Monday edition
October 26, 2026
CANADA — FOREST RESEARCH / OCTOBER 22 REPORT
A faster wildfire model gives planners more room to test scenarios
Mila and Natural Resources Canada have developed an artificial-intelligence emulator of the BurnP3+ wildfire simulator. Mila’s October 22 report says it ran 806–3,400 times faster, depending on hardware, using simulation maps from Canada’s 2026 national hazard mapping as training data.
The intended use is to compare more climate and vegetation scenarios before checking selected scenarios precisely with BurnP3+. Hazard maps describe an area’s propensity to burn and fire behaviour; risk also depends on the people, property and activities exposed.
The emulator produces approximations and complements the simulator and analysts’ expertise. Distribution to BurnP3+ users and further testing of operational limitations remain next steps. The partners have made the code, models and methodology openly available.
Mila’s original research report and limitations → Project, code and research resources →
By the Numbers
Latest available observations checked October 26. Weekly releases and Friday’s close remain the latest available observations before Monday trading; the next EIA release is October 27.
U.S. on-highway diesel
US$6.276/gal for , versus US$6.179/gal for : up US$0.097/gal (+1.57%). Latest weekly observation, released October 20. EIA series EMD_EPD2D_PTE_NUS_DPG → Current EIA release →
Lumber futures — November 2026 contract
US$518.50/MBF at the close, versus US$532.50/MBF at the close: down US$14.00/MBF (−2.63%). Both observations are for the November contract. Investing.com historical closes → Named-contract identification →
Madison’s Lumber Prices Index
US$495/MBF for the week ending , versus US$499/MBF for the week ending : down US$4/MBF (−0.80%, calculated from the displayed values). Madison’s dated index report →
Mills & Products
SOUTH — GEORGIA / TENNESSEE / OCTOBER 22 REPORT
Oakcrest acquisition brings two hardwood operations under new ownership
Oakcrest Lumber & Flooring has acquired Oakcrest’s flooring facilities and related lumber operations in Buena Vista, Georgia, and Newport, Tennessee, Woodworking Network reported October 22. The newly formed buyer shares common ownership with T&F Lumber Company of Monticello, Georgia.
Buena Vista produces unfinished solid hardwood flooring; Newport produces unfinished engineered flooring and Appalachian kiln-dried hardwood lumber. The operations will retain the Oakcrest name.
President and CEO William Faircloth said the company intends to preserve the workforce and customer and supplier relationships while developing its capabilities. The report does not disclose a transaction price, a capacity-expansion commitment or a new purchasing specification.
Action Detector
NORTHEAST — VERMONT / SCHEDULED OCTOBER 26 OPENING
Timber disaster-aid window is scheduled to begin today
Vermont scheduled its agriculture and timber disaster-assistance application window to open October 26. Eligible timber landowners and contracted loggers with qualifying 2023–2024 weather losses may receive up to 95% of demonstrated losses, capped at US$75,000, subject to program review and available funding.
Previously compensated losses and losses from the 2025 drought are excluded. Applicants with several eligible losses document them in one application; the assistance is not a new grant for ordinary equipment purchases.
The forestry department lists December 31 as the deadline and ANR.FPRFloods@vermont.gov or 802-828-2899 for timber-program assistance. The announced opening date does not establish that the online portal is already accepting submissions this morning; the program office and current application instructions are the access routes.
Original state opening announcement → Current program eligibility and application resources → Timber-specific deadline and assistance →
WEST — ARIZONA / TOUR RSVP DUE OCTOBER 27
Fort Valley adds a second look at its thinning contract
The National Forest Foundation has added a second pre-bid tour for Fort Valley Experimental Forest on October 28 at 10 a.m. Arizona time. Contractors must contact Chad Kim at ckim@nationalforests.org by October 27 for the RSVP list and meeting details.
The Coconino National Forest project near Flagstaff covers up to 1,656 acres of mastication, hand thinning and piling of live and dead ponderosa pine up to nine inches in diameter at breast height. Its stated objectives are lower stand density, fewer ladder fuels and improved residual-tree growth and resilience.
The current listing extends proposals to November 12, superseding the older RFP’s November 5 date. Tour attendance is encouraged, rather than stated as mandatory. The current listing and full scope provide the bidding materials.
Current listing, added tour and extended deadline → Fort Valley full project scope →
Under the Radar
UNDER THE RADAR — NEW FBS PODCAST
New episode examines surviving hardwood market shifts
“FBS 60 Surviving Hardwood Market Shifts” is available on Spotify and YouTube. The episode discusses An Overview of the Hardwood Industry in the 21st Century by Scott Bowe and Matt Bumgardner, a Forest Resources Association award-winning publication.
Its official description connects changes in furniture manufacturing, exports and industrial hardwood markets with decisions facing loggers, foresters and mill owners. The links below provide the audio episode and its matching video version.
Listen on Spotify → Watch on YouTube → Official show description and episode metadata →
Today's Featured Resources
BARK — Bick’s App for Resource Know-How
app: BARK is a browser-based field-calculator app for tree and stand measurements. Its tools cover timber volume, biomass, basal area, sampling dimensions and related estimates, with formulas and references shown.
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