Kretz Lumber Company Forester Dennis Fincher provides an update on the cleanup efforts of this summer's historic storms here in central Wisconsin. How does the snow effect cleanup? And what silver linings are to be found?
Tuesday, 14 July 2020 10:58
2020 Forestry Field Day Postponed
After consulting with our team and taking into consideration state and national recommendations with regard to Covid-19, we have made the tough decision to postpone our 2020 Forestry Field Day. Our hope is that we can reschedule it in 2021.
We are just as disappointed as you. We love this event and look forward to hosting it. But bringing hundreds of people together on our watch just doesn’t seem like the responsible thing to do right now.
It’s worth mentioning, while we all can’t be together as a group this year, our forestry team is still available to meet with you one on one. If you have questions related to your woodlots, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone 800-352-1438 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or directly to your Kretz Lumber Company Forester.
We’ll keep you posted as we look to reschedule in 2021. Until then, take care of yourself and one another.
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Tuesday, 14 July 2020 10:39
Mill Shutdowns Impacting Landowner Timber Harvests
The effects of Covid-19 have begun to disrupt our forest operations. With the shutdown of the Wisconsin Rapids mill and other hardwood pulp mills running idle, finding a place to go with hardwood pulp is becoming increasingly difficult.
What does this mean for you as a landowner? Today, if your standing hard timber is harvested, you may have to leave the pulp behind in the woods due to the fact we currently have mills operating that are only accepting bolts and logs. The unknown of what the future holds makes it difficult to know whether to harvest or hold out and wait for the market to come back. We understand this puts landowners in a precarious position.
From our perspective, if we do not get these local pulp mills up and running soon, it will have a devastating impact on not just the timber industry, but the whole great lakes state region. Hundreds of jobs have already been lost because of the Rapids and Duluth mills being shut down, however, other suppliers to those operations are also beginning to suffer with additional layoffs imminent.
Our team of foresters is staying up-to-date on this situation and will stay in touch with our landowners to keep you updated on this situations as well. Please feel free to reach out to our forestry team with any questions or concerns related to your own woodlots.
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Industry News
Tuesday, 14 July 2020 10:25
2020 Summer Photo Facebook Contest
Submit your best Wisconsin summer photo!
Enter our contest by uploading your favorite photo to our Facebook page. We’ll compile all entries into an album and fans will then vote on their favorite. The image with the most likes at the end of the voting period will receive a $25 Mills Fleet Farm gift card!
To enter our contest:
- Like Kretz Lumber Company's Facebook page.
- Post your photo submission to our page by 11:59 pm CST on July 31, 2020.
Only one photo/submission per person. All photos submitted must be your personal image and cannot be purchased, copyrighted, or taken off the internet. Image must have been taken in Wisconsin by the individual submitting it. - All submissions will be added to a Facebook photo album on August 1, 2020 and then voted on by Kretz Lumber Facebook fans through August 10, 2020. The picture with the most likes as of 11:59 pm CST on August 10, 2020 will win one $25 Fleet Farm gift card.
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Wednesday, 01 April 2020 10:46
Is Kretz Lumber Company an Essential Business?
When the most recent guidlines came out defining essential and non-essential businesses, Kretz Lumber Company was deemed essential. You might be wondering, what makes us essential?
One of the core products we provide is pallet boards. From food to healthcare, pallets are instrumental in shipping and transporting of goods. The pallet industry needs these boards to protect against supply chains disruptions.
Our sawmill also produces animal bedding to farmers, and chips to paper mills. The majority of these products stay here in the central Wisconsin region. It is a good feeling to know our efforts are helping out people right here in our backyard.
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Industry News
Thursday, 23 January 2020 08:09
2020 Winter Photo Facebook Contest
It's time to get outside and take some pictures of Wisconsin's winter scenery!
Share your best winter-in-Wisconsin picture with us by uploading one of your photos to our Facebook page. We’ll compile all entries into an album and fans will then vote on their favorite. The image with the most likes at the end of the voting period takes home the top prize of a $25 Mills Fleet Farm gift card.
To enter our contest:
- Like Kretz Lumber Company's Facebook page.
- Post your submission to our page by 11:59 pm CST on February 6, 2020.
Only one photo/submission per person. Any photo submitted must be your personal image and cannot be purchased or copyrighted. Image must have been taken in Wisconsin.
- All submissions will be added to a Facebook photo album February 7, 2020 and then voted on by Kretz Lumber Facebook fans through February 14, 2020. The picture with the most likes as of 11:59 pm CST on February 14, 2020 will win one $25 Fleet Farm gift card.
- Enjoy the great outdoors and good luck!
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Thursday, 02 January 2020 11:49
Wisc. Summer Storm/Blowdown Cleanup Update
Our team is working overtime to assist and support landowners impacted by these storms. If you have storm damage related questions or if you’d like a forester to advise on the cleanup of your property, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Forestry
Friday, 15 November 2019 16:52
Kretz Lumber Company’s 2019 Big Buck Facebook Contest
The gun deer season is here and it's time to get out in the woods and bag the biggest buck! Enter the 2019 Kretz Lumber Company’s Big Buck Contest and you could win more than just bragging rights. Every entrant has a chance to win!
Two ways to win:
- Biggest Buck: $50 Fleet Farm gift card
- Wild Card: $25 Fleet Farm gift card (One winner will be randomly selected from all eligible contest entries.)
To enter our contest:
1. Like Kretz Lumber Company's Facebook page.
2. Bag your buck and post a picture on our Facebook page by 11:59 pm CST on December 3, 2019.
All photos submitted must be bucks taken during the 2019 Wisconsin rifle season and shot in one of the following counties: Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Shawano, Menominee, Forest, Oconto, Portage, or Waupaca. No other submissions will be accepted.
3. With your submission, include your score.
We are using a complete honor system.
To determine your score:
1 point per inch of inside spread + 1 point per “Point” number of antlers 1” and longer = Total Points.
An example:
- Inside spread = 15 inches
- Eight 1-inch “points”
- 15+8 = Total score of 23
Kretz Lumber Company reserves the right to disqualify any entries suspected of cheating.
Winners will be announced on our Facebook page on December 4.
Good luck and have a safe hunt!
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Friday, 15 November 2019 14:38
Albert Koeppel Inducted into Forestry Hall of Fame
Albert (Al) Koeppel was inducted into the Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame on October 2, 2019, at the Society of American Foresters annual meeting at Stevens Point. Al was nominated by the University of Wisconsin for this prestigious honor.
The Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame was founded in 1984 by 10 public, and private forestry organizations in 1984 to honor those who have made exceptional contributions to the field of forestry in Wisconsin. The Forestry Hall of Fame exhibit is located in the College of Natural Resources at UW Stevens Point in the College of Natural Resources Building. It is open for viewing during school hours. The Wisconsin Chapter of the Society Of American Foresters (SAF,) is the caretaker and lead organization overseeing the Hall of Fame.
Al spent the majority of his working career as the chief forester for Kretz Lumber Co., Inc. in Antigo, WI.
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Announcements
Friday, 15 November 2019 14:24
Forestry and Storm Cleanup - Update
Winter appears to have arrived before anyone was expecting it. That said, logging crews will start looking at freezing roads down to get into their low winter ground jobs. Fortunately for us here in the middle of the state, we are starting out perfect with very cold temps and little to no snow on the ground. This will help to drive frost deeper.
The last few months have been productive in the blowdown areas and we have been bringing a lot of logs into the yard as a result of the summer storms. We are very thankful to the many logging crews both from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for assisting us in getting many landowner properties cleaned up. Also, we are very thankful for all the work Henry Schienebeck did to get Michigan log trucks able to haul out of the storm damaged areas.
We are continuing to work on blowdown for as long as we can, until either the snow gets too deep or the stumps and tops freeze down too hard in the ground. The hardwood pulp and aspen markets remain strong and look as though they will remain that way throughout the winter. We are still accepting landowners who need clean up done on their property and have been out every week running property lines and will continue to do so until it gets too dangerous. If you or anyone you know is in need of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our foresters. Thanks for all of your patience and good luck hunting!
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Forestry
Monday, 07 October 2019 14:28
Kretz Lumber Company’s Fall Photo Facebook Contest
Submit your best Wisconsin fall photo!
Get outside and share with us your best Wisconsin autumn photo. Enter our contest by uploading your favorite photo to our Facebook page. We’ll compile all entries into an album and fans will then vote on their favorite. The image with the most likes at the end of the voting period will receive a $25 Mills Fleet Farm gift card!
To enter our fall Facebook photo contest:
- Like Kretz Lumber Company's Facebook page.
- Post your submission to our page by 11:59 pm CST on October 20, 2019.
Only one photo/submission per person. All photos submitted must be your personal images and cannot be purchased or copyrighted. Image must have been taken in Wisconsin. - We’ll add all submissions to a Facebook photo album on October 21, 2019. Kretz Lumber Company Facebook fans can then vote by liking their favorite image in the official album through October 27, 2019. The picture with the most likes as of 11:59 pm CST on October 27, 2019 will win one $25 Mill’s Fleet Farm gift card.
Enjoy the outdoors and good luck!
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