WVFA Winter 2018-19

28 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry | Winter 2018–2019 www.wvfa.org G O V E R NM E N T THE FARM BILL IS REAUTHORIZED EVERY FIVE YEARS and provides for important programs that assist the hardwood industry. Two vital programs that must be included in the 2018 Farm Bill are funding for hardwood export promotion programs and funding for tall wood building research. Export Promotion Program Points The Market Access (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs are authorized and funded by the Farm Bill. These are successful programs with proven track records that help open markets for U.S. agricultural products overseas and are crucial to the funding of the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). Both MAP and FMD should be reauthorized in the new Farm Bill and be funded at their current levels of $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for FMD. Tell your story about how AHEC has helped to expand and maintain your business operations! Communicate how the programs have helped you stay in business, hire employees and contribute to your community! BOTTOM LINE: The Farm Bill must be passed and signed by the end of the year so that vital programs can continue to work for the hardwood industry. Report on Farm Bill GOV. JUSTICE HAS ANNOUNCED that the state’s General Revenue Fund collections continue to exceed estimates. October General Revenue Fund collections of $359.2 million were nearly $2.4 million above estimate. That is 1.5 percent above prior year receipts. The 13.5 percent growth rate after the first four months of FY 2019 is the highest growth rate in State General Revenue Fund collections through the first four months in more than 25 years and the cumulative rate of growth in sales tax collections is the highest rate of growth in sales tax revenue in more than 25 years. October 2018 also marked the 7th consecutive month of revenue surplus over estimate. Year-to- date collections of nearly $1.478 billion were $122.3 million above estimate and 13.5 percent ahead of prior year receipts. State Revenues Exceed Estimates