Finally adjourned!
This was an unusual legislative session with many twists and turns, which we will talk about at the annual meet-ing Sept. 20. It will take a while for the dust to settle, but essentially even a quick view shows the efforts of MFPC members and staff paid off at the first session of the 130th Legislature. MFPC monitored 189 bills (out of a total of 1,737) that might affect Maine's forest economy. We supported 31 bills, of which 22 passed, 4 failed and 7 were carried over. We opposed 41 bills, of which 21 failed, 6 passed and 11 were carried over. See what happened to all bills MFPC monitored.
Our sincere thanks to Gov. Janet Mills, who vetoed three bills MFPC opposed, including LD 125 An Act To Prohibit the Aerial Spraying of Glyphosate and Other Synthetic Herbicides for the Purpose of Silviculture, LD 1549 An Act To Establish the Maine Forest Advisory Board and LD 194 An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation by Foreign Government-owned Entities To Influence Referenda.
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Rep. Golden withdraws amendment to prohibit H-2A funding for loggers and truck drivers
Rep. Jared Golden, who represents Maine's 2nd District, proposed and then withdrew his amendment prohibiting funding for H-2A logging equipment operators and truck drivers to an appropriations bill.
This issue has been hard-fought in recent Maine legislative sessions, including the 130th, which passed a watered down version of LD 188 An Act Regarding the Transportation of Products in the Forest Products Industry. MFPC both LD 188 and Golden's amendment.
"I think it’s important to understand that it is perfectly legal for H-2A truck drivers to deliver loads within the state, including point-to-point deliveries of forest products," said Executive Director Patrick Strauch. "The cross-border trucking guidelines make it clear that the cabotage rules apply only to Canadian truckers who enter the U.S. on a B-1 (business) visa."
Golden withdrew his amendment, according to his Legislative Director Eric Kanter, " because we are now planning to have direct conversations with leadership at DOL about this issue that will hopefully result in a more long-term solution."
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Maine workforce development strategy released
Maine’s Forest Opportunity Roadmap (formaine.org) has released its Workforce Development Strategy for the Forest Products Industry. The report, prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine, says, "The future growth and expansion of the forest products sector in Maine is critically dependent on the human capital that fuels productivity, output, and innovation. Like many industries in Maine, the sector faces headwinds as the workforce ages and firms struggle to find sufficiently skilled workers to replace retirees and support growth in emerging technologies.
"In order to attract younger people to the workforce and career opportunities in the sector and ensuring the workforce is appropriately skilled and prepared, a cohesive narrative highlighting the career opportunities and sufficient workforce training connectivity are important areas of focus."
The report's recommendations "are general areas that emerged from the research and are not intended to be prescriptive. Rather, they are intended to provide general guidance for the FOR/Maine initiative to evaluate, build out a strategy, and execute."
“This Workforce Development Strategy is a significant component of the plan to drive growth in the Forest Products Industry to reach $12 billion in economic output by the year 2025,” Steve Schley, chairperson of the FOR/Maine Steering Committee, told the Bangor Daily News. “A well equipped workforce is the only way we can achieve our goals for growing this sector. The Workforce Development Strategy provides some helpful recommendations for this industry to attract the right people and ensure not just sustainability, but growth.” Read more. Download report.
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USDA offers pandemic relief funds for loggers and truckers
This program has limited funding, and is first come first served. It is recommended that if you believe your business is eligible for this program, you apply as soon as possible.
Businesses that had gross revenue loss of 10% or more in 2020 – when compared to 2019 – are eligible. Eligible businesses (and individuals) include loggers, forest product truckers, and firms that provide in-woods processing (e.g., chipping or grinding at the landing).
Applicants will be eligible for an initial payment of up to $2,000, with the remainder of funding distributed after the program enrollment period closes on October 15th. There is a payment cap of $125,000 per company.
More information, including the FSA-118 form needed to apply for the program, is available at https://www.farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance/pathh - applications can be submitted via mail, fax, electronically, or hand-delivered to an FSA office. To find a local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator. You can also call 877-508-8364 to speak to an FSA employee about the program.
If you know any logging and trucking firms that may be eligible, please share this information with them and encourage them to consider applying as soon as possible.
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It was a great day to see friends and play golf |
Rain threatened July 8, but held off as 116 golfers enjoyed the camaraderie at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course for the MFPC Annual Golf Tournament. Many said the course was in the best shape ever. The golf tournament proceeds are an essential part of the MFPC annual budget and this year we exceeded the estimated profit for this event.
"Our Office Manager Sue McCarthy makes planning and running this important event look easy,” said Executive Director Patrick Strauch, “but she deserves enormous credit for the hard work she puts into the tournament."
MFPC is very fortunate that we have so many members who continue their sponsorships and make this event successful.
The MFPC staff would like to thank the following people who helped with this tournament. Brian Flewelling of Key Bank in soliciting sponsorships; Peter Triandafillou selling raffle tickets; Hero’s Sports Grill for the delicious BBQ and, of course, Rob Jarvis, the course’s head PGA golf professional, and his crew for helping out making the tournament run so smoothly.
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Please join us Sept. 19-20 at Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel for the 61st Maine Forest Products Council Annual meeting
This will an in-person meeting so we can see friends, network with colleagues, and enjoy camaraderie while keeping up with what's going on in our industry, including what's happening in the national and global pulp and paper and wood markets. We'll be welcoming Gov. Janet Mills along with some of her top administrators. You'll also hear:
- The new statistics on the economic impact of Maine's forest products,
- The issues affecting Maine's forest products economy from the first session of the 130th Legislature,
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An update on the progress of the Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR/Maine), including a report from Indufor, a global leader in Natural Resources Management, Investment Advisory, and Strategic Industrial Development consulting.
What's next for pulp, paper and wood markets?
Since 1997, Brian McClay, principal of Brian McClay & Associates Inc. in Quebec, has been helping subscribers and clients around the world improve their understanding of current and future market conditions and emerging marketplace trends. His areas of expertise include global pulp and end-use demand, supply and pricing as well as environmental labeling and international trade policy. Some of you may remember his excellent presentation on pulp and paper at our 2015 annual meeting. https://www.pulpmarket.ca/
To help us make sense of wood markets, we'll hear from Rocky Goodnow, vice president of North American Timber Service at Forest Economic Advisors (FEA) LLC. In this role, Rocky is responsible for FEA’s outlook on the North American timber markets. Rocky is the primary author of FEA’s Timber Quarterly Forecasting Service publications and is a contributor to other FEA publications and studies. Prior to FEA, Rocky worked at RISI Inc. from 2002-2009, where he was a key contributor to RISI’s North American Timber Forecast. He also co-authored studies on timber-related topics including regional pulpwood studies and an assessment of North America’s emerging biomass industry.
Please call 1-800-THE-LOAF (1-800-843-5623) to book your room. Let the agents know you are coming for the Maine Forest Products Council conference on Sept. 19-20
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Auction items needed for the MFPC Annual Meeting – Auctioneers Jimmy Robbins and Peter Triandafillou need your help!!!
Please consider donating an item towards our auction being held on September 20th at the MFPC Annual Meeting at Sugarloaf during the evening banquet. We have both a live auction and a silent auction. Gift certificates sell well and also if you want us to buy the item for you that would work also. Items that have sold well in the past are: Plane rides, boat rentals, camp rentals, concert tickets, chainsaws, L.L. Bean items, bag chairs, fishing knives, carvings, maple syrup, golf passes, baskets filled with goodies, wine baskets, company clothing, baseball tickets, football tickets, and even Robbins Lumber knotholes. Any and all items are appreciated. Contact Office Manager Sue McCarthy.
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Honor someone who is doing an outstanding job
MFPC member nominations for annual awards
Each year, the Maine Forest Products Council asks its members to select outstanding individuals from the forest products community who excel in their professions. Please take the time to consider those people in the forest products community who have done an exemplary job in these areas and deserve recognition for their positive impact on our industry. It is an important opportunity for us to look within our industry and provide recognition and public attention where it is due. Nominations are due by July 31. The recipients will be recognized at the MFPC annual meeting banquet on September 20 at Sugarloaf.
- Abby Holman Public Service Award
- Outstanding Logger Award
- Outstanding Trucker Award
- Outstanding Manufacturer Award
- Outstanding Forester Award
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About MFPC
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine's forest economy. MFPC's members are landowners, loggers, truckers, paper mills, tree farmers, foresters, lumber processors and the owners of more than 8 million acres of commercial forestland, but they are also bankers, lawyers and insurance executives. The Council represents members at the Maine Legislature throughout the state, in Washington D.C. and the U.S.
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Sugarloaf Sept. 19-20.
Thanks to our newsletter sponsors!
Click on the images below to visit their websites
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