment made between 1 January 2021 and 4 December 2024. “Farming and forestry are both important to our regional economies and communities and this Government is supporting both sectors to create jobs and grow exports,” Mr McClay says. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has worked to keep the sector well informed, including running webinars to explain the new restrictions. Its website has been updated to include the changes and guidance documents. Dedicated MPI staff will continue to provide specific support. Source: NZ Government Australia's bioenergy feedstock industry plan consultation
The Albanese Labor Government has kicked off consultation on the
development of a National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy to support new
opportunities for our farmers and producers.Bioenergy is a critical renewable alternative to conventional fossil fuels and will be an important part of Australia’s transition to net zero. Bioenergy needs a consistent supply of feedstocks, providing Australian farmers and foresters with new opportunities to supply the necessary biomass. To support this, the Albanese Labor Government is developing a National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy. It will help establish a coordinated, national direction for the sustainable development of bioenergy feedstock production – which will support economic opportunities and more jobs in our regions. “We have listened to supply chain stakeholders who have called for government to set out a direction for a domestic feedstock industry," said the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP. “Building a strong bioenergy feedstock industry will not only support significantly reducing Australia’s emissions, but it will also boost our domestic fuel security and deliver economic benefits at a national level." The new Strategy is backed by significant new investment from the Albanese Labor Government, including A$1.1 billion to help unlock the vast economic opportunities on offer from low carbon liquid fuels. “Supplying bioenergy feedstocks is an exciting new commercial opportunity for farmers, foresters and our regional communities, which is why we want to support industry to develop and seize on these opportunities," said Julie Collins MP. The new ten-year Cleaner Fuels Program will stimulate private investment in Australian onshore production of low carbon liquid fuels, such as renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy discussion paper seeks industry expertise and views, including on issues such as infrastructure requirements, social licence and sustainability, research and development needs and coordination across jurisdictions. Submissions on the discussion paper can be made until 07 November 2025. To have your say on the discussion paper and to help inform the development of the strategy, visit the National Bioenergy Feedstock Strategy website. Source & image credit: Australian Government --(2022)2.jpg) Interpine welcomes a new era of daily 1m imagery
Interpine is proud to be New Zealand’s Planet Partner,
delivering high-frequency satellite imagery to forestry and natural
resource clients across the country. For years, our clients
have benefited from near-daily monitoring at 3m GSD (Ground Sample
Distance) using Planet’s SuperDove constellation—supporting
applications from windthrow detection to harvest tracking and waterway
monitoring.Now, Planet has announced its next-generation satellite fleet: OWL. These new satellites will deliver near-daily 1m class imagery with low latency, dramatically enhancing the resolution and speed of Earth observation. Equipped with NVIDIA GPUs, OWL satellites will perform AI-powered onboard analysis, enabling faster insights and smarter monitoring capabilities than ever before. OWL maintains compatibility with existing PlanetScope workflows, ensuring seamless integration for users already leveraging SuperDove data. With a wider swath width (60+ km) and enhanced geolocation accuracy (<10 m CE90), OWL is set to redefine what’s possible in forestry, environmental monitoring, and land management. At Interpine, we’re excited to bring this leap in satellite technology to our clients. Whether you’re monitoring forest health, assessing storm damage, or managing land use, OWL’s sharper view and smarter insights will empower better decisions—faster. Timeline for OWL Satellite Rollout Planet has announced that the first OWL satellite will launch as a technical demonstration in late 2026, with the full fleet entering production and deployment in the years following. This phased rollout ensures continuity with existing SuperDove operations while gradually introducing higher-resolution, AI-enhanced capabilities to customers worldwide At Interpine, we’re excited to bring this leap in satellite technology to our clients late next year. Whether you’re monitoring forest health, assessing storm damage, or managing land use, OWL’s sharper view and smarter insights will empower better decisions—faster. For more technical details on OWL and its capabilities, visit Planet’s official page: OWL – Next-generation Monitoring | Planet. More >> Source: Interpine Image credit: Planet Interprine will be presenting this month at both ForestTECH 2025 in New Zealand and Australia. 
Foresta welcomes Govt support as Kawerau plant planned
A $9 million government boost to wood energy production has been
welcomed by a company with its sights set on building a torrefied wood-pellet plant in Kawerau. Minister for Energy Simon Watts
announced the Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan last month.In line with the plan, the Government is offering $3m in co-funding via the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and $6m in repayable grants to businesses looking at building wood-energy supply manufacturing facilities. Foresta, an Australian company planning to build a $410m wood-pellet plant in Kawerau, told Local Democracy Reporting that it had already applied for funding under the new facility. “If successful, this will support our plans to accelerate development of our site at Kawerau,” said Foresta business development manager Dean Ormond. More >> Source: Local Democracy Reporting via NZ Herald Image credit: Foresta New research shows fungus can strengthen NZ bioeconomy
New Bioeconomy Science Institute research shows a fungus discovered in 2020 can process wood and agricultural waste more effectively than traditional commercial enzymes – helping transition forestry into a high-value manufacturing sector.The fungus, Penicillium rotoruae, was discovered as a new species growing on radiata pine in the timber graveyard at Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – and named after Rotorua. By producing natural enzymes that can easily break down the complex sugars in softwood, it will efficiently transform low-value wood waste into fermentable sugars. Project leader, Dr Alankar Vaidya, says it will help produce sustainable green fuels, chemicals, biomaterials and bioproducts that will strengthen New Zealand’s circular bioeconomy while cutting reliance on fossil resources. “This will support forest-based economies and bioindustrial clusters by adding value to existing resources, which could enhance regional sustainability. It will also disrupt the industrial biorefining market, which relies on expensive commercial enzyme cocktails to process wood and agricultural waste. “Softwood such as radiata pine is a major renewable resource but notoriously difficult to process due to resistant cell wall structures. This breakthrough will speed up and enhance the productivity of enzymatic hydrolysis* – traditionally a bottleneck in biorefinery processing – to make wood conversion cleaner and cheaper. “Natural enzyme blends from the new fungus can replace or complement costly commercial enzyme formulations, reducing feedstock conversion costs. Faster and more complete hydrolysis of softwood translates directly to increased yields of fermentable sugars – which are critical inputs for bioethanol, bioplastics and bio-based chemicals,” Alankar says. In New Zealand, wood (biomass) from planted radiata pine forests is the one renewable feedstock available in large enough quantities to compete with fossil resources. Using current processes, more than half of the softwood biomass is degraded into low-value material under harsh conditions. New Zealand needs a nature-based approach to make the most efficient use of available softwood biomass – to reduce waste. This innovative study shows how natural enzyme systems can pave the way towards a more sustainable, circular bioeconomy in New Zealand and globally. “This study will be really helpful as a long-term cross-disciplinarity example for researchers across the Bioeconomy Science Institute, as well as other institutions in New Zealand and overseas,” Alankar says. “It presents valuable intellectual property potential for biotechnology companies, aligning with New Zealand’s strategy to monetise indigenous biological assets in sustainable innovation.” Penicillium rotoruae is the first fungi in Rotorua that's been publicly named after the city. *Enzymatic hydrolysis is a biochemical process where enzymes use a catalyst to break down large molecules into smaller ones, such as proteins into amino acids. Source & image credit: BSI | Scion Group  SnapSTAT - A climate for sufficiency
Q: How many countries have a lifestyle carbon footprint that exceeds 1.5 deg C? A: ALL  Read more: "A Climate for Sufficiency" is a sobering update of the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle by Lloyd Alter Tech solution for forestry road safety
Forestry roads nationwide are set to become safer, thanks to a new
agreement between WorkSafe New Zealand and one of the country’s
largest forest management companies.Forest360 Limited has agreed to fund a range of actions in response to a death on one of its sites. 59-year-old Greg Stevens was killed when his logging truck and trailer rolled while negotiating a tight bend on a Coromandel forestry road in May 2023. WorkSafe’s investigation found the design, maintenance, and risk assessment of the road by Forest360 was inadequate. The company’s funded response forms a binding commitment, known as an enforceable undertaking (EU), which WorkSafe has accepted. It comprises an investment of over $400,000 including:
“The software development has the potential to transform how forestry roads are assessed for safety. By making cutting-edge technology accessible across the industry, Forest360’s initiatives could significantly reduce risk and save lives.” Forestry is a priority for WorkSafe as it had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024. Our role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities to keep people healthy and safe. This is the first time WorkSafe has accepted such a commitment from the forestry sector. EUs are a way for WorkSafe to hold businesses accountable for health and safety breaches. We monitor progress on the agreed commitments and can seek a court order if they are not upheld. Two other businesses remain before the court in relation to the death of Gregory Albert Stevens. More >> Source & image credit: WorkSafe NZ  CHH sells its Myrtleford plywood mill to Porta Products
Myrtleford’s plywood mill has new owners.
Porta Products Pty Ltd, which is part of the Borg Group,
officially acquired the New Zealand owned Carter Holt Harvey Plywood Pty
Ltd (CHH Plywood) last Friday. The Borg Group is a privately-owned,
vertically integrated and diversified business spanning manufacturing,
forestry, and property development.A Borg spokesperson told the Myrtleford Times/Alpine Observer that the company was excited by the acquisition of the mill and its existing workforce, which manufacture a leading Australian plywood product range, currently sold under the Ecoply brand, including structural and non-structural grades, flooring, and formwork. The spokesperson said the purchase “further supports Porta’s continued growth and diversification within the Australian timber and panels industry”. It is understood all existing staff have been maintained with the change of ownership, and the mill’s capacity to grow and optimise production will be among considerations moving forward. More >> Source: Myrtleford Times/Alpine Observer Image credit: Porta Products NZ Log Market - October 2025 review
October AWG prices for export logs were unchanged from September.
CFR log prices in China have remained stable, as have shipping costs,
aside from short‑lived increases, while the NZD’s relative recent
weakness against the USD continues to influence AWG prices.Demand remains subdued in both China and India, coinciding with the Mid‑Autumn and Diwali festivals, respectively. Log Inventory in China remained stable around the Chinese holiday period. However, log demand in China remains flat during a period when it would typically rise seasonally. Domestically, log prices and demand have seen little change, with the industry cautiously anticipating a potential summer revival in construction activity. Mills are also having to cope with increased tariffs on exports to the United States. The PF Olsen Log Price Index remains at $121. This is $1 above the two-year average and level with the five-year average. Domestic Log Market Sawmills producing clear-wood sawn timber for export to the United States are having to contend with higher tariffs that are making their products less competitive. Construction cost increases in New Zealand remain flat with annual cost increases now around 1%, and just 0.4% in the September 2025 quarter. This is providing some certainty for pricing projects, that wasn’t the situation post-covid with the disrupted supply chains. In a recent AEOCOM New Zealand Infrastructure and Building Survey, a shortage of skilled workers was the most cited risk by participants to a construction recovery. Interestingly while 80% of the industry are extremely, very or moderately worried about the impact of climate change and extreme weather events and say natural disaster preparedness tops investment planning priorities, low-carbon transition is least prioritized in planning. This doesn’t bode well for increasing the use of timber in construction projects. Export Log Markets - China CFR prices for A-grade logs remain in the range around USD 115-118 per JASm³ for October vessel arrivals. Some log exporters tried to increase prices in China in the second half of October but were unsuccessful. The market does not currently see enough log demand to justify price increases. Daily pine log port offtake is still around the 55k m3, and the outlook for construction activity is extremely negative. Softwood log inventories remain unchanged at approximately 2.4 million m³, which is a positive sign after the Mid-Autum festival. Demand for pruned logs has softened and it is sap-stain season with shoulder seasons in both New Zealand and China meaning temperatures are conducive to fungal growth. More >> Source: Scott Downs, PF Olsen  Air NZ's first internationally verified carbon removals
In a move to help spark a voluntary carbon market in New
Zealand, Air New Zealand has committed to buy 8000 tonnes of
internationally verified, New Zealand nature-based carbon removals by
2030, in partnership with My Native Forest.My Native Forest provides a platform to invest in planting and restoring native forests across Aotearoa New Zealand in return for verified carbon removals. Carbon removals are a type of carbon credit - a tool that puts a value on removing, reducing or avoiding carbon in the atmosphere. Carbon removals are an important type of carbon credit because they take carbon out of the atmosphere, rather than simply avoiding or reducing emissions elsewhere. Air New Zealand's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin, says the partnership with My Native Forest signals the airline's commitment to starting in its own backyard and its confidence in New Zealand's potential for a high-quality voluntary carbon market. "Native forest planting takes time, so it's important to secure future supply now. As New Zealand's national carrier, the co-benefits for biodiversity and pest control here at home in Aotearoa make this agreement even more powerful," says Kiri Hannifin. "Aviation is widely known as one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Levers like scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuel, optimising our fleet and network, and alternative propulsion aircraft are complex, expensive and heavily reliant on third parties. High-integrity carbon credits will also play a significant role in the aviation industry reaching net zero by 2050, and we think New Zealand has a lot to offer due to our international reputation, land and natural environment. Starting now helps ensure the market will be ready when we really need it." Through its partnership with My Native Forest, the airline has committed to 8000 tonnes of removals (including 500 in 2028, 2500 in 2029, and 5000 in 2030). The credits, each representing one tonne of carbon removed, will be verified to international standards and issued through a global registry. Mitchell McLaughlin, co-founder of My Native Forest, says the new partnership with Air New Zealand demonstrates how carbon finance can unlock large-scale native forest restoration, with land blocks currently being considered in Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, Tairawhiti Gisborne, Waikato, Auckland and Northland. "Air New Zealand will provide capital in return for carbon removals that would have otherwise flowed offshore. Instead, it will be directed straight into local native forests. This partnership shows that planting native trees is no longer just a goodwill exercise, it is a genuine, commercially viable choice for landowners. By creating an income stream that recognises integrity, we can help landowners right here in our own country to restore biodiversity, protect waterways, and build resilience into their land while also delivering high-integrity carbon removals. More >> Source & image credit: Air New Zealand Boyer Paper Mill to slash carbon emissions by 97%
Tasmania’s Boyer Paper Mill will cut its carbon emissions
by 97% after the federal government delivered on a A$24 million election
promise to replace the site’s coal-fired boiler.Federal Labor MP Rebecca White said A$14 million had been released last week to install an electric boiler at the mill, with the remaining A$10 million to be rolled out over the next three years. The decarbonisation project will eliminate 175,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year. “The decarbonisation of the boiler here at Boyer is equivalent to taking one-third of combustion engines off Tasmania’s roads,” White said. Boyer Mill general manager Patrick Dooley said the new electrode boiler is expected to be delivered late next year, with commissioning scheduled for the first quarter of 2027. More >> Source: Pulse Tasmania Metsa Group introduces a new wood trade operating model
Showing the way forward, Metsä Group will introduce a data-analytics-based operating model for wood trade, in which the bearing
capacity of soil and the prevailing weather conditions determine the
harvesting time for felling sites.From 1 November 2025, the bearing capacity of soil will also be used as a wood trade pricing factor in all stumpage sales concluded with Metsä Group. As a pricing factor, bearing capacity will replace the traditionally used harvestability, which is linked to seasons – harvestable in summer, winter or at all times. "To date, harvesting has been carried out based on a seasonally bound harvesting time, without paying attention to the optimal time of individual felling sites. We’re now aiming for even better customer experience and harvesting results in our owner-members’ forests by combining extensive datasets and our solid harvesting competence in a new way,” says Juho Rantala, SVP, Wood Trade and Forest Services at Metsä Group. In the new operating model, Metsä Group uses data about the soil type, site type, moisture and trees provided by operators such as the National Land Survey of Finland, the Geological Survey of Finland and Natural Resources Institute Finland to allocate felling sites and their routes to three different categories of bearing capacity (good, normal or limited bearing capacity). By combining the defined bearing capacity category and up-to-date weather information, Metsä Group will estimate the optimal harvesting time for each felling site. By separate agreement, the harvesting of a felling site can be limited to winter conditions. “Climate change is already challenging our operating models in Finland, as abnormal weather conditions affect and complicate harvesting. As has been seen recently – and increasingly so due to global warming – the lack of long frost seasons can lead to harvesting conditions being weaker in the winter than in dry periods in the summer. Analytics enable more accurate planning, which will help us optimise harvesting more evenly around the year and increase the number of felling sites harvested when the ground is unfrozen. We can also pay forest owners a better price for them than for sites harvested in winter conditions,” says Rantala, explaining the new operating model. The bearing capacity of the felling site and the route between the site and the storage site is one of many factors affecting wood trade pricing. Other factors include the demand situation, tree species, tree volume and quality of wood, amount of wood harvested, location, and forest transport distances. More >> Source & image credit: Metsä Group  Jobs
Buy and Sell
And one to end the week on... Can you load a logging truck?
Attempting log loading: Every year, loggers, vendors, and timber representatives from Minnesota and around the Upper Midwest attend the North Star Expo. Held at the Itasca County Fairgrounds in Grand Rapids, the Expo is Minnesota’s biggest logging equipment show. And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers.  Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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