OFA Update
Celebration of Life for Dave Bergman
As most of you are aware, Dave Bergman, Past OFA President and long time Secretary Treasurer passed away on February 9, 2025 at the age of 85. A Celebration of Life has been scheduled for April 26, 2025 from 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, at the American Legion Young-Budd Post 171 at 393 East College Ave., Westerville, Ohio 43081. Dave served as OFA President in 1986 and served in the position of Secretary/Treasurer for over 20 years.
You can view Dave's obituary here.
Welcoming Our Newest OFA Staff Member
We are pleased to welcome the newest member of the OFA staff, Director of Communications and Member Engagement, Kalah Forbus. She will serve as the new Show Manager for the Paul Bunyan Show, as well as work on various internal projects and events. We look forward to having her skills as an asset to further drive OFA’s success moving forward. We appreciate your patience, timely registration, and concise communication as we enhance the value and capacity of OFA for our dedicated members.
Master Logger Certification Class
Registration for the next series of Master Logger trainings is now open. Participants can register on the Ohio Forestry Association Events page.
The dates are April 16th and 17th at Fernwood State Forest in Bloomingdale, Ohio. This is a two-day training consisting of three separate training types: BMP, CSAW, and First Aid/ CPR. All are needed to gain the Ohio Master Logger Certification. We will be holding in-class portions at the Fernwood State Forest, Forest Service Center, beginning with the in-class portion of CSAW on the 16th and followed by First Aid/ CPR and BMP the 17th.
Market Update
HardwoodReview Forecasting
Hardwood lumber sales are improving but production thus far is not. Among the trifecta of log supply issues, log/timber prices now trump weather and the lack of loggers. However, it is likely also true that, even if mills were willing to pay significantly more for logs than they are worth in lumber, weather and the lack of loggers would still be significant limiting factors. Though the demand pull from secondary markets is starting to increase, most notably from the cabinet sector, recent price gains in Red Oak, Poplar and Ash appear to have been largely driven by a bit of a scramble to procure available inventory, which more than a few producers have indicated is the lowest of their careers. Some producers and yards reported very good Jan sales and many have good orders in Feb, but with log and green lumber prices rising faster than KD prices, margins are worsening.
Thus far, the U.S. has imposed no new tariffs on Canada or Mexico, and China did not include wood products in its reciprocal tariffs, though the threats remain. However tight lumber supplies get, and however high prices for some items climb, things could quickly rebalance or shift to a buyers market if the Q1 America First Trade Policy investigations lead to Q2 trade sanctions.
Legislative Update
the following is brought to us by our national partner, the Forest Resources Association (FRA)
Safe Routes Act Introduced
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI-8) have introduced the FRA-supported Safe Routes Act of 2025 in both the Senate and the House. This legislation aims to grant trucks transporting logs, pulpwood, wood chips, and biomass access to interstate highways at legal state weight limits. Importantly, this is not a bill to increase weight limits, as these trucks already operate on non-interstate roads. Studies conducted in the Lake States and the southeastern United States indicate that permitting trucks carrying raw forest products to use interstate highways at state-legal weights would enhance safety and efficiency. Other original cosponsors of this legislation include Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), and Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS-04).
"Allowing trucks hauling logs, pulpwood, chips, or biomass to access interstate highways at legal state weights promotes enhanced safety, improved efficiency, and economic viability. Interstates offer a safer route by minimizing interactions between log truck encounters with pedestrians and vehicles in high-risk areas. This access also minimizes damage to rural roads, lowering maintenance costs for local communities. Shorter travel times to manufacturing facilities increase operational efficiency, while decreased transportation costs benefit small logging businesses, strengthening the overall economy of the forest products sector," said Tim O'Hara, FRA President.
"The Safe Routes Act will support local businesses by eliminating regulatory burdens and allowing logging vehicles to exceed federal weight limits when transporting raw forest products. Wisconsinites will benefit from a reduced number of trips required, which will ultimately decrease transportation costs and allow business owners to keep more of their hard-earned money," said Senator Ron Johnson
"I am proud to introduce this legislation alongside Rep. Golden," said Congressman Wied. "All major timber-producing states have weight limits for logging trucks that are greater than the federal limits for interstate highways. Safe Routes addresses this by allowing trucks that meet state requirements to travel on the interstate for a short time. This bill will improve safety, reduce fuel consumption, and make the transportation of forest products more efficient."
Resources:
Chavez-DeRemer Confirmed
Former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer has been confirmed by the Senate as the new Secretary of Labor, marking a significant milestone in her political career. With a bipartisan vote of 67-32, her confirmation reflects a rare moment of unity in a divided political landscape. In her new role, she will oversee the Department of Labor (DOL), which manages and regulates the H-2B visa program alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During her tenure as a Representative, Chavez-DeRemer collaborated with FRA to introduce the Jobs in the Woods Act, showcasing her dedication to workforce development.
In an email to DOL staff, Chavez-DeRemer wrote, "In the coming days, weeks, and months, I'm counting on you to fight tirelessly for the American Worker by carrying out President Trump's executive orders, rooting out waste, cracking down on fraud, and remaining focused on the Department of Labor's critical mission of supporting our nation's workers, job seekers, and retirees."
H-2B Visa Cap Reached
The H-2B visa cap for the second tranche of visas was likely reached last week, with an announcement from the DHS expected next week. According to the H-2B rule on supplemental visas issued in November, employers can begin applying for supplemental visas 15 days after the cap is reached. Today, the H-2B Workforce Coalition, where FRA holds a steering committee position, will send a letter urging the Secretaries of DHS and DOL to issue the maximum number of supplemental H-2B visas as permitted in the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. Demand for the H-2B visa program far surpasses the mandated cap of 66,000 visas. In the previous fiscal year, employers seeking seasonal workers submitted requests for over 300,000 non-immigrant employees, highlighting the significant gap between the cap and workforce needs.
Government Funding
Earlier this week, the House passed a six-month Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. After Minority Leader Schumer announced last night that he would support the measure, it is anticipated that it will pass the Senate later today and be sent to the President for his signature, heading off the prospect of a government shutdown.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced several regulatory reform initiatives to relieve compliance burdens on the regulated community. Of the 31 announced deregulatory actions, FRA is paying particular attention to plans to revisit the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 standard tightened last year. Recall that the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) was ratcheted down from 12 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) to 9 µg/m³. This action threatened to bring large swaths of the country into nonattainment for the pollutant, resulting in barriers to obtaining new permits to expand operations, for example.
On the same day, Administrator Zeldin announced that EPA would work with the Army Corps of Engineers to review the definition of "waters of the United States" or WOTUS. The action aims to revise the definition to provide farmers, forest landowners, businesses, and states with a clear and simplified direction.
Trade
On Wednesday, the European Union (EU) announced its proposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products in response to U.S. tariffs on European steel and aluminum. The European Commission's statement may be found here.
The list of products targeted by the EU is extensive, and includes many wood products such as lumber, veneer, molding, flooring, plywood, OSB, casks, and more. The proposed European list also includes $1 billion in pulp, approximately $109 million in boxboard, and approximately $80 million in converted paper products. After a consultation period this month, these tariffs will go into effect in April.
The European Commission (EC) is holding "Stakeholder Consultations," where the industry can provide feedback on the proposed tariffs through an online survey. At this time, U.S. exporters and their European importers are encouraged to fill out the online consultation form to encourage the exemption of U.S. forest products from this trade dispute. The EC has launched this survey seeking the views of those affected by the tariffs, with a submission deadline of March 26. The complete list of products included in this trade action is available on the survey page, and forest products begin with HS code "44."
Comments on these proposals will be accepted until March 26, and we expect the counter-tariffs to go into effect in mid-April.
Tax
On March 10, Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS-04) and John Larson (D-CT-01) reintroduced the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act. The bill, which boasts 64 original cosponsors, would permanently allow companies to fully expense their research and development (R&D) costs in the year in which those costs are incurred. Recall that this benefit expired in 2022, forcing companies to amortize these costs over a 5-year period. The bill revives the so-called R&D tax credit retroactively to 2022 and will be a centerpiece of discussion as the budget reconciliation tax package is forged in the weeks and months ahead.
Safety Update
Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Program (SUPR) formerly Drug Free Safety Program (DFSP)
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is merging the Drug Free Safety and Substance Use Recovery programs into a new, streamlined program called Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Program (SUPR). BWC made the changes to enhance and simplify overlapping programs into one integrated, unified program. The goal is to reduce customer confusion, increase program utilization, reduce customer paperwork, improve internal administrative efficiencies and streamline processes for both customers and BWC.
An overview of the changes include:
DFSP Safety grants are replaced entirely with SUR grants
DFSP participants are automatically eligible to request SUR grants
Expands reimbursable expenses to include substance use assessments for employers with “second chance” policies
Switches from a limited enrollment window to year-round rolling enrollments with the ability to earn pro rata premium bonus
Eliminates requirements to file the Safety Management Self-Assessment (SH-26) and Safety Action Plan (DFSP-5) forms and requires filing of the Accident Report (DFSP-1) only for lost-time injuries
Integrates the enrollment processes for DFSP and SUR into one application
Moves SUR grant requests to an online format
Creates an online “as-you-go” format to allow employers to upload annual report documents throughout the program period
Provides an online employee and supervisor training option through BWC’s Learning Management System
The SUPR effective date for private employers is July 1, 2025. The effective date for public employers is January 1, 2026. For more information on the SUPR program, click here.
If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, Paul Feck at paul.feck@sedgwick.com.
Additional Links
DNR Timber Harvesting Services
The DOF is advertising their new contract for harvesting services. These contracts typically amount to about 15% of their total harvest annually. As always, one requirement is to be an Ohio Master Logging company.
NEOFA March Newsletter
ECOFA April Newsletter
Sign up to receive a free pair of logging boots from HAIX
Upcoming Events
Scioto River Valley Loggers Chapter Meeting
3/20/2025
Location: Scioto Township Fire Hall, Wakefield, Ohio Time: 7:00 PM
Northwest Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
3/26/2025
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Muskingum Valley Loggers Chapter
4/9/2025
Location: F.O.E., McConnelsville, Ohio Time: 7:00 PM
Southeastern Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
4/16/2025
Location: Shawn Sexton's Lodge, Jackson, Ohio Time: 6:00 PM
Master Logger Certification Class
4/16/2025 » 4/17/2025
Location: Bloomingdale, Ohio
Camp Canopy
6/8/2025 » 6/13/2025
Location: Carrollton, Ohio
2025 Lumber Grading Short Course
6/16/2025 » 6/19/2025
Location: Millersburg, Ohio Time: 8:00 - 4:00 Daily
2025 Paul Bunyan Show
10/3/2025 » 10/5/2025
Location: Old Washington, Ohio
2026 OFA Annual Meeting
3/11/2026 » 3/12/2026
Location: Hyatt Regency Columbus
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