In 1999, big corporations pushed around big amounts of timberland, while planning big projects and making big profits. Loggers, meanwhile, struggled for their share of the pie. Here are some highlights in chronological order: Several companies cut rates for pulpwood by $1 to $1.50 to ring in the new year. Simpson Timber announces it is building a new fir and hemlock sawmill in Tacoma, Wash.

One thing I learned on a recent visit to the Upper Peninsula: I will never be asked to operate a harvester. Thanks to my experience on Partek Forest, Inc.'s Harvester Training Simulator, I now know that as an equipment operator, I'm a decent writer. Seriously, my futile attempt at "operating" a Valmet 911 was the first highlight during a recent week-long trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The experts and analysts say people must embrace change in order to survive in the future. Well, the future is here. Change is certainly in the air in the forest products industry, and much of it is unsettling. Loggers are scrambling to stay alive, battling rising costs and a tight labor market while absorbing price cuts from mills, many of which are posting record profits.

Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation’s finest hardwood resources, including red oak, sugar maple, white ash and black cherry. “There is about a 250 mile stretch (radius) here that have some of the world’s most valuable hardwoods,” states David Sienko, co-owner of Sienko Forest Products (SFP), based here. “Other places have some of the same species, but they don’t have the quality and value we do in this region.”

Deere & Co., Moline, Ill., is acquiring Timberjack Group for $600 million (U.S.) in cash from Metso Corp. The participants made the announcement on December 13. Finland-based Metso Corp., which was formed last summer upon the merger of Valmet and Rauma, had earlier announced its intention to focus on process industries and to divest other assets. Rauma-Repola purchased Timberjack in 1989 for about $120 million (U.S.).

The 62nd Oregon Logging Conference is scheduled for February 24-26 at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, Ore., where $150 million in equipment displays from more than 400 exhibitors will greet almost 20,000 visitors, show organizers say. Theme of this year’s conference is “The Bridge to the 21st Century will be Wood,” and the event will include the traditional opening breakfast with keynote speaker and president’s address, plus three days of seminars and educational tours amidst plenty of tire kicking, networking and entertainment.