Timber haulers/harvesters eligible for USDA funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million, to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses from COVID-19, as part of the USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.

Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) until Oct. 15. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) is administered by the FSA, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorized this critical assistance for the timber industry. Timber harvesting and hauling businesses that have experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10 percent during the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2020, compared to the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2019, are encouraged to apply.

“Like many facets of the agriculture industry, the logging industry has experienced its share of financial hardships throughout the pandemic,” said FSA administrator Zach Ducheneaux.

To be eligible for payments, individuals or legal entities, must be a timber harvesting or timber hauling business, where 50 percent, or more, of its gross revenue, is derived from one or more of the following:

• Cutting timber

• Transporting timber

• Processing of wood on-site on the forest land (chipping, grinding, converting to biochar, cutting to smaller lengths, etc.) Payments will be based on the applicant’s gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 1, 2019, minus gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 1, 2020, multiplied by 80 percent. The FSA will issue an initial payment equal to the lesser of the calculated payment amount or $2,000, as applications are approved.

A second payment will be made after the sign-up period has ended, based upon remaining PATHH funds. The maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive directly, is $125,000.

Loggers and truckers can apply for PATHH by completing form FSA-1118, Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program application, and certifying to their gross revenue for 2019 and 2020, on the application. Additional documentation may be required.

To apply, visit farmers.gov/pathh. Applications can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide, by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means.