Virginia Farm Bureau News Lead: Easing of Chinese ban on Virginia logs good news for exporters

This story will appear in the May 31st edition of News Leads, the week's top ag stories sent out by the VFB Communications Department to media across the state.

China has agreed to re-open its market to exports of Virginia logs, turning around an outstanding barrier to trade between the two countries.

Bans by the Chinese government on poultry and logs from Virginia have proven to be ongoing challenges for the state’s agriculture, forestry and shipping sectors.

“China is our second largest agricultural trade partner and the ban was negatively impacting both Virginia’s exporters and our valued customers in China,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell when he announced a six-month pilot project to re-open the Chinese market to Virginia’s hardwood and softwood log exporters. “My administration will continue working with all involved parties to see that this pilot program is successful and eventually leads to full open market access.”

In April 2011, China banned log exports from Virginia and South Carolina after insects were found in some shipments.

Under the terms of the pilot project, Virginia logs will be allowed to re-enter China beginning June 1 via designated ports and with enhanced pest treatment and testing protocols.

Scam Alert for Forest Landowners

The Virginia Department of Forestry has received several reports of a man posing as a representative of the state agency who is approaching elderly and widowed landowners in Central Virginia trying to buy the timber on their property. This is a scam that could cost the landowners tens of thousands of dollars.

VDOF Assistant Regional Forester Robbie Talbert said, “We have an individual who has been contacting landowners in Goochland and Fluvanna counties telling them that ‘Forestry’ has asked him to contact them regarding selling their timber. While he doesn’t explicitly mention the VDOF, by invoking ‘Forestry’ he is trying to associate himself with the Virginia Department of Forestry. VDOF does not have any employee or contractor contacting landowners for the purpose of selling their timber.