First South Farm Credit CEO Speaks At The Alabama Forestry Association

The Alabama Forestry Association (AFA) selected First South CEO, Gines Pérez, to participate in their CEO Panel Discussion at this year’s annual conference. Pete Stewart, President and CEO of ResourceWise, provided a Keynote address and then served as the panel moderator. Joining Pérez on the panel were Brian Fehr, Chairman of the Fehr Group, and Lee Goodloe, President of Canfor Southern Pine.

Each panel member shared a presentation about their respective company and then collectively participated in an open dialogue on topics of interest to those in the forestry industry. Fehr addressed the shift in forest products manufacturing capacity from the Western US and Canada to the South, and Goodloe addressed Canfor’s expanded production in the Southeast. Both were in agreement that the Southeast has a considerable amount of timber that can be delivered to sawmills at an attractive price, thus making it an attractive location for forest products manufacturing.  Note: according to an article in the World Resources Institute publication, the Southeastern U.S. has a tremendous “Wood Basket,” which generates more than 55% of U.S. timber harvest by volume and 25% of the world’s pulpwood for paper.  

Pérez addressed the conference regarding First South’s role as a lender to the businesses and individuals in the forestry industry and the impact that interest rates could have on lending practices. 

“We stand ready to serve all aspects of the forestry industry from the individual landowners and loggers to the sawmill operators, in any rate environment.”   

The 2024 Alabama Forestry Association Annual Meeting was held at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, AL, and the AFA reported that this year’s meeting saw the highest turnout in 25 years. First South Farm Credit is an annual sponsor and exhibitor at the conference and proud to be a year-round supporter of those in the Forestry Industry.