The need and success of the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers was demonstrated by over 5,600 applications representing eligibility for $385 million in aid. This figure is nearly double the $200 million appropriated for the program.
As a result, the Farm Service Agency had to implement an assistance formula modification which resulted in reduced financial assistance ranging 10%-57% compared to initial estimates. This adjustment was not an arbitrary decision by the Farm Service Agency but was a necessary action to ensure that all eligible applicants received some level of assistance.
The American Loggers Council anticipated that this might be the case based on multiple economic impact studies conducted by the American Loggers Council and the US Forest Service which indicated that the COVID-19 induced negative economic impact to the timber industry exceeded $1 billion.
Upon this final determination the American Loggers Council traveled to Washington DC and met with key Congressional Appropriations Committee Members and expressed a need for supplemental funding to ensure full assistance is provided to the timber industry as originally intended. This information and message was also conveyed to the White House.