Timber Talk 8/18/26
- Jenna Reese
- Aug 17
- 8 min read
OFA Update
Register Now for the 2026 Lumberman's Outing
We are hoping to increase registrations
with some more familiar faces at this year's fundraiser benefitting the Lumberman's Benevolent Fund. On September 9, 2026, Fire Ridge Golf Course and Airport Ridge Sporting Clays will host all registrants for a day of golfing and clay shooting in Millersburg, Ohio. It's time to putt, shoot, and eat to support foresters who have suffered industry-related injuries. Follow the link below to register and contact OFA staff to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. This event is brought to you by the OFA Foundation.
Bob Mulligan Retires as Forest Hydrology Manager for ODNR Division of Forestry
If you are a forestry professional, you likely have Bob Mulligan's number saved as a favorite in your phone. For over a decade, Bob managed Ohio's forestry pollution abatement program, educating and helping landowners, loggers, and foresters implement best management practices (BMPs) to protect water quality. Recently, he was instrumental in administrating the Division's successful Portable Bridge Rental Program. He retired from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry at the end of June 2026, ending his life-long career in public service.
When asked what he enjoyed most about his career, Bob said "I really enjoy walking in the woods with landowners, loggers, and consulting foresters and educating them about the benefits of soil conservation. I especially enjoy helping them develop voluntary Forestry Pollution Prevention Plans [FP3s] to reduce soil erosion on their logging sites and helping them protect water quality. I truly believe that an ounce of education prior to a timber harvest is better than a pound of legal enforcement after poorly planned logging has already taken place. When landowners, industry, and government work together, everyone wins and it’s fun to be part of that process."
The remarkable thing about Bob is that he took a regulatory role and made it relational and conversational. He gained the trust of Ohio Master Loggers through participating in the Logging Standards Council and many other OFA programs, taking great care to listen to Master Loggers, meet them on their sites, and work with them to address potential issues. OFA can't thank him enough for the countless hours and miles he gave to make that happen.
Help us spread the word about PBS 2026
We are fast approaching our 2026 Paul Bunyan Show, celebrating our 20th anniversary at the Guernsey Co. Fairgrounds! Over 160 exhibitors will join us to showcase their products to thousands of excited attendees. We would like to thank our members who are participating, and will be sending out complimentary tickets to all members in the coming weeks. We would greatly appreciate if you can share the QR code or ticket link on the right with your friends and family and tell them about the show. We look forward to seeing you in October! For more information visit www.thepaulbunyanshow.com.
Join us at this year's NHLA convention!
We are gearing up to head to Cleveland this September for the annual NHLA convention! We are proud to be hosting this event here in Ohio this year and will be joining as sponsors to provide a special welcome gift to each attendee.
The NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase is the largest and longest-running hardwood industry gathering in North America. Each year, thousands of sawmill owners, lumber buyers, manufacturers, suppliers, and wood product professionals come together to shape the future of the industry. We hope that you will join us to experience great exhibitors from all across the country. Visit the website for more information and to register!
US Forest Service Invests $105.5 Million in Grants to Support Wood Industry, Rural Economies, Jobs
The U.S. Forest Service announced $105.5 million in wood innovation grants for 177 projects across the nation that support active management of national forests and grasslands, promote wood and energy infrastructure by increasing manufacturing capacity and operational efficiencies and support rural economic prosperity and jobs.
The grants include $31 million for 113 wood innovation projects, $17 million for 23 community wood projects, and $57 million for 41 wood products infrastructure assistance projects. The selected projects across 44 states and the District of Columbia will create and retain jobs, reduce wildfire risks for communities adjacent to federal or tribal lands, improve forest health and expand economic opportunities for forest products businesses. You can few the list of past projects awarded here. American Wood Fibers received a grant in 2026 to install a wood dryer and associated equipment with support from OFA.
The application window for the next round is scheduled to open in October 2026. If you are interested in submitting a grant application, please contact Jenna Reese, jenna@ohioforest.org.
Chainsaw Safety Awareness that Works
OFA's CSAW program provides quality chainsaw safety education for anyone operating a chainsaw, from professional loggers to landowners, city/county workers, emergency response teams, volunteers and anyone else using a chainsaw for work or casual reasons. The CSAW program offers different levels of classes from in-depth tree felling and bucking to general chainsaw maintenance and safety.
Market Update
HardwoodReview Forecasting
The dog days of summer are upon us, and so too is the typical slowdown in activity. Whether holiday-related weakness in Europe or pullbacks in Chinese ordering, it is typically a quiet time for business and this year is no exception. However, production levels are also down quite a bit this year due to extended summer breaks and more permanent cutbacks and closures. Therefore, the outlook isn’t much different than what we’ve experienced in recent months—relatively steady pricing for most items. With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at around 6.5%, existing home sales still slow, and consumer confidence
weak, there’s nothing to suggest a quick 2nd half turnaround in demand. Most finished goods manufacturers will survive but struggle to thrive.
On the positive side, the consumer price index fell 0.4% in Jun, the biggest monthly inflation drop in six years. Even though prices are still historically high, any improvement will help to restore consumer willingness to spend on big ticket items. And U.S. producers will face a little less pressure from imported wood products for the balance of the year, with moulding and solid wood flooring receipts already down 37% through May, and engineered flooring receipts down 10%.
Legislative Update
The following is brought to us by our national partner, the Forest Resources Association (FRA)
Congress/Fall Agenda
Both Houses of Congress are in recess. The House left town in late July, and the Senate followed late last week. Before leaving town, the Senate was able to advance a government funding Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep federal government operations running through December 11. The House-passed measure extends funding through December 4, so that will have to be reconciled in September when Members of Congress return.
The list of items that need Congressional action by the end of next month is long. The federal surface transportation law, known as the Highway Bill, expires September 30. Although the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed a highway bill reauthorization measure earlier this year, that legislation has not advanced to the House floor. The Senate lags far behind the House in its fashioning of a surface transportation reauthorization bill, which means an extension past September 30 will be necessary. As we noted last week, the Senate failed to advance its version of a Farm Bill and will be trying to take another run at committee action when the Senate returns mid-September. Farm Bill programs also expire September 30, although the high-profile and expensive provisions in the Farm Bill—row crop and dairy subsidies and the Nutrition title—were extended through 2031 as part of last year’s H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Chairman Boozman has signaled that a Farm Bill extension addressing all the other titles in the comprehensive measure will not be necessary until the end of this year.
GOP leadership in both chambers will continue to push for a budget reconciliation bill to address several issues, including military spending needs, as well as agricultural sector financial assistance to address the effects of tariff-related trade disruption. If this effort finds traction, it may provide a legislative vehicle for some of FRA’s policy priorities.
Alternatively, the Senate-passed CR includes a couple of tax and trade provisions which may provide an avenue for legislating in these two lanes after the November midterms. As always, the FRA team will continue to work aggressively with our champions in the House and Senate to advance our policy priorities in the Farm Bill, the Highway Bill, and on the guestworker visa front. We will keep you apprised of our progress.
Trump Administration Supports Fix Our Forests Act
The Office of Management and Budget has issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) expressing support for S.1462, the Fix Our Forests Act, citing the bill’s strong alignment with federal priorities to expand active forest and vegetation management, expedite environmental reviews, reduce frivolous litigation, and improve wildfire resilience through coordinated Federal, state, tribal, and local action. While endorsing key provisions—such as enhanced wildfire‑risk reduction, post‑fire recovery, and streamlined permitting—the Administration recommends adjustments to reflect the newly unified U.S. Wildland Fire Service and to broaden authorities to additional ecosystems and modernized fire‑intelligence tools. The SAP concludes that, if amended, the President’s advisors would recommend signing the bill, signaling meaningful executive‑branch momentum behind reforms central to forest management and the wood supply chain. The House companion bill, H.R.471, has passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 279–141, while S.1462 has passed the Senate Agriculture Committee by an 18–5 bipartisan vote and is awaiting a Senate floor vote.
H-2B Forestry Worker Wages – Steady
H-2B prevailing wages remained relatively stable from the 2025–2026 program year to 2026–2027 — with the median wage increasing from $20.59 to $21.00 — meaning most workers saw a modest raise. The overall average held nearly flat, dipping just a dime from $20.70 to $20.60. The biggest change was at the top end: the highest wages paid fell from $32.43 to $27.63, narrowing the gap between the lowest and highest earners. The wage floor, however, barely budged — staying right around $14.78. In short, wages were stable for most workers, the typical pay rate nudged upward, and the wide variation seen in the prior year narrowed considerably. Please note that wages are determined on a county basis – this summary provides an overall change YOY. FRA will provide a more detailed analysis in an upcoming Technical Release.
Safety Update
Sedgwick Safety Services
2026 OSHA PERRP General Duty Clause
Conduct Regular Risk Assessments– this includes identifying hazards across all departments—especially non-traditional risks like violence and ergonomics.
Document Everything – Keep record of inspections, training, hazard corrections and injury investigations.
Follow Industry Guidance - Even when no rule exists, following other standards such as ANSI, NFPA, CDC, etc. can support your safety approach.
Train Supervisors and Staff - Ensure employees understand hazard recognition and reporting expectations.
Act Quickly on Known Hazards - Once a hazard is identified, failure to act increases both risk and liability.
Final Thoughts
The General Duty Clause—under both OSHA and PERRP—serves as a catch-all safeguard to ensure employers cannot overlook serious hazards simply because they are not specifically regulated. By proactively identifying and controlling risks, employers not only maintain compliance but also create safer, more productive workplaces. Creating a safe workplace is not just good business, it’s a legal obligation. While many employers are familiar with specific safety standards, fewer fully understand the General Duty Clause.
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
ECOFA Newsletter
Sedgwick WC Article
NEOFA Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
9/9/2026 Location: Millersburg, Ohio Time: 9:00 am |
Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
Friday, October 2, 2026 |
2026 Paul Bunyan Show Exhibitor Registration 10/2/2026 » 10/4/2026 Location: Lore City, Ohio Time: 8:00-5:00 Fri/Sat 9:00-3:00 Sun |
OFA Proudly Supports
Comments