“We thank the American Loggers Council and its state association members for helping us better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the timber harvester and timber hauler sectors,” said Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “They provided insights on their industry that allowed us to develop an effective and efficient program that delivers the greatest benefits to businesses in need.”
The American Loggers Council is pleased to announce that the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) financial assistance program has been developed and will open for applications in the immediate future.
This program is the culmination of the American Loggers Council leadership beginning last summer when Senator Collins (ME) and Senator Smith (MN) introduced legislation to provide financial assistance to the logging and log hauling businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Senator Collins and Senator Smith, along with House members Representative Golden (ME) and Representative Rouzer (NC), in conjunction with the American Loggers Council state associations, were able to negotiate inclusion of $200 million in the 2020 Supplemental Appropriations Bill in December.
The PATHH program will be administered by the Farm Service Agency based on their experience with similar agricultural commodity programs and presence in nearly every county. The USDA, U.S. Forest Service, and the Farm Service Agency developed the PATHH program in record time at the direction of the Biden Administration. The Farm Service Agency will be conducting outreach programs to ensure that all eligible companies will be aware of the program and application process.
The financial and human capital invested by the American Loggers Council in securing this financial aid for American Timber Harvesters (Loggers) and Haulers (Truckers) is a demonstration of representation as the National Voice for Professional Loggers – Loggers Working for Loggers, that the American Loggers Council provides.
This is an historic accomplishment. For the first time ever in our long history of forest management, the timber industry will be recognized as an agricultural commodity like other agricultural sectors.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept PATHH applications from July 22 through October 15, 2021.
To be eligible for payments, individuals or legal entities must be a timber harvesting or timber hauling business where 50% or more of its gross revenue is derived from one or more of the following:
Cutting timber
Transporting timber
Processing of wood on-site on the forest land (chipping, grinding, converting to biochar, cutting to smaller lengths, etc.).
Payments will be based on the applicant’s gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 1, 2019, minus gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 1, 2020, multiplied by 80%. FSA will issue an initial payment equal to the lesser of the calculated payment amount or $2,000 as applications are approved. A second payment will be made after the signup period has ended based upon remaining PATHH funds. The maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive directly is $125,000.
