Timber Talk 7/1/25

Jenna Reese
10 hours ago
8 min read

OFA Update

Last call for Summer Outing registrations

Major thanks to our sponsors from Pixelle Specialty Solutions, Superior Hardwoods of Ohio, Maverick Environmental Equipment, Hummel Group, Powell Valley Millwork,

R.L. Lute Logging, Scioto Land Company, and Rudd Equipment.

This year’s version of OFA’s Summer Outing will be one to remember. We are looking forward to some time on the beautiful Lake Erie with our esteemed members and forestry friends. We hope that opportunities like our Summer Outing will help facilitate the chance for some of the wisest minds within the Ohio Forest Products industry to come together and share ideas. Please register ASAP to reserve your spot.

Summer Outing Schedule of Events:

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

4:00 PM - Reception

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

5:00 AM - Registration at Sawmill Creek Resort

6:00 AM - Registration at Wild Wings Marina

6:30 AM - Fishing Tournament

1:30 PM - Boats return to Wild Wings Marina

A valid Ohio fishing license is required to participate. Please plan for extra time to purchase one at the marina if you do not already have one.

Please bring a cooler to transport your fish home.

Kiln Drying Short Course

August 19-21, 2025

Yoder Lumber Company

7100 County Rd 407

Millersburg, OH 44654

This 3-day course taught by Bob Pope, William Smith, and Chad Niman will cover all things related to kiln drying from moisture content to new procedures and equipment. Explore the 4 stages of drying timber with us this August in Millersburg.

Market Update

HardwoodReview Forecasting

The potential for turbulent summer markets is high, with the pending reinstatement of U.S. import tariffs and traditional summertime lulls. Yet, with few exceptions, hardwood lumber prices have not yet collapsed under the weight of disrupted international trade. U.S. domestic demand remains relatively good and lumber production has been constrained—to the point that prices for some items have climbed, and are projected to climb further, even as demand uncertainties remain. That could potentially change if Vietnam is unable to sustainably offset Chinese demand for hardwood logs, and/or if drier summer weather suddenly improves log availability. However, a lack of loggers is a bigger issue than weather in many areas, and few mills will risk higher production without a more confident outlook.

It is also possible that U.S. consumer confidence could be shaken if the country is drawn deeper into the Israel-Iran conflict, or if the civil unrest in major U.S. cities worsens. Still, however the tariff and trade deals play out this summer, at least they should play out, which will begin to issue in some clarity about future demand, even with the Section 232 determinations about the national security impacts of U.S. imports still to be determined.

Ohio Sales Tax Holiday

Ohio will have a sales tax holiday from 12:00 a.m. Friday, August 1 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 14, 2025. During the holiday, the exemption will apply to all sales of goods that are $500 or less except for certain watercraft, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products, or an item that contains marijuana. For more information regarding the sales tax holiday, please refer to the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Sales Tax Holiday Information Sheet available on the ODT website at https://tax.ohio.gov/salestaxholiday

If you have any additional questions regarding this information, please contact ODT at 1-888-405-4039 or e-mail us at https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center/email-us .

Legislative Update

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

H-2B Visas

On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced the FY25 Homeland Security funding bill, which included an important amendment offered by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-01). The provision would permit employers participating in the H-2B visa program to hire up to the highest number of certified workers they employed between 2021 and 2025—without those workers counting against the annual H-2B visa cap. This is a significant win for FRA. If retained in the final spending package, it would enhance access to the non-immigrant workforce essential for reforestation projects on both public and private lands.

Next Steps

Approval from the House Rules Committee and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) will be required for the measure to proceed, as jurisdiction over the amendment falls under the discretion of the Judiciary Committee. FRA has begun engaging with key Members of Congress to encourage support for the Certified Seasonal Employer provision.

Federal Lands-Rescission of Roadless Rule Announced

On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under Secretary Brooke Rollins, announced the rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule, aligning with Executive Order (EO) 14192 issued by President Trump. The rule prohibited road construction and timber harvesting on nearly 59 million acres of national forest lands, aiming to preserve undeveloped areas. The rollback is framed as a move to enhance wildfire prevention, support timber production, and boost rural economies. The Trump administration argues that local forest managers need more flexibility to manage fire risk and promote economic development. The USDA will initiate a rulemaking process, which will include an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a public comment period. A comparison of the 2001 Roadless Rule with the EO is below.

Budget Reconciliation/Tax

In several Senate meetings with staff this week, the consensus was that the budget reconciliation bill would pass the Senate either this weekend or by mid-week next week. However, areas of disagreement remain within the Senate GOP conference regarding Medicaid cuts and other provisions related to renewable energy tax credits and the state and local tax deduction. On the tax front, staff were in unanimous agreement that the trifecta of business tax benefits—R&D tax credit, 100 percent bonus depreciation, and the Section 199A deduction—will all be made permanent in whatever product is ultimately passed in the upper chamber. We should see an updated version of the measure likely over the weekend.

Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB)

We learned this week that Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) plans to introduce legislation next month to reclassify the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) from its current “endangered” status to “threatened.” While regional species management plans now being implemented appear largely workable for the forest products sector, there’s concern that this status quo may not be sustainable over time. Rep. Stauber’s proposal would establish a more durable “threatened” designation, which would trigger the need for a 4(d) rule.

As a reminder, the original 2013 proposal to list the NLEB as endangered included habitat management guidelines that would have significantly limited logging and forest management across the species’ 38-state range. FRA has been engaged on this issue from the outset—collaborating with state and federal agencies in the Lake States Region to establish Habitat Conservation Plans approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and working directly with the Forest Service and USFWS during the Consultation Process to ensure that practical conservation measures were implemented on federal lands in Forest Service Regions 8 and 9.

FRA anticipates being asked to support this measure and provide a formal statement.

Farm Bill

In House meetings this week, we learned that House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) announced his intention to hold a markup on a Farm Bill reauthorization measure “later in July.” This came as a surprise to both Hill staff and the FRA team. Programs affecting row crop agriculture are included in the budget reconciliation bill, but programs that we care about that do not receive mandatory funding in the current Farm Bill would be included in Chairman Thompson’s measure. FRA will work to maintain our momentum in keeping the Jobs in the Woods Act language in the House bill, as well as full authorization for the Wood Innovation and Community Wood grant programs, the Forest Inventory and Analysis program, and language related to biomass carbon neutrality. We will keep you apprised of developments.

Trade

FRA has picked up intelligence suggesting that a decision on the Section 232 investigation into the national security impacts of importing timber, lumber, and derivative products may be announced next week. Recall that the White House’s announcement of this investigation was made back in March. That announcement may be found here.

Transportation – VARIANCE Act Introduced in the Senate

On June 18, 2025, Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Vehicle Axle Redistribution Increases Allow New Capacities for Efficiency (VARIANCE) Act (S.2108). This bipartisan legislation aims to improve trucking efficiency by addressing axle weight distribution for commercial vehicles transporting dry bulk goods. A key provision of the legislation would allow a 10% axle variance for trucks carrying dry bulk materials, which include wood chips and biomass. It also raises the maximum weight on any tandem-axle trailer to 37,400 lbs. A companion bill (H.R. 2920) was introduced in the House in April.

Safety Update

Sedgwick Safety Services

The power of your TPA claims examiner relationship

As a Sedgwick TPA customer our goal is to always provide you with comprehensive and immediate service for all of your workers’ compensation claim needs. Part of that service includes a dedicated claims examiner assigned to your account who can offer a detailed plan of action to assist you in navigating the Ohio workers’ compensation system.

When your company experiences a workers’ compensation claim, your assigned claims examiner will typically receive notice of the claim within a few days of the filing. Their immediate goal is to complete a claim review of all documentation available so that they can notify you of any concerns with the information on file. Some of the caution signs they monitor include:

• Prior medical history to the same body part

• A delay in seeking treatment

• Vague or inconclusive injury descriptions

• Medical treatment discrepancies

• The injury is reported soon after a known employer discipline

• Hobbies or extracurricular activities that could cause the reported injury

• Medical conditions that co-exist alongside the primary diagnosis (comorbidities)

Once the validity of a claim is verified your claims examiner will develop a detailed plan of action to monitor and help move the claim to final resolution either through full and final settlement of the claim or a full duty return to work.

Early communication with your claims examiner can provide clarity in the investigation process, reduce administration delays and ensure forward motion of the claim, which is a benefit to both you and your injured worker.

While it is an unfortunate fact that workers do get injured on the job and the majority of those claims are credible, a strong relationship with your assigned claims examiner who can review what options are available to you as the employer to mitigate time and expense in the claim is one of the best tools you have in your toolbox. Their expert knowledge of the Ohio Workers’ Compensation system can help you make informed decisions that will lead to successful claim outcomes.

If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, Peyton Rosier, at (614)506-8195 or peyton.rosier@sedgwick.com.