Jun 25, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. The latest quarter was declared a success for Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) member companies. Values of lumber, panelboard, and pulp and paper manufactured by AFPA member companies is totaled at approximately $545 million for the 1st quarter of 2012 as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. Although production was down from the 1st quarter of 2011 by $31 million, it has increased from the 4th quarter by roughly $61 million. "It looks like we are back on the right track in terms of production and prices," said AFPA President and CEO Brady Whittaker. “The stronger lumber and panel prices of the first quarter have translated into very positive growth. It’s a testament to the good work that the industry and government have done to develop markets in Asia.” Communications Director, Brock Mulligan gave further details on the initiatives that translated into a successful quarter. “The Government of Alberta has been a tremendous partner of ours in helping develop markets in Asia. They have made several trips over there in the past few months and helped educate consumers about the value of building with wood. They also helped to build personal relations that are so integral to developing new markets. The federal and provincial governments have also been very helpful on the pine beetle front and have helped to avoid a full scale disaster.” While Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development have been working to improve the market and avoid a beetle disaster, AFPA has been working with their member companies to improve efficiency and attain higher diversification for their products and markets. “There is a lot of work being done on the efficiency side to make sure that you can do the most with a piece of timber - Whether it’s getting the most value in terms of producing greater quantities of high grade lumber or looking at new products in bioenergy that can be produced.” Whittaker noted that stronger prices during the months of May and June will likely translate into solid results for the 2nd quarter of 2012. Mulligan concurred stating, “Lumber prices are at pretty healthy levels right now so we are optimistic that we are going to see continued growth.”