The American Landowner

On this episode, Robert Dudley interviews Dana Spessert. Dana is the chief inspector of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA). He grew up in the hardwood industry in West Virginia, working in sawmills from a young age. He discusses the unique challenges of hardwood forestry compared to softwoods, including the longer growth cycles, diverse species, and need for selective harvesting. Hardwoods have a more complex and specialized market, with domestic and international demand factors. Spessert highlights the NHLA's role in setting grading standards, training inspectors, and advocating for the industry. He emphasizes the value of the NHLA's lumber grading school in Memphis, which provides practical, hands-on training that is highly applicable to working in the hardwood industry. Spessert advises landowners to carefully manage their hardwood stands, seek professional forestry advice, and understand the diverse markets and end-uses for different hardwood species to maximize the value of their timber.