Timber Talk 12/16/2025
- Jenna Reese
- Dec 16
- 9 min read
OFA Update
Support our Year-End Giving Campaign
As 2025 comes to a close, we have an ambitious goal: raise $7,000 by 4:00 PM on December 31 to strengthen and expand the programs that shape Ohio’s forestry future.
Your gift to the Ohio Forestry Association Foundation supports:
College scholarships for future forestry professionals
Conservation education grants for schools and communities
Camp Canopy, inspiring the next generation of forest stewards.
And in 2026, your generosity will help us launch exciting new initiatives:
A forest products industry interactive display at the Ohio State Fair
A dedicated white oak management fund to protect this vital species
A stronger relationship with the next generation of forestry professionals in Ohio FFA.
Register for Annual Meeting!
Now is the time to book your hotel and register for our Annual Meeting for 2026 members. The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held March 11-12, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency, downtown Columbus Ohio. The event begins on Wednesday, March 11th with our President’s Reception at Middle West Distillery. Come join us and experience the perfect collaboration between Ohio's Forest and Grain production. This is sure to be a fun evening of networking with your peers. The meeting will continue Thursday with a full day of industry sessions and our annual awards luncheon. We hope to see you there!
Buses leave the Hyatt every 15 minutes starting at 4:30.
Register for Annual Meeting HERE
Book your hotel HERE using code G-FRST. Check in at 3:00pm, Check out at 12:00pm.
Submit your nominations for conservation awards HERE
Download the full schedule below.
End-of-Year Membership Renewals
As a reminder, the OFA board approved an end-of-the-year membership renewal process in 2023 to replace the anniversary renewal system we had been using. This is the third year for this change, and we have already seen an improvement in operations. You can expect to receive a renewal packet in early December by mail including a letter highlighting any major changes for OFA in the last year, an inventory of the benefits you received in 2025, corporate sponsorship opportunities, an agenda and lodging details for the 2026 annual meeting, information about the Real American Hardwood Coalition and how to get involved, and your membership invoice. Please return invoices with payment by January 1, 2026, to ensure your membership remains uninterrupted. Please feel free to renew your membership online at any time by logging in to your account. Please email kalah@ohioforest.org if you need assistance logging in or making a payment.
Please ensure that we have your current address on file.
Working in Winter Weather
Winter Driving
Although employers cannot control roadway conditions, they can promote safe driving behavior by ensuring workers: recognize the hazards of winter weather driving, for example, driving on snow/ice covered roads; are properly trained for driving in winter weather conditions; and are licensed (as applicable) for the vehicles they operate. For information about driving safely during the winter, visit OSHA's Safe Winter Driving page.
Employers should set and enforce driver safety policies. Employers should also implement an effective maintenance program for all vehicles and mechanized equipment that workers are required to operate. Crashes can be avoided. Learn more at: Motor Vehicle Safety (OSHA Safety and Health Topic’s Page).
Market Update
HardwoodReview Forecasting
This is the 250th edition of Hardwood Review Forecasting, formerly the Hardwood Leader. We began in Jan 2005, on the eve of the Great Recession, and continue this month during what is now the third major industry contraction since. The current market downturn has now extended beyond three years, and has been as or more difficult than the prior two. Contacts say lumber sales are slowing earlier than they would expect for this time of year, and though prices for most items are anticipated to remain stable, most of those that are forecasted to change through mid-Dec in Appalachia and the South are expected to decline, with already historically low production getting ahead of even lower seasonal demand. The big wildcard moving forward is China. Though the tariff threats dropped China’s share of total U.S. exports to just 27% from Apr-Jul, that’s still 24 MMBF of monthly demand that’s at risk if the announced 100% tariff on Chinese imports goes into effect Nov 1. Any re-shoring of upholstered furniture and cabinet manufacturing that results from the new 30%-50% Section 232 tariffs will take significant time to materialize, and it will not generate an equal increase in hardwood component demand, given the shift away from hardwood frame stock and the availability of substitute materials for cabinets.
Legislative Update
The following is brought to us by our national partner, the Forest Resources Association (FRA)
Farm Bill
This week, the FRA policy team met with House Agriculture Committee staff to discuss a pathway for advancing the Farm Bill before the midterms. Staff shared that bipartisan negotiations are underway with the goal of marking up the bill ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline. Committee staff are actively reviewing the House version of the Farm Bill, passed out of committee in the 118th Congress, to remove sections previously included in H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law by President Trump in July. Staff are also comparing the Forestry Title with the provisions of the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471, S. 1462) and with the priorities under consideration by the Senate Agriculture and Nutrition Committee. FRA was assured that the provisions of the Jobs in the Woods Act remain in the House version of the Farm Bill.
On the Senate side, leadership is focused on crafting a strategy that avoids controversial provisions to secure bipartisan support and ensure smoother passage. FRA will continue to closely monitor Farm Bill developments.
H-2B Visas
It’s expected that the base text of the Homeland Security funding bill will be released in the next 1-2 weeks. FRA has been actively reaching out to members of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to include House Committee-passed language that creates a Certified Seasonal Employer (CSE) exemption to the H-2B visa cap to be included in the final FY2026 spending. Under the proposed H‑2B cap exemption, employers designated as CSEs—those who received H‑2B labor certifications between FY2021 and FY2025—would be exempt from the annual visa cap for the highest number of workers they were certified to hire during that period. Any requests above a CSE’s historical peak would still count against the cap, but the exemption could free up more than 130,000 visas, significantly expanding access for seasonal employers for forestry workers.
Key Players: Senator Katie Britt (R‑AL), Chair of the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, along with subcommittee members. Securing Senator Britt’s support for including the CSE language in the FY2026 spending bill—and ensuring no objections are raised—is critical, as is gaining backing from the full subcommittee for the provision.
Action- Reach out to members of the Homeland Security Subcommittee and urge them to support House Homeland Security provisions, passed out of committee in June, for a Certified Seasonal Employer provision. Text of that provision is below.
House DHS Appropriations Text
SEC. 413.
An employer that received a labor certification from the Department of Labor under section 214(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act with regard to a petition to import an alien under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) of such Act in fiscal year 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 shall, upon issuance of the labor certification and approval of the petition, obtain positions exempt from the numerical limitation under section 214(g)(1)(B) of such Act in an amount that does not exceed the highest number of positions for all labor certifications received by such employer in any 1 of the prior 5 fiscal years in fiscal year 2026.
Resources
EPA and Fine Particulates
Last week, just before the Thanksgiving break, the EPA asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to strike down the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size, known as PM 2.5. Recall that the Biden Administration ratcheted down the standard from 12 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) to 9 µg/m³. The tightening of the standard threatens to bring virtually the entire country into non-attainment for the pollutant. This was a major loss for heavy manufacturing last year, as the larger trade associations, such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chemistry Council, highly prioritized keeping the PM 2.5 level at 12.
The EPA’s filing argues that the Biden administration took a “regulatory shortcut” by adopting the stricter annual standard without first conducting the “thorough review” required by the Clean Air Act. The filing also urges a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit to rule before Feb. 7, when the EPA is statutorily required to issue a first round of decisions on what parts of the country are failing the 9 µg/m³ threshold.
SAWMILL Act Introduced in House
Also last week, Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04) and Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) introduced the Supporting American Wood and Mill Infrastructure with Loans for Longevity (SAWMILL) Act. The measure would permanently reauthorize the Timber Production Expansion Loan Guarantee program, or TPEP. This program offers low-interest, long-term loans for timber and wood processing companies to invest in their operations and equipment, with a particular emphasis on supporting sawmills processing material from hazardous fuels management projects. Companion legislation is pending in the Senate (S. 2221) sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).
FRA Legislative Fly-In Rescheduled to February 24–26, 2026
The FRA Legislative Fly-In is February 24–26, 2026. If you registered previously for the 2025 dates, your registration and hotel accommodations have been transferred. If these new dates open the door for you to attend, you can register here.
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
Safe Rooftop Snow Removal at Work: Protecting Employees from Winter Hazards
As winter approaches, businesses must address the challenges of snow accumulation on rooftops. Removing snow is crucial to avoid structural damage and ensure safe operations, as it can pose significant risk to workers if a collapse were to occur. However, rooftop work comes with its own inherent dangers. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of fatalities and injuries when removing snow and ice from rooftops.
Rooftop snow removal work can expose personnel to various hazards including:
Falls from roof edges
Falls through skylights
Falls from ladders
Electrical injuries from contact with overhead wires
Cold-related issues like frostbite and hypothermia
Overexertion leading to muscle strains
To prepare for safe snow removal, employers should first assess the roof’s structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, and ensure the location of skylights and the roof edge are well marked with flags or by other means. Once that is complete, determine the most effective way to clear snow and ice and apply ice-preventing chemicals, when needed. In most cases, the safest way is from the ground using long-handled tools or draglines. If that is not an option, aerial lifts can generally provide employees safer access to the roof than ladders, especially when there is a significant accumulation of snow on the ground. Ladders should only be used when absolutely necessary. If a ladder is necessary, use it only to access the roof. Never use tools such as a snow rake or shovel while standing on the ladder; doing so may cause the employee to fall.
When working at heights of four feet or more, OSHA requires that employers provide guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems. If the roof does not have a tall enough parapet wall or standard guardrail in place, then some other form of fall protection must be used. Employers must ensure that employees are trained on the proper use, care and inspection of fall protection equipment including lanyard, harness, self-retracting lifeline, etc. Additional requirements are found in OSHA 1910.28 and 1926 Subpart M.
Electrical hazards are another concern when clearing off rooftop snow. To minimize the risk of electrocution, maintain at least a 10-foot clearance from power lines, use non-conductive tools and ensure that electrical equipment is grounded.
Cold weather exacerbates the dangers of frostbite and hypothermia. Employers can help by providing warm, layered clothing, encouraging frequent breaks in heated areas and ensuring workers stay hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks. Ensure employees are trained on the signs and symptoms of frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-stress conditions that affect the body.
To help prevent muscle strains, review proper lifting techniques and encourage employees to push the snow rather than use a shovel to lift it. Warm-up stretches prior to starting work can also help prevent muscle strains. Also, if employees use a snow thrower, they should be trained on its proper operation, the correct PPE to use and safe ways to raise and lower the snow thrower to and from the roof.
One final concern is for anyone working on the ground near where the roof is being cleared. Falling snow and ice can pose a serious danger to workers and bystanders below. Best practices include establishing an exclusion zone of at least 10 feet from snow removal areas, using signs and barriers to limit access and requiring hard hats and eye protection for those working nearby.
While rooftop snow removal is necessary, it is important to be aware of the hazards. Employers must engage in careful planning, provide proper training and equipment and adhere to OSHA guidelines to ensure worker safety. Additionally, employees must apply what they have learned to prevent injuries to themselves or fellow workers. By taking these precautions, businesses can protect their employees and reduce winter-related workplace injuries.
If you would like to know more about Sedgwick’s safety services or would like to schedule a confidential consultation, please contact Andy Sawan at andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com or 330-819-4728.
Additional Links
Sedgwick Workers' Comp Article
ECOFA Newsletter
NEOFA Newsletter
Upcoming Events
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