Virginia Tech assistant professor and wood products extension specialist Brian Bond along with professor and forest products marketing extension specialist Bob Smith will offer a unique training session on the manufacturing and marketing of products from lower quality and smaller diameter forest resources.

The session, “Challenges and Opportunities in Manufacturing and Marketing of Products from Lower Quality and Smaller Diameter Forest Resources,” and will be held on Thursday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Richmond, Va.

The morning portion of the session will focus on the processing methods and characteristics of small diameter and lower quality raw material. The equipment used to process small diameter material will be discussed along with strategies for determining the best mix given a product line. This session is designed as an introduction to processing small diameter material and no prior knowledge is required.

The afternoon session will focus on the marketing of potential products produced from small diameter and lower quality raw materials. It will cover a general overview of marketing, niche marketing, easy market research methods, and current markets.

The session cost is $75. For information contact Bob Smith at (540) 231-5876. Registration is being handled by Virginia Tech’s Division of Continuing Education.

The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top five programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

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