Timber Talk 10/21/25

Jenna Reese
6 hours ago
7 min read

OFA Update

Funding Available for Conservation Projects

The OFA Foundation Conservation Education Grant Program is designed to provide funding for activities that align with the overall Mission Statement of the OFA Foundation. These grants will generally be small-scale grants designed to assist an organization with a project, with a maximum individual grant amount of $2,500. The grants to be awarded will be reviewed and chosen by the OFA Foundation Board of Directors from the applications received. Applications will be accepted between October 8 and November 5 this year, with grant awards being selected and announced by December 1 for funding to be used in the following year. Scan the QR code above or visit the events section on our website to apply for the 2025 program.

Master Logger Training - Tar Hollow State Forest

At the very end of October, join us for this two-day training consisting of three separate training types of BMP, CSAW, and First Aid/CPR, which are all needed to gain the Ohio Master Logger Certification. We will be holding in-class portions at the Tar Hollow State Forest Forest Service Center, beginning with the in-class portion of BMP's, followed by CSAW and First Aid/CPR training on day two.

Market Update

HardwoodReview Forecasting

The summer doldrums have been complicated by the early-Aug final tariff resolutions, unresolved trade tensions with China, and the still-to-be-announced Section 232 investigation results, either of the latter of which could throw today’s relative

calm back into chaos. Yet the current “calm” in lumber demand and sales is not where the industry needs to be. China’s buying response to the most recent tariff truce extension did not match the first, and the window for safe shipping is largely closed again awaiting the next shoe to drop on Nov 10. If not for the relative strength of White Oak and Red Oak, U.S. hardwood lumber exports would have been down 21% through Jul. Though both of those species saw the same Apr, May and Jun setbacks as most others, they were far less pronounced in White Oak, as China only accounts for 14% of global demand.

Domestic distribution yards and smaller manufacturers of moulding and cabinets will continue to fare better than most other business types over the next several months, with many saying they’ve been relatively immune to impacts from the trade situation. Solid hardwood continues to lose market share to look-alikes in the flooring sector, however, and the quarter-point. Fed rate cut won’t do much to float the housing boat.

Legislative Update

The following is brought to us by our national partner, the Forest Resources Association (FRA)

Government Funding

The Congressional stalemate over funding the federal government continues into a second week. The Senate has voted six times on both the House-passed Continuing Resolution and a Senate Democrat measure. Both continue to fall short of the requisite 60-vote threshold to proceed.

As we noted last week, the House has been in recess, but the Senate remains in session and is processing nominations. This week, the Senate confirmed Michael Boren to be the Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a key position, as Mr. Boren will oversee the Forest Service in this role.

Trade Relief for Forestry and Timber Sectors

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) is leading a letter in the House advocating for forestry and timber in any upcoming trade assistance package the Administration develops. President Trump and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins have been signaling in recent days that an aid package is under development to provide economic relief to soybean farmers and other row crop agriculture producers who have seen foreign markets erode this year. FRA is hearing from our contacts in the White House and at USDA that an aid package will be unveiled shortly after the federal government shutdown ends.

Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that revises the WOTUS definition to subject fewer water bodies to Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The rule appears to more closely align the WOTUS definition with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA, which narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA), most notably for wetlands.

USFS Issues New Guidance on Operations during Government Shutdown

The USDA has issued updated guidance outlining priority work for the Forest Service during the lapse in appropriations. The update is intended to keep key partners informed of the Forest Service’s ongoing efforts to maintain its programs of work. As of October 8, the Forest Service will resume prescribed fire operations. The guidance also clarifies how the agency will prioritize meeting prior-year financial commitments, including grants and agreements, by continuing to accept invoices and process payments during the funding lapse. In accordance with Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” the Forest Service will continue emphasizing timber production, bid openings, and stewardship offerings. The guidance may be revised again as the government shutdown continues.

FRA Legislative Fly-In Rescheduled to February 24–26, 2026

Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, FRA made the difficult decision to reschedule the Legislative Fly-In to February 24–26, 2026. If these new dates open the door for you to attend, you can register here.

Although a shutdown restricts physical access to Capitol Hill, our advocacy efforts will continue without pause. FRA’s Issue Updates and Action Alertsremain valuable tools to keep you informed about policies affecting the wood supply chain and to help you engage directly with your elected officials on the issues that matter most to our industry.

FRA remains committed to advocating for the forest products supply chain and ensuring your voice is heard on Capitol Hill. We look forward to welcoming members to Washington, D.C. in February.

Safety Update

Sedgwick Safety Services

Workplace Stress

Stress is a growing concern across many industries because it can affect not only workers’ well-being but also safety and productivity in the workplace. It affects employees in a number of ways including their mental and physical health, staying focused on the job at hand and maintaining awareness of their surroundings. Whether stress comes from our personal life or from work, we need to be able to understand what causes stress and how to minimize or eliminate it. Let’s discuss some of the causes of workplace stress and how we can manage them.

Some causes of workplace stress include:

Heavy workload Tight deadlines

Poor communication Lack of control over work/personal life

Unclear job expectations Job insecurity

Challenging relationships with colleagues Bullying or harassment

Poor management Organizational changes

Inadequate training Working long hours

Lack of support from upper management

Addressing workplace stress is crucial for maintaining a healthy work environment and preventing burnout, absenteeism and high turnover. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed and are feeling signs of workplace stress, here are some strategies that may help you manage it.

1) Communicate – Discuss concerns with your manager or someone in the Safety or Human Resources department.

2) Prioritize Work-Life Balance – Be sure to separate your work life and home life. Do not bring your work home. Use that time to enjoy with family and/or friends.

3) Develop Coping Skills – There are a number of coping skills that you can incorporate into your life such as yoga, breathing exercises or meditation.

4) Eat Healthy – Healthy eating habits and exercise not only benefit us physically but can help us mentally.

5) Company Health Programs – Take advantage of company sponsored well-being programs, stress reduction activities and healthy lifestyle campaigns.

6) Committees & Teams – Participate in company committees or programs such as a safety committee or party planning team to feel more connected to the company and your peers.

7) Professional Help – Seek professional help from a doctor or therapist, if you feel it necessary.

As an employer, you can encourage employees to manage stress by incorporating some of the following:

Foster a culture of open communication, teamwork and respect. Encouraging a supportive work environment can reduce stress.
Offering flexible work schedules, remote work options or accommodations for personal obligations can help employees balance work and life responsibilities.
Ensure workloads are manageable and employees have the resources they need to succeed.
Ensure that job roles, responsibilities and performance expectations are clearly communicated. Regular feedback and reviews by management can help everyone stay on track and focused.
Promote regular breaks, mental health days and vacation time to help employees recharge. Stress levels decrease when employees feel they can step away when needed.
Provide resources such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), counseling services or mental health workshops to help employees cope with stress.

It is important that both employees and management work together to reduce stress, foster a supportive work environment and maintain open communication channels so everyone can significantly improve their well-being and the success of the organization. For more information on workplace stress, go to https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress or https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/stress/about/index.html.

If you have further questions regarding safety in your workplace or would like more information, please contact Andy Sawan at Sedgwick at Andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330-819-4728.