WVFA Mountain State Forestry Summer 2021

www.wvfa.org Summer 2021 | West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 5 M E S S A G E F R OM T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R W ow, the 2021 West Virginia legislative session was as wild and crazy as I’ve ever experienced in my decades of working with state legislatures. It began with hundreds of bills the first week and carried a fever pitch throughout most of the session. The lack of access to legislators created a real problem to communicate our thoughts on the impact of specific bills to forest products industry, forest owners, and foresters. Despite that challenge, we did meet and testify on some legislation and made an impact on several bills which is detailed in the advocacy report. We have had a banner year in new members, many coming to use through a direct appeal to participants in the Managed Timberland Program. The dramatic tax increase originally proposed was a focus we had success to redraft and lower the taxes. We will be working with the Tax Commissioner and the Division of Forestry to improve the rule guiding this program. The current rule is outdated and must be modified to reflect accurate computation of the value of land to grow timber. With tax reform being the hot issue this year, we felt this was an incredible success and following through on the rule is a critical next step. I want to thank all those new members and we hope you find our work and communications to be of value for you. Our first membership directory is now in the hands of our dues paying members. We hope to improve this as a tool for our members in the future, and I always welcome suggested improvements. Many of newest members missed the printing deadline so we are publishing them here. As I begin to finally get around the state to meet members in person, I am hearing unfiltered feedback about what is happening across the state. We had one of the toughest years in decades. A few companies state the federal funding provided through the SBA Payroll Protection Program saved their company from closing. Taking federal funding is rather new in the forest products industry, so hearing positive feedback is a sign that government assistance is welcomed when it is targeted at real problems. Many companies are experiencing a shortage of workers in all jobs from unskilled line workers to skilled cutters in the woods. The lack of parts for equipment maintenance and repair is a serious problem. Despite the increased prices for hardwood lumber, OSB sheeting, and other products from our forests, it’s still too early to know of this will last. That concern is easily complicated by the possible return of tariffs to countries like China where the US experienced a dramatic drop in demand in 2020 because of tariffs. Once tariffs were lifted on wood products, we are seeing a return to exports, but this is only temporary, and the new administration is still evolving their foreign trade policies. Lastly, we have some great new initiatives coming to West Virginia for forest owners. Take the time to read about the forest carbon program and the Wildlife Conservation Initiative (WCI). These are partnership programs that WVFA is assisting to provide that local connection with our members and prospective members. Eric Carlson Executive Director “Our first membership directory is now in the hands of our dues paying members. We hope to improve this as a tool for our members in the future, and I always welcome suggested improvements.”