FPL News Releases
Publication year: 2023
May 4th, 2023
Cellulose nanomaterial commercial use accelerated through public-private partnership funding
MADISON, WI – May 4, 2023 — The USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Community public private partnership has awarded over $1,750,000 to cooperators in industry and academia for research projects to advance collaborative research and development of cellulosic nanomaterials. ...
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April 17th, 2023
Earth Day Open House Celebration April 22 at the Forest Products Laboratory
Madison, WI, April 17, 2023— The Forest Products Laboratory at One Gifford Pinchot Drive in Madison is hosting a free Earth Day Open House on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ...
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January 10th, 2023
Wood is the New Concrete
Sustainable solution reduces carbon footprint
MADISON, Wis. – In the first project of its kind in North America, cellulosic nanomaterials were mixed with concrete to build the Yreka bridge in Siskiyou, California. The pilot project summarized in the video “Wood Is the New Concrete” demonstrates how nanocellulose, a derivative of wood, can be added to traditional building materials to make them stronger and lead to a significantly lower carbon footprint. ...
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Publication year: 2016
April 15th, 2016
College of Menominee Nation, Forest Service to sign collaboration agreement
MILWAUKEE April 15, 2016 - The College of Menominee Nation and the U.S. Forest Service will hold an official memorandum of understanding signing ceremony April 19 to expand collaboration between the two parties. This signing event celebrates the decades-long collaborative working partnership between the College of the Menominee Nation and the Forest Service. According to the MOU, the parties will cooperate in synthesizing best practices in forest management, ...
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Publication year: 2015
August 7th, 2015
Professional Guide to Non-Destructive Evaluation of Wood Now Available
The USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) has assembled the most comprehensive publication ever regarding the nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDE) of wood materials. Geared toward industry professionals, Nondestructive Evaluation of Wood, offers guidance, analysis, and practical application of NDE techniques ...
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Publication year: 2014
November 5th, 2014
Commercializing Cellulosic Nanomaterials
Today the USDA Forest Service released a report that details the pathway and key considerations for commercializing green, affordable, renewable, and biodegradable cellulose nanomaterials isolated from trees. Cellulosic nanomaterials are nature’s naturally occurring structural building blocks, hold great promise for many new and improved commercial products, and have the potential to create hundreds of thousands of American jobs while aiding in restoring our nation’s forests ...
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October 28th, 2014
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Visit Madison
Public Invited to See “The People’s Tree” and Tour Forest Products Lab
MADISON, Wis. – The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be making a stop at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) on Monday, November 10, 2014 en route to Washington, D.C., and its final destination adorning the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol throughout the holiday season ...
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Publication year: 2013
August 6th, 2013
Forest Service Announces New Director for Forest Products Laboratory
MADISON, Wis. - U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that Michael T. Rains has accepted the position as Director of the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison, Wis., effective immediately ...
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February 12th, 2013
Practical Advice for Using Insect-Killed Trees
Resource Guide for Forestry Professionals Developed by U.S. Forest Service, University of Minnesota Duluth.
Millions of dead and dying trees in the United States must be properly used or disposed of as a result of the devastating effects of invasive insects. A new publication released by the University of Minnesota Duluth and the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) provides urban forestry professionals guidance for managing this monumental task ...
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Publication year: 2012
July 26th, 2012
USDA Forest Service Awards Nearly $4 Million for Renewable Wood Energy Projects
Federal grants support the development of clean renewable energy, help reduce the risk of wildfire, improve forest health and provide economic opportunities to rural communities.
"Woody biomass is a vital part of America's clean energy future as we work to decrease our dependence on foreign oil," said Vilsack. "Projects like these will help grow regional economies, create new jobs, and improve and protect our forests. We will need architects and engineers to design these plants, skilled laborers to build them and well-trained technicians to operate them."...
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July 26th, 2012
Jakes Honored as Outstanding Early-Career Scientist by President Obama
President Obama has named Dr. Joseph Jakes of the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) one of 96 researchers to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers...
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July 16th, 2012
Nanocellulose Pilot Plant to be Unveiled at Forest Products Lab
Production facility for renewable, forest-based nanomaterials first of its kind in the United States
The U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is poised to become the country's leading producer of forest-based nanomaterials with the opening of a $1.7 million nanocellulose pilot plant. The facility will support an emerging market for new wood-derived renewable materials that will create jobs and contribute an estimated $600 billion to the economy by 2020...
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April 6, 2012
Eco-friendly Panel Licensed for Commercialization
Noble Environmental Technologies, a leading sustainable materials developer and manufacturer, announced its exclusive license to commercialize technology based on two jointly filed patents with FPL.
Noble Environmental Technologies (NET, San Diego, Calif.), announced its exclusive license to commercialize technology based on two patents that were filed jointly with the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). NET, a leading sustainable materials developer and manufacturer, has had a long and successful partnership with FPL...
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January 10, 2012
Don't Judge a Tree by Its Size
Innovative tool sheds new light on tree age, growth rate
A new tool developed by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) provides a more accurate look at how trees grow, and may have significant implications in forest management and climate-change studies...
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Publication year: 2011
September 28, 2011
FPL Research Supports USDA's $80 Million Biofuels Investment
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this morning announced that Washington State University and University of Washington each will receive a five-year, $40 million grant to help develop alternatives to petroleum-based fuels and chemicals. As a partner in the Washington State University-led Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA), the U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) will receive $1.1 million...
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September 27, 2011
Presidential Honor Awarded to USDA Forest Products Laboratory Scientist
President Obama named USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) engineer Samuel Zelinka as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. Zelinka is one of 94 recipients for the 2011 award, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers...
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August 10, 2011
Rural Community Endeavors To Eliminate Termite Problem With Help From Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory
One small Wisconsin town's large termite problems may well be over. Using an innovative community-wide eradication approach, a unique combination of environmentally sensitive treatments and applications over several years, US Forest Service researchers have collaborated with private businesses, local citizens, and state agencies to combat this tenacious pest...
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June 7, 2011
Broken bat incidents down by half in Major League Baseball thanks to research at USDA Forest Products Laboratory
MADISON, Wis.- As the 2011 Major League Baseball season heads toward summer, an unlikely relationship has quietly entered its third year...
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May 31, 2011
Research House Tours Offered Weekly at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory
MADISON, Wis.- The Research Demonstration House and Carriage House located at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) will be open for free walk-in tours every Wednesday from 2:15 - 5:15 p.m., beginning June 1, 2011 ...
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May 12, 2011
Experts in Wood and Biofiber Plastic Composites Convene in Madison
MADISON, Wis.- International experts in wood and biofiber plastic composites will be in Madison May 16-18, 2011 for the 11th International Conference on Wood and Biofiber Plastic Composites. Representatives from scientific, technical, and commercial communities will be exchanging and disseminating ...
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May 10, 2011
USDA Forest Products Laboratory Not for Sale
MADISON, Wis.- Recent media reports regarding the sale of Federal properties, including some at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), have been unclear. There are currently no ...
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April 11, 2011
Earth Day Open House at USDA Forest Products Laboratory featuring Aldo Leopold documentary "Green Fire"
MADISON, Wis.- The USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is hosting an open house on Friday, April 22, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. We invite the public to tour the facilities, meet the scientists, and learn about the historic past and promising future of the Nation's only federal wood research laboratory...
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April 07, 2011
Free Earth Day Showings of "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time"
MADISON, Wis.- The USDA Forest Products Laboratory has just announced two free showings of the critically acclaimed documentary "Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time." This one hour high definition film will be shown in conjunction with FPL's Earth Day Open House on Friday, April 22nd. Showings will be at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m....
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March 08, 2011
USDA Forest Products Laboratory Director to Retire
MADISON, Wis.- After a 35-year career, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) Director Dr. Christopher Risbrudt has announced his retirement effective April 1, 2011....
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