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State Assembly Committee Passes Verso Paper Mill Assembly Bill 367
June 6, 2021 — Today the State Assembly’s Committee on State Affairs voted to pass Assembly Bill 367 (AB 367), which would provide state assistance to support of the purchase of the former Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids. AB 367 was introduced by Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome) and Sen. Patrick Testin (r-Stevens Point) in late May. An amendment was added to the bill at Rep. Krug’s request to also provide assistance with the purchase of the paper mill in Park Falls. Krug and Testin’s bill (as amended) would provide loans from two sources in support of each purchase.
The Wisconsin Rapids mill sale would be provided with a $50 million loan from federal stimulus money (which would have to be approved by Governor Tony Evers) and also with a $50 million loan from the State of Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL).
The Park Falls mill sale would be provided with loans of $15 million, one loan coming from stimulus money and one loan coming from BCPL.
Neither sale will be paid for entirely by the loans. The prospective buyers of both mills will need to raise additional money to reach the sale prices on the mills. They have been raising funds from investors for this purpose.
The Wisconsin Rapids mill would be purchased by the Consolidated Cooperative of Rhinelander, a co-op entity formed with the backing of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. Assistance and input is being provided to the new co-op by University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and by the Rural Development team at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“I think this has been a great step forward,” noted Krug. “We had a great public hearing on this bill last week. More than 60 people registered support for our bill at a public hearing last week. We can put two paper mills back to work and bring back hundreds of good family-supporting jobs.”
Krug expects AB 367 to be voted on by the State Assembly later this month.
USDA Forest Service Chief Christiansen Announces Retirement
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2021 – USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen today announced her retirement after a 40-year career as a professional forester, wildland firefighter, and land manager including 11 years of service at the Forest Service. Chief Christiansen brought her experience and passion for connecting people to their natural resources to her tenure as head of the Forest Service, leading more than 30,000 employees working in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued this statement:
“Chief Christiansen’s contributions to the USDA Forest Service cannot be overstated. In her more than three years as Chief, she has provided steady, thoughtful leadership through multiple challenges, including increasingly challenging fire and hurricane seasons, strains on agency budgets and workforce, and the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Through it all, she has led with empathy, integrity and professionalism, advancing the agency’s work on shared stewardship, climate change, and partnerships while supporting record visitation and improving agency culture around safety and an inclusive work environment.”
“Chief Christiansen’s leadership has been informed by her 40 years of experience in natural resources and wildland fire management, including previously serving as the Forest Service’s Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry and Deputy Director for Fire and Aviation Management, the Arizona State Forester, the Washington State Forester, and for 26 years in the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.”
“While Chief Christiansen’s decision to retire will leave big boots to fill, I will work closely with the Chief and the Forest Service leadership team in the weeks ahead to support a thoughtful transition. I join many others in offering my heartfelt thanks to Vicki for her service and best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement.”
Christiansen stepped into the role of Chief of the Forest Service on March 8, 2018. During Christiansen’s leadership tenure, the agency relied on its strong science, innovation, and partnerships to overcome profound challenges and find new solutions to serve the public. From leading the development of new interagency safety protocols that enabled fire response during a global pandemic to bolstering relationships with partners, states and tribes to improve forest health and combat the effects of climate change, Christiansen led with community in mind.
Her focus on creating a safe, respectful and high-performing work environment led to a cultural transformation at the Forest Service and significant gains in employee morale.
Forest Service accomplishments under Christiansen’s leadership include year after year of historic timber production and millions of acres treated to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest resilience to fire. The Forest Service also recently completed a suite of regulatory reforms to modernize and align itself to new legislative authorities that reduce regulatory burdens and expedite critical forest management work. And today, thanks to Christiansen’s collaborative approach, 50 states and territories are involved in Shared Stewardship agreements to ensure the right work gets done in the right place at the right time.
“It has truly been a privilege and an honor to serve as the Chief of the Forest Service. The time has come for me to spend more time with my family, my mom, my children, and my grandchildren. Most of my family lives a continent away, and I owe it to them to be closer so we can spend more time together. That is why I have chosen to retire.”
“I am confident that the Forest Service is on the right track, with the right priorities for the future: beating the pandemic; providing economic relief; tackling climate change; creating racial equity, and improving our workforce and our work environment in the spirit of changing our culture to become who we truly aspire to be. I have been working with Secretary Vilsack to plan for this transition and I will continue to do so in order to assure a smooth leadership transition for this agency and mission that is so important to me an so many others,” said Chief Christiansen.
Chief Christiansen will retire from federal service in August 2021.
John Deere Improves Window Quality on Its G-Series Harvesters and Forwarders
MOLINE, IL (May 18, 2021) — Improving the durability of its machines, John Deere now features RENCRAFT® Super Hard Coat polycarbonate windows as a standard offering on its G-Series harvesters and G-Series forwarders. Providing enhancements over the windows previously used, the upgraded windows are designed to withstand external wear. Additionally, the windows are improved to enhance scratch resistance and withstand chemicals and cleaning solutions, while also enhancing optic quality.
“The optics of the new window are clearly better, and, as a bonus, the cabin is now even quieter. The new kind of coating enabled by the manufacturing technique and the wear protection it brings are also significant improvements on the previous ones,” said Sami Kulmala, marketing manager, John Deere.
The new, more durable coating on the windows is created during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate coating or minor distortions. Additionally, the new windows comply with the ISO 21876 Saw Chain Shot Testing standard, proving their durability.
With the new windows, the front window of the rotating cab and the rear window of the John G-Series Forwarder fixed cab are almost 50% thicker than before. Additionally, due to the thicker material, the cab is better insulated, resulting in a quieter environment on the job site.
The RENCRAFT Super Hard Coat polycarbonate windows are available as a standard offering on all Model Year 2021 G-Series harvesters and forwarders. To learn more about the new windows, as well as the G-Series harvesters and forwarders, visit www.JohnDeere.com or your local John Deere dealer.
About John Deere: Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction — those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.
Scott Dane to Become Next Executive Director for the American Logger Council
May 10, 2021, Hemphill, TX — On June 1, 2021, Scott Dane will officially become the next Executive Director for the American Loggers Council (ALC), replacing the retiring Danny Dructor who has been with the ALC since July of 2001.
Mr. Dane brings with him a vast amount of experience working with timber harvesting and timber hauling associations having been the Executive Director for the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota for the past seventeen years.
Scott has experience in State and National issues impacting the timber harvesting and timber hauling issues at both the State and National level. He has been a critical component of the ALC’s work to gain financial assistance for those businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been involved in legislation allowing State legal weight tolerances on the Federal Interstate Highway System and other ALC initiatives like the Future Careers in Logging Act.
Participating in activities and legislation related to the federal timber sale program and forest restoration projects will also keep Scott busy as he continues to represent the issues and concerns of those ALC members who are dependent on a viable federal timber supply and a federal forest restoration program.
Tim Christopherson, President of the ALC states, “After close to 18 months of searching for a new Executive Director for the ALC, the search committee was able to narrow down the field to one candidate. I am pleased that Scott has accepted the position and look forward to working him during the transition. He has the drive, passion and ambition to take the ALC to the next level.”
Scott Dane commented, “Danny has provided the leadership to develop the American Loggers Council into the leading national voice of the American logging industry. I look forward to continuing to build upon that foundation, expanding the partnerships, supporting the state members with their issues and promoting the agenda of the American Loggers Council.”
The ALC office will be relocated from Texas to Minnesota where Scott will set up the office beginning June 1, 2021.
The American Loggers Council is the only national organization solely dedicated to representing the independent contract logger on the national level. We have the combined forces of independent contractors and state and regional logging associations, as well as our many sponsors around the country to impact our industry positively and pro-actively by sharing the benefits of education and training opportunities, networking, research, promotion and legislative coordination. The Council is committed to enhancing the logging profession, establishing a more level playing field for professional loggers and providing accurate information about the logging profession to the forest products companies, landowners and the public. It serves as a national network and communication center, linking local, state and regional organizations around the country.
John Deere Adds Smooth Boom Control Technology for Tracked Feller Bunchers and Harvesters
MOLINE, IL (April 21, 2021) — Further enhancing the machine operation in demanding forestry applications, John Deere adds its Smooth Boom Control (SBC) technology to its M-Series Tracked Feller Bunchers and MH-Series Tracked Harvesters. Developed in global collaboration between the John Deere Wheeled Cut-to-Length and Full-Tree Forestry teams, the SBC system instantaneously responds to operator input while smoothing out the acceleration and deceleration of hydraulic functions on the machine, improving overall control.
“Machine response is important to efficient machine operation, especially when working in challenging conditions day in and day out,” said Jim O’Halloran, product marketing manager, John Deere. “With SBC, we’re improving machine functionality, making operation easier on both the operator and machine. As a result, operators can control the machine movements more effectively, especially when reversing motions. SBC delivers a smoother experience for the operator and less wear and tear on the machine over time.”
The SBC software further refines the motion of the boom, swing and travel functions using advanced signal control to keep the machine ready to go. This results in a significant improvement in overall joystick and foot pedal response, reducing the signal delay at the start and end of each operator command. “One operator told us during our evaluation, it made a really good machine even better,” said O’Halloran.
The SBC software is now available as a standard feature on new tracked feller bunchers and harvesters or as an upgrade for existing M- and MH-Series machine owners. To learn more about Smooth Boom Control as well as the John Deere lineup of forestry equipment, visit www.JohnDeere.com or your local John Deere dealer.
Bipartisan, Bicameral Leaders Reintroduce Future Logging Careers Act
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-Pa.) reintroduced the Future Logging Careers Act for the 117 th Congress. This legislation would allow teenage members of logging families to gain experience in the logging trade under parental supervision so that they may carry on the family business.
Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
“One of the surest ways to learn a family trade is under the direction and supervision of a parent. However, young men and women in logging families are denied the opportunity to work and learn the timber trade until they are legal adults,” said Senator Risch. “The Future Logging Careers Act will extend existing exemptions for the agriculture industry to families who own and operate timber companies so these young loggers can gain the knowledge and experience needed to carry on the family trade.”
“Maine’s logging industry is part of the foundation of our state, passed down from generation to generation as a way to support rural Maine families and anchor the region’s economy,” said Senator King. “Many young people across our state are planning to enter this industry, and we should give them the opportunity to begin their training early in a safe, managed way. This legislation would allow young people to get hands-on experience in the logging field alongside their parents or grandparents, helping to train the next generation of loggers. This is a bill that supports Maine families, strengthens this fundamental Maine industry, and enhances the long-term skills of Maine’s forest products workforce.”
“Many Maine logging operations are small, family businesses that had a very tough year in 2020,” said Congressman Golden. “If we can help them carry on these important small businesses and provide good jobs in rural Maine at the same time, that’s good policy. Our bipartisan bill will allow young Mainers to start their careers as loggers earlier — as long as they’re under the supervision of family members — providing logging businesses with needed labor and young Mainers with a good start for a career in the woods.”
“I have the great privilege of representing numerous family-owned logging businesses, that operate on private lands, state forests and in Pennsylvania’s only National Forest, the Allegheny. For years, younger people have had the opportunity to learn the family agri-business through the comfort and guidance of their family members,” said Congressman GT Thompson. “This commonsense legislation brings the logging industry up to the same standard as other agri-businesses by allowing the next generation the ability to learn the trade and obtain vital knowledge. I am proud to support this bill.”
Bill text can be found here.
The Future Logging Careers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 so that 16 and 17-year-olds would be allowed to work in mechanized logging operations under parental supervision.
Source Contacts:
Marty Cozza (Risch)
Matthew Felling (King)
Nick Zeller (Golden)
Maddison Stone (Thompson)
Stabenow, Braun Introduce New Bipartisan Bill to Help Family Foresters Develop Climate Solutions, Take Advantage of Economic Benefits
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced the bipartisan Rural Forest Markets Act to remove barriers for small-scale, family foresters and help them benefit from new economic opportunities through climate solutions like carbon markets. The bill is the latest bipartisan climate-smart forestry legislation to come out of the committee after the REPLANT Act was introduced last month.
“Big or small, our forests are an important part of addressing the climate crisis,” said Chairwoman Stabenow. "For too long, there have been barriers that prevent family foresters from being able to take advantage of the economic benefits of the carbon reduction efforts they’ve been doing. Our bipartisan bill changes that by removing those barriers and ensuring that they can tap into new markets and be rewarded for their climate-smart practices.”
“As a tree farmer myself, I know sustainable forest management represents both a win for conservationists and all Americans. I’m proud to join Chairwoman Stabenow to reintroduce the Rural Forests Markets Act because it’s a low overhead climate solution that takes advantage of private investment to notch a win for small family foresters and the environment,” said Senator Braun.
As companies increasingly express interest in offsetting their footprint through carbon and other environmental markets, foresters are tapping into those opportunities and being financially rewarded for the voluntary, sustainable steps they’re taking in managing their land. However, small-scale and family-owned forests have faced barriers due to high upfront costs. These small, family-owned woodlands make up 36% of U.S. forests.
The bipartisan Rural Forest Markets Act provides a federal loan guarantee to support innovative projects that help small forest owners address the warming climate and other environmental challenges by adopting sustainable land management practices. Project developers are already using private capital to band together small foresters, provide expertise, and offset the upfront financial costs producers face in participating in these innovative marketplaces. By establishing a federal loan guarantee to back these private investments, new capital and forestry jobs will flow to rural communities and landowners, all while improving the environment and storing more carbon in our forests.
The Rural Forest Markets Act:
Establishes the Rural Forest Market Investment Program that offers guaranteed loans of up to $150 million for nonprofits and companies to help small and family foresters create and sell forest credits for storing carbon or providing other environmental benefits.
Provides a climate solution by encouraging forestland owners to adopt voluntary land management practices that draw carbon out of the air and store it in forests.
Creates new revenue streams for small-scale, family foresters by making it possible to generate innovative credits they can sell in established markets.
Brings investment into rural communities by reducing the financial risk to private investors who can contribute the upfront financing that makes these projects possible.
The bill text is available here. A fact sheet is available here.
In addition to Senators Stabenow and Braun, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
The bill is supported by over a dozen forestry, conservation, and sportsmen groups, including The Nature Conservancy, American Forest Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Wildlife Federation, American Forest and Paper Association, American Wood Council, American Forests, and more.
“Family forest owners own the largest portion – 36 percent – of the forests in the U.S., making them a critical component to addressing climate change through natural climate solutions,” said Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation. “Yet, they have thus far been misunderstood, undervalued or forgotten when it comes to how they can contribute. Carbon markets are a key mechanism that can ignite their participation in our climate fight but does so in a way that leverages private sector investment, bringing more dollars to rural America. We appreciate Senator Stabenow and Braun’s leadership on the Rural Forest Markets Act which will help catalyze more carbon projects, such as the Family Forest Carbon Program for family forest owners.”
“By ensuring forest owners are a part of national efforts to naturally sequester carbon, we can simultaneously meet our climate goals while also improving wildlife habitat and strengthening rural economies,” said Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Chairwoman Stabenow and Senator Braun’s innovative, bipartisan bill is a testament to their dedication to advancing carbon markets and supporting natural climate solutions.”
“The National Wild Turkey Federation appreciates Senators Stabenow’s and Braun’s support for creating markets to benefit family forest owners,” said Becky Humphries, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. “During my time as Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Senator Stabenow showed unwavering support for forestry practices that keep our forests healthy. Providing a path for family forest owners to benefit from carbon markets will continue to ensure that forests remain forests.”
“The Rural Forest Markets Act would help unlock the private capital needed to increase the amount of carbon dioxide removed from our air and stored by family-owned forests, which together represent the largest forest ownership in the U.S. That would be a major win for the environment and rural economies,” said Jad Daley, President & CEO of American Forests. “Given the immense scale of family forest ownership across America, this represents a big step forward to realize the scientifically proven and untapped potential of nearly doubling natural carbon storage in U.S. forests and forest products and making a significant contribution toward stabilizing our climate through carbon dioxide removal. Investment in our nation’s family forests will yield benefits for communities and our climate for generations to come.”
Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213 of 2021
“Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) commends Congressman Gallagher for his persistence to create a safer environment for local communities and truck drivers with the re-introduction of the “Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213” of 2021,” stated GLTPA President Matt Jensen.
“The “Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213” of 2021 provides drivers of product specific, specialized log trucks a choice of routes by allowing them access to the interstate highway system when available,” he continued. When passed by Congress, the “Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213” will allow drivers of state weight compliant log trucks the option of avoiding urban streets and highways where pedestrian activity is ongoing all hours of the day.
Log truck drivers throughout the nation are restricted, under certain conditions, from utilizing the interstate highway systems designed to transport heavy military equipment. This restriction forces drivers to travel on city, town, and rural haul routes. Being forced to secondary haul routes increases truck driver exposure to automobiles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. In addition to increased pedestrian exposure, driver hours of service are increased adding to driver fatigue which is something concerned safety groups say they would like to see lessened for drivers.
In addition to reducing driver hours and fatigue, the “Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213” also reduces the number of “Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)”. VMT is a measurement used to determine the number of projected accidents based on the number of vehicle miles traveled within a given time frame. Interstate routes are typically shorter and more efficient than secondary routes. As such, fewer miles traveled results in fewer projected accidents which is promoted by industry and safety advocates alike.
“The “Safe Routes Act, H.R. 2213” of 2021 is simplistic legislation which will have an enormous positive impact on safety for both pedestrians and log truck drivers nationwide,” said Henry Schienebeck, GLTPA Executive Director. In addition to added safety, local routes will see a decrease in traffic which could lead to increased road life. Along with all the states who are members of the American Loggers Council and Forest Resources Association, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association fully supports this narrowly focused yet meaningful safety legislation.
Source: Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association
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Logging Truck Proposal Would Make Roads Safer And Decrease Emissions, Advocates Say
The drivers of logging trucks have to navigate school zones, tight intersections and small-town traffic because federal law prohibits them from driving on interstate highways. A new bill from a Wisconsin congressman would change that.
Research suggests the federal weight limit on interstates makes logging truckers' routes more dangerous, costs timber companies money and leads to more greenhouse gas emissions. They'd use less fuel, make more efficient routes and encounter fewer obstacles on interstates.
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, said his bill would change what he calls "outdated" regulations. The measure has the support of Wisconsin's timber industry and it's bolstered by new research documenting the inefficiencies and potential dangers of barring the trucks from highways.
Every morning at 6 a.m., Scott Koerner, of Oshkosh's Koerner Forest Products, maps routes with his drivers.
"Very often, we say, 'Boy, if we could just jump on the interstate, this would be quite an easy run,'" Koerner said. "Sometimes, we're paralleling that piece of interstate for 60, 70, 80 miles on county roads and state highways, just trying to keep the route still as short as we can."
In particular, he said the routes that require drivers to pass through school zones are a stressor.
Gallagher said his eyes were opened to the issue when he did a ride-along with a logger in late 2019 and witnessed them navigating the massive vehicles through roundabouts and busy intersections seemingly not designed for them.
"They're very skilled drivers," Gallagher said. "But it makes no sense why we seem to make their trip from Point A to Point B almost as challenging as we can."
Recent research supports the point. Forest resources professors with the University of Minnesota studying timber routes in central and eastern Wisconsin found interstate travel would reduce the time they take by more than 20 percent, would reduce fuel consumption by between 6 percent and 14 percent and would eliminate school zones from the routes.
The biggest difference lies in the vast reduction in the number of intersections and traffic lights the truckers would encounter on interstates. Researchers found they would be down between 64 percent and 88 percent. The findings echoed similar research out of the University of Georgia.
Source: By Rob Mentzer — WPR.ORG
Logger Relief Update: After Identifying Gaps in Previous Aid, USDA Announces ‘Pandemic Assistance for Producers’ to Distribute Resources More Equitably
***Update March 29, 2021: The CFAP 2 application that will begin on April 5, 2021 will be for existing programs only. The funds for timber harvesters and haulers will not be available until the USDA sets up a program that could be subject to a rulemaking process that could take up to an additional 120 days to complete. We are doing everything possible to expedite the creation of the program, but are being throttled back by federal law. Stayed Tuned.
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2021—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers.
USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers was needed, said Vilsack, after a review of previous COVID-19 assistance programs targeting farmers identified a number of gaps and disparities in how assistance was distributed as well as inadequate outreach to underserved producers and smaller and medium operations.
“The pandemic affected all of agriculture, but many farmers did not benefit from previous rounds of pandemic-related assistance. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to helping as many producers as possible, as equitably as possible,” said Vilsack. “Our new USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative will help get financial assistance to a broader set of producers, including to socially disadvantaged communities, small and medium sized producers, and farmers and producers of less traditional crops.”
USDA will reopen sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) has committed at least $2.5 million to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will establish partnerships with organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.
The payments announced today (under Part 3, below) will go out under the existing CFAP rules; however, future opportunities for USDA Pandemic Assistance will be reviewed for verified need and during the rulemaking process, USDA will look to make eligibility more consistent with the Farm Bill. Moving forward, USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers will utilize existing programs, such as the Local Agricultural Marketing Program, Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach, and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and others to enhance educational and market opportunities for agricultural producers.
USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers – 4 Parts Announced Today
Part 1: Investing $6 Billion to Expand Help & Assistance to More Producers
USDA will dedicate at least $6 billion to develop a number of new programs or modify existing proposals using discretionary funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act and other coronavirus funding that went unspent by the previous administration. Where rulemaking is required, it will commence this spring. These efforts will include assistance for:
Dairy farmers through the Dairy Donation Program or other means:
Euthanized livestock and poultry;
Biofuels;
Specialty crops, beginning farmers, local, urban and organic farms;
Costs for organic certification or to continue or add conservation activities
Other possible expansion and corrections to CFAP that were not part of today’s announcement such as to support dairy or other livestock producers;
Timber harvesting and hauling;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other protective measures for food and farm workers and specialty crop and seafood producers, processors and distributors;
Improving the resilience of the food supply chain, including assistance to meat and poultry operations to facilitate interstate shipment;
Developing infrastructure to support donation and distribution of perishable commodities, including food donation and distribution through farm-to-school, restaurants or other community organizations; and
Reducing food waste.
Part 2: Adding $500 Million of New Funding to Existing Programs
USDA expects to begin investing approximately $500 million in expedited assistance through several existing programs this spring, with most by April 30. This new assistance includes:
$100 million in additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which enhances the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.
$75 million in additional funding for the Farmers Opportunities Training and Outreach program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, which encourages and assists socially disadvantaged, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers in the ownership and operation of farms and ranches.
$100 million in additional funding for the Local Agricultural Marketing Program, administered by the AMS and Rural Development, which supports the development, coordination and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and enterprises and value-added agricultural products.
$75 million in additional funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, administered by the NIFA, which provides funding opportunities to conduct and evaluate projects providing incentives to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers
$20 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to improve and maintain animal disease prevention and response capacity, including the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
$20 million for the Agricultural Research Service to work collaboratively with Texas A&M on the critical intersection between responsive agriculture, food production, and human nutrition and health.
$28 million for NIFA to provide grants to state departments of agriculture to expand or sustain existing farm stress assistance programs.
Approximately $80 million in additional payments to domestic users of upland and extra-long staple cotton based on a formula set in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 that USDA plans to deliver through the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program.
Part 3: Carrying Out Formula Payments under CFAP 1, CFAP 2, CFAP AA
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, enacted December 2020 requires FSA to make certain payments to producers according to a mandated formula. USDA is now expediting these provisions because there is no discretion involved in interpreting such directives, they are self-enacting.
An increase in CFAP 1 payment rates for cattle. Cattle producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive these payments beginning in April. Information on the additional payment rates for cattle can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Eligible producers do not need to submit new applications, since payments are based on previously approved CFAP 1 applications. USDA estimates additional payments of more than $1.1 billion to more than 410,000 producers, according to the mandated formula.
Additional CFAP assistance of $20 per acre for producers of eligible crops identified as CFAP 2 flat-rate or price-trigger crops beginning in April. This includes alfalfa, corn, cotton, hemp, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets and wheat, among other crops. FSA will automatically issue payments to eligible price trigger and flat-rate crop producers based on the eligible acres included on their CFAP 2 applications. Eligible producers do not need to submit a new CFAP 2 application. For a list of all eligible row-crops, visit farmers.gov/cfap. USDA estimates additional payments of more than $4.5 billion to more than 560,000 producers, according to the mandated formula.
USDA will finalize routine decisions and minor formula adjustments on applications and begin processing payments for certain applications filed as part of the CFAP Additional Assistance program in the following categories:
Applications filed for pullets and turfgrass sod;
A formula correction for row-crop producer applications to allow producers with a non-Actual Production History (APH) insurance policy to use 100% of the 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Option (ARC-CO) benchmark yield in the calculation;
Sales commodity applications revised to include insurance indemnities, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program payments, and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus payments, as required by statute; and
Additional payments for swine producers and contract growers under CFAP Additional Assistance remain on hold and are likely to require modifications to the regulation as part of the broader evaluation and future assistance; however, FSA will continue to accept applications from interested producers.
Part 4: Reopening CFAP 2 Sign-Up to Improve Access & Outreach to Underserved Producers
As noted above, USDA will re-open sign-up for of CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021.
FSA has committed at least $2.5 million to establish partnerships and direct outreach efforts intended to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will cooperate with grassroots organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.
Please stay tuned for additional information and announcements under the USDA Pandemic Assistance to Producers initiative, which will help to expand and more equitably distribute financial assistance to producers and farming operations during the COVID-19 national emergency. Please visit www.farmers.gov for more information on the details of today’s announcement.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
SOURCE: USDA