OFA Update
Chainsaw Safety at Farm Science Review
OFA is partnering with OSU Extension and Hocking College to provide chainsaw safety training at the Farm Science Review, taking place September 17-19 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. There will be chainsaw demonstrations on the hour and chainsaw maintenance instruction on the half hour near the corner of Beef and Friday throughout the Review. Stop by if you are at Farm Science Review!
OFA Annual Meeting set for 2025 and 2026
Mark your calendars for OFA's 2025 Annual Meeting on February 5-6, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus. The Indiana Hardwood Lumberman's Association (IHLA) was not able to secure their typical early February dates for 2025, which is why OFA's annual meeting is earlier. OFA's 2026 Annual Meeting will return to its typical timeline and be held March 11-12, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. Don't miss it!
Market Update
HardwoodReview Forecasting
Hardwood markets have largely “stagnated,” and more of the same is expected over the next few months, with additional sawmill closures and cutbacks offset by seasonally slower domestic home construction and worsening election/inflation paralysis. Existing home sales peaked lower and a month earlier than last year, and housing starts typically fall steadily through Dec. Consumer confidence has hovered near three-year lows since Apr, and consumer prices remain 11% higher than they would have been had inflation growth continued at the 2017-2019 pace of 2.1%. That said, Aug reports suggest supplies are low enough that some of the more in-demand upper-grade items could see modest additional firming. Second-half exports should be a little better, especially if European buyers begin to stockpile ahead of EUDR restrictions and/or some of the expanding Asian markets begin to feel the supply crunch. The downside for domestic sawmills is that first-half White Oak log exports jumped to an all-time high, and first-half Walnut log export volumes set the third record in as many years.
Hardwood moulding sales were flat to lower in the first half, and manufacturers are reporting shrinking production backlogs, smaller order files, and an inability to raise prices due to the 55% jump in imported moulding volumes through Jun.
Legislative Update
From our national partner, the Forest Resources Association
Federal Lands
In June, the U.S. Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) discussing their plan to amend 128 Federal Land Management Plans to provide a consistent approach to protecting old-growth on National Forest System lands. FRA will submit substantive comments on the effort on behalf of FRA members prior to the comment period closing on September 20. FRA will also prepare talking points and set up an Action Alert for our members interested in submitting comments on the old-growth DEIS.
The U.S. Forest Service announced that the DEIS for the amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) will be delayed. They anticipate that the DEIS will be released in October with a 90-day comment period commencing upon the release. FRA Western Region Manager Lindsay Warness is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee that collaborated with other interests in developing the proposed action for the amendment that proposes to reduce the red tape across the NWFP area to improve timber management.
Congress/Government Funding
Members of Congress return to Washinton on Monday after a lengthy August recess. Their priority deliverable will be forging an agreement on a measure to fund the federal government past September 30, when current funding authorities expire. The House has passed all of its bills out of committee, with five spending bills passed by the lower chamber. The Senate appropriators, meanwhile, have passed all but one of their fiscal 2025 spending bills out of committee, failing to reach an agreement on the Homeland Security funding bill. This means that a Continuing Resolution (CR) will be necessary, and as usual, there is looming drama surrounding what policy rider(s) may be attached to that vehicle. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) plans to attach the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. Opponents of the bill assert that the measure is unnecessary as proof or verification of citizenship is already a requirement during voter registration. Any CR that includes the SAVE Act is dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is why Speaker Johnson is expected to bring this proposal to the floor next week to have enough time to negotiate a final CR before Congress leaves town again later in September. Conservatives are also insisting on a CR that extends into next year. This is also unlikely as Senate Democrats will object to any proposal that extends past early to mid-December. We believe that in the end, a short-term clean CR—meaning no policy riders—will be sent to the President on or before September 30 and that the odds of a federal government shutdown are remote this close to the election.
H-2B Visas
The Department of Labor has certified over 35,000 positions as of August 31. It is anticipated that the first half visa cap will be met the week of September 16. Once the cap is met FRA will reach out to members of Congress to encourage them to release supplemental visas. The release of additional visas for the first half of fiscal year 2025 is dependent on Congress passing a continuing resolution prior to October 1.
Farm Bill
Late last week, FRA met with committee staff on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to discuss provisions of interest to our sector in the Farm Bill and prospects for a reauthorization bill passing later this year. Ranking Member Boozman (R-AR) continues to tell groups that a Farm Bill rewrite is possible in the Lame Duck session of Congress following the election. However, the actual legislative text has not been shared between Democrats and Republicans on the committee, and it appears that marking up and passing a bill in a short Lame Duck session would be a stretch. The good news is that the summaries that have been provided describing Democrat and Republican proposals that would be included in the next Farm Bill are all positive for FRA. The proposals notably feature robust funding for both the Wood Innovation Grant and Community Wood Grant programs, among other provisions. We will keep you apprised of developments and the progress of our advocacy in this space for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 if necessary.
Drones
Next week is China Week in the House, where a number of bills aimed at checking China’s influence will be considered on the House floor. One of the bills up for consideration is the Countering CCP Drones Act (H.R. 2864), sponsored by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21). The bill requires the inclusion of telecommunications and video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by Shenzhen Da-Jiang Innovations Sciences and Technologies Company Limited (a Chinese drone maker commonly known as DJI Technologies) on a list of communications equipment or services determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. We flag this bill as several companies up and down the forest products supply chain utilize drones for several purposes ranging from security to timber stand/forest health monitoring.
Partner Update
State Fire Marshal Orders Ban on Open Burning for Certain Ohio Regions
In response to extremely dry conditions in various areas of the state, Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has ordered a regional Ban on Open Burning effective immediately. The ban impacts any county in Ohio identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as being in the “Extreme Drought” or “Exceptional Drought” categories as identified by the United States Drought Monitoring System.
The Burn on Open Burning ordered today, Sept. 6, 2024, includes the following Ohio counties: Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, and Washington. Additional counties may be added upon designation of “Extreme Drought” or “Exceptional Drought” conditions issued by NOAA and/or the USDA within such counties or added by written directive of the State Fire Marshal.
Examples of outdoor activities prohibited by this order in the ban area include the following: lighting or maintaining an fire of any type at any location, smoking (including cigarettes or similar devices, and as part of a cooking process), non-electric cooking (regardless of fuel source), using or discharging any type of fireworks, throwing down/discarding lighted or smoldering material (including matches or cigarettes), campfires, bonfires, live fire training events, flame effect(s) based displays or exhibitions (including sky lanterns and cold spark machines), and using spark causing devices for recreational purposes.
“Fire safety is a responsibility we all share,” said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “It’s critical that Ohioans understand and appreciate the significant risks associated with fires, especially during the current drought conditions. Together we can protect our communities and environment.”
The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry, and the Wayne National Forest urge all Ohioans to take special precautions due to the dry weather, whether they are in a county impacted by the Ban on Open Burning or not.
“All Ohioans, particularly homeowners, farmers, and woodland owners, should be cautious during this dry period,” said ODNR Division of Forestry Fire Prevention Manager Aaron Kloss. “Most of the plant materials in Ohio that can fuel wildfires are currently dry and will stay this way until we have significant rainfall. Current dry weather patterns with warm temperatures, low humidities, and wind are increasing the risk of wildland fires in Ohio.”
Dry grasses, shrubs, dead leaves, and fallen pine needles are all examples of plant materials that can fuel wildfires. Even if rain is in the forecast, it will require an extended period of soaking rains to reduce the elevated threat of wildfires throughout the state. Spring and fall are the typical wildfire seasons in Ohio; however, the current weather situation and resulting wildfire fuel situation is not typical. Warm, dry windy days in the fall, combined with abundant dead leaves falling and herbaceous plants entering dormancy and drying out, typically create situations conducive to wildfire igniting and spreading.
Anyone who sees any signs of wildfire should call their local fire department immediately to report it. Accurate and timely reporting of wildfire responses by Ohio fire departments is important for a rapid response to the incident.
Safety Update
Claim Impact Reduction Program formerly One Claim Program
The Claim Impact Reduction Program (CIRP) is a voluntary program that employers may participate in to limit the impact of a single significant claim for the duration the claim remains in their experience.
To participate in CIRP, you must have a single significant claim entering your experience for the first time. A significant claim is one whose total cost exceeds the total limited losses for an employer based on size and industry calculated for that policy year. You may only designate one significant claim every four years.
Eligibility requirements
Be enrolled in a group-rating program.
Have a single significant claim entering into the experience for the first time that prevents the TPA from renewing the policy in group experience rating the following year.
Not have more than three minor claims, in addition to the significant claim, during the experience period.
Be current (no more than 45 days past due) on any and all payments due to BWC as of the application deadline.
Be current on the payment schedule of any part-pay agreement entered into for the payment of premiums or assessments.
Not have cumulative lapses in workers’ compensation coverage in excess of 40 days within the 12 months preceding the application deadline.
Report actual payroll for the preceding policy year, and pay any premium due upon reconciliation of estimated premium and actual premium for that policy year no later than the application deadline.
How it works
An employer who meets all the eligibility requirements will receive the following upfront discount off the base rate:
20% during the first year in the program
15% in the second year
10% in the third year
5% in the fourth year
Application deadline and additional program requirements
Private employers - Applications due by the last business day in January preceding the policy year that starts July 1.
Public employers - Applications due by the last business day in July preceding the policy year that starts Jan. 1.
To maintain eligibility in CIRP, employers must:
Not allow the total cost of the three minor claims to exceed their total limited losses calculated for that policy year.
Attend a half-day class or a three-hour online class offered by our Division of Safety & Hygiene each year.
Complete training by the deadline, for private employers the last business day of March, for public employers the last business day of September.
Remain current on any premiums, assessments or other monies due to BWC.
You must submit an application by the application deadline for your first year in the program. BWC will determine initial and ongoing eligibility based on claims activity during the experience period. Eligible employers will be enrolled in the program automatically in years 2 through 4. BWC maintains the right to remove an employer from the program if it does not meet eligibility requirements.
If you have any questions, contact Paul Feck at Sedgwick at paul.feck@sedgwick.com.
Upcoming Events
2024 Lumberman's Outing
9/11/2024
Location: Millersburg, Ohio Time: 9:00 AM
Master Logger Chapter Meetings
Southern Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
9/10/2024
Location: Lucasville, Ohio Time: 7:00 pm
Northeastern Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
9/11/2024
Location: Middlefield, Ohio
Muskingum Valley Loggers Chapter
9/11/2024
Location: F.O.E., McConnelsville, Ohio Time: 7:00 PM
East Central Ohio Loggers Chapter
9/16/2024
Location: Fresno, Ohio Time: 6:00 PM
Northwest Ohio Loggers Chapter Meeting
9/18/2024
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Scioto River Valley Loggers Chapter Meeting
9/19/2024
Location: Scioto Township Fire Hall, Wakefield, Ohio Time: 7:00 PM
2024 Paul Bunyan Show
10/4/2024 » 10/6/2024
Location: Lore City (Cambridge), Ohio
2024 Master Logger Recertification Class @ PBS
10/4/2024
Location: Lore City (Cambridge), Ohio Time: 8:30 AM
2025 Annual Meeting
2/5/2025 » 2/6/2025
Location: Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio
2026 Annual Meeting
3/11/2026 » 3/12/2026
Location: Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio
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