OFA Update
OFA Trains Ag Educators in Forestry Skills
At the Ag Ed Summer Conference, held at Wilmington College on June 12th, OFA staff presented a 2-hour workshop, “Timber Stand Improvement: Strategies to Improve the Health and Quality of Forest Trees” in conjunction with OSU Extension. The purpose of this workshop was to deliver educational content about forest management to Ohio high school educators who teach some component of forestry or natural resources to their students. Educators were given hands-on training in forest measurements using Biltmore Sticks and prisms. They also learned about Gingrich Stocking Charts and how to use these to guide silvicultural decision-making. There were 15 educators in attendance who will now be able to teach students these practices in their own classrooms. OFA will continue to provide critical support and training to Ag educators so that more students will have the opportunity to learn about forestry.
Register Today for the OFA Summer Meeting
By popular demand, the OFA Summer Outing is headed back to Marietta! Join us for golf at the Marietta Country Club, clay shooting at the Marietta Gun Club, and a fun-filled networking reception on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler. This much-anticipated event is an ideal opportunity to network with your peers in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Call the Lafayette Hotel for room reservations, 740-373-5522.
RAHC Update
Last month, the Real American Hardwood Coalition extended its consumer advertising campaign with the Magnolia Network after a four-month hiatus. In just two weeks since the ads began running on May 29, the campaign has experienced a 1,200+% increase in consumer engagement, including television, streaming, paid social media, and Google ads. Significantly, the campaign is engaging nearly 7,500 new users each week.
A total of five unique ads, curated to reflect the RAHC’s Build Your World™ campaign, show consumers how Real American Hardwood flooring, cabinetry, furniture, millwork, and more can help enhance and express their unique personalities and style.
The Magnolia ads, in particular, reach a highly targeted audience of 92.8 million consumers who are motivated home buyers and renovators. Combined with streaming services, social media, and other digital ads, the campaign is generating nearly 8,600 weekly sessions on the RAHC consumer website, and a nearly 680% increase in weekly page views.
The ads will run through the end of 2024. You can view them here: https://youtu.be/OtC6bEJ0OZo?si=WAld70O1sCIIzBsV
Clearly, the campaign is reaching its target audience, but to maintain this momentum requires the support of our entire industry. Donate today at https://www.realamericanhardwood.com/industry/how-to-get-involved.
Legislative Update
Provided by the Forest Resources Association.
Old-Growth Forest Amendment
Congressman Bruce Westerman(R-AR-04), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, had this to say about the Old-Growth Forest Amendment DEIS:
"Today's announcement proposing to restrict responsible timber harvesting in so-called old-growth forests is another example of this administration rejecting science and prioritizing an out-of-touch environmentalist agenda. While the Biden administration has failed to define an old-growth forest, all forests would be protected if the Forest Service focused on its mission of managing the lands it controls. Instead, they've taken a partisan, unscientific direction, wasting precious time and resources. As its overgrown forests turn to tinderboxes, the Forest Service should be focused on active forest management to mitigate wildfire risk, curb diseases, and give land managers critical tools for success. Unfortunately, the USFS' misguided action will further restrict badly needed forest management efforts, taking a vital tool out of the hands of the land managers who need them most."
Rules Committee Removes Favorable H-2B Language
On Tuesday, the House Rules Committee removed language from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY2025 spending bill that directed the agency to release the maximum number of supplemental visas (64,716) when the H-2B cap is met. The language, offered in a bipartisan amendment by Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD-01), was included by the House Appropriations Committee during the bill's markup and was removed by House leadership prior to floor consideration. This action by House leaders may result in the defeat of the DHS spending measure on the House floor, as several Members of Congress have indicated they will not vote in favor of the bill due to the removal of the H-2B visa provision. The DHS bill is expected to have a floor vote after the Fourth of July recess. In a letter to the administration, the H-2B Workforce Coalition, of which FRA serves on the coalition steering committee, sent a letter to House Leadership that expressed concerns with the removal of the H-2B language.
“The H-2B Workforce Coalition is extremely disappointed that a bipartisan H-2B amendment added to the FY 2025 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill was removed prior to floor consideration. This bipartisan provision, adopted by voice vote during committee markup, would have maintained the status quo from the previous two years, expedited the process to access the supplemental visas, and provided much needed certainty for seasonal businesses.”
FRA will now focus on the Senate side to include favorable H-2B visa language, improving the Senate DHS spending bill, and improving access to non-immigrant forestry workers.
Fix Our Forests Act Reported From Committee
On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee marked up and passed the Fix our Forests Act (FOFA-H.R. 8790), legislation that would expedite forest harvesting/management projects on federal lands. The bill was reported out of committee on a bipartisan voice vote.
As we know, finding the sweet spot in this issue space has proven elusive for decades. Environmental groups generally oppose any harvesting of timber on federal lands. However, trained foresters, the US Forest Service, communities surrounding federal forests and the forest products sector know that managing forest stands is critical for forest health. Not only does managing timber stands head off disease and insect infestation, but it also prevents catastrophic wildfires.
The bill streamlines the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), which requires exhaustive environmental impact reviews of any forest thinning project on federal forestlands. At the centerpiece of FOFA is expanding what are known as Categorical Exclusions (CEs) from NEPA. CEs permit forest projects to proceed on a streamlined basis with limited review but are limited to projects 3000 acres in size or less. FOFA would expand CEs to projects up to 10,000 acres in size.
The bill also includes language to create markets for low-grade timber and other provisions aimed at making our federal forests more resilient.
Congressman Jared Hoffman (D-CA-02) led Democratic opposition to the bipartisan bill, saying the legislation would undermine the public review process. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), chair of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, spoke in favor of the bill, saying, "This bipartisan, comprehensive legislation will encourage active forest management and support community resiliency to wildfires, it will expedite environmental analyses, reduce frivolous lawsuits, and increase the pace and scale of forest restoration projects and high priority fire sheds. "
The path forward for this bill is uncertain. There are similar provisions in the House version of the Farm Bill reauthorizing legislation. As we have noted, the number of days Members of Congress are actually here in Washington is dwindling. Nonetheless, FRA is following this bill closely and we will keep you apprised of developments.
Trucking Rates Increase
A report released by the American Transportation Institute showed that trucking expenses reached a record high in 2023. This represents the third consecutive year trucking rates have increased. In 2023, per-mile rates increased to $2.27 per mile. Cost per mile has increased more than 62 cents per mile since 2020, when it was $1.65 per mile. Year-over-year increases were highest in insurance premiums (12.5%), truck and trailer payments (8.8%), and driver wages (7.6%).
Labor Negotiations
FRA signed onto a letter this week to the President highlighting the stalemate in negotiations between the International Longshoreman's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The labor contract between the two organizations covers all maritime ports along the East and Gulf coasts and is set to expire on September 30. Unfortunately, talks have broken down on forging another master contract, and ILA has threatened to strike if a new deal is not reached before the current contract expires. The letter, signed by 159 organizations, asks the President to intervene and bring the parties back to the negotiating table and may be found here.
Biomass
This morning, the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee met to consider its Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill. Recall that this is the appropriations measure that funds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is the vehicle for our long-standing and FRA-supported biomass carbon neutrality rider. The legislation that was approved by the subcommittee includes our rider, and we will continue to work on this in the House and Senate so that our carbon neutrality directive remains in statute through the next fiscal year.
Supreme Court Blocks Good Neighbor Rule
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court blocked the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agencies Good Neighbor Rule. The Good Neighbor Rule proposed new limits on smog-forming emissions produced from generating energy. This rule would significantly reduce markets for forest-based biomass in several states if kept in place. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, stating that “EPA's federal plan "likely runs afoul" of statutory requirements that it properly explains the rationale for its decisions in order to avoid being "arbitrary" or "capricious.” The EPA said it was disappointed with the ruling but looked forward to defending the plan as the matter is further litigated.
Partner Update
Enrollment Now Open: Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership Program
Landowners can now enroll their property in the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Enrollment in the program is open until Monday, July 15 and incentivizes property owners to provide land access to hunters. Since the program’s launch in 2021, nearly 20,000 acres have been enrolled.
Enrolled lands can be accessed between September and June by hunters with a free daily access permit. Permits are distributed on a first come, first served basis, and reduce overcrowding on huntable lands. Participating hunters receive a list of rules for the property prior to accessing the land, and landowners receive a notification when hunters will access their property. All hunting activities except white-tailed deer gun hunting and trapping are permitted by Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership users. Permits can be obtained at wildohio.gov or on the free HuntFish OH mobile app.
Those interested in enrolling their property can visit the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov to receive more information. Landowners can receive annual payments ranging from $2 per acre for crop land to $30 per acre for perennial wildlife habitats such as grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Enrollment contracts are two years, with the possibility of re-enrollment.
The Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership program is funded, in part, by the federal Farm Bill under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. This bill provides funding to state and tribal agencies through a competitive grant process to implement programs encouraging hunting access on private properties.
A recent survey showed that landowners enrolled in Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership are overwhelmingly satisfied with the program. More than 80% of respondents would recommend enrollment to other Ohio landowners.
Hunters and landowners can find more information about the program, including answers to frequently asked questions, on the Ohio Landowner Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov.
Upcoming Events
Master Logger Chapter Meetings
Northwest Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
6/19/2024
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Paint Valley Loggers Chapter Meeting
7/8/2024
Location: Bainbridge, Ohio Time: 7:00 PM
Southern Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
7/9/2024
Location: Lucasville, Ohio Time: 7:00 pm
East Central Ohio Loggers Chapter
7/15/2024
Location: Fresno, Ohio Time: 6:00 PM
Steel Valley Loggers Chapter Meeting
7/18/2024
Location: DeNoon Lumber, Bergholz, Ohio Time: 5:30 PM
2024 OFA Summer Outing
7/17/2024
Location: Marietta, Ohio Time: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
2024 Kiln Drying Short Course
8/12/2024 » 8/14/2024
Location: Millersburg, Ohio
Master Logger Training @ Fernwood State Forest
8/15/2024 » 8/16/2024
Location: Bloomingdale, Ohio
Tree Farm of the Year Tour
9/7/2024
Location: Cadiz, Ohio Time: 10:00 AM
2024 Paul Bunyan Show
10/4/2024 » 10/6/2024
Location: Lore City, Ohio
2025 Annual Meeting
2/5/2025 » 2/6/2025
Location: Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio
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