Forestry Associations Urge USDA Secretary to Extend Diesel Fuel Relief to Timber Harvesters and Haulers
October 28, 2026
A national coalition of 43 forestry associations, coordinated by the Forest Resources Association (FRA), delivered a joint letter to USDA Secretary Rollins on October 27 urging immediate diesel fuel relief for logging and log-hauling businesses excluded from the recently announced $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program.
Drawing on data from FRA Technical Release 26-TR-24, the coalition highlighted that rising fuel expenditures and per-mile hauling costs are straining logging and hauling businesses and forcing contractors to idle equipment across rural communities. The TR estimate does not include diesel fuel used for in-woods harvesting or processing equipment.
The letter pointed to the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program as a precedent for targeted assistance. The associations urged USDA to recognize timber harvesters and haulers as essential, diesel-dependent supply chain partners and establish a relief initiative to protect the nation’s wood supply chain.
“Logging and timber-hauling businesses are the backbone of the forest products supply chain, yet they are currently absorbing unsustainable, multi-thousand-dollar weekly spikes in diesel costs with zero federal support,” said Tim O’Hara, President and CEO of the Forest Resources Association. “While we fully support assistance for agricultural producers, we urge the USDA to recognize that forestry contractors face the exact same fuel volatility and operational pressures, and we ask the Secretary to establish a targeted relief program before surging costs cripple our rural logging and hauling capacity”
About Forest Resources Association (FRA)
FRA is an association representing the interests of more than 300 organizations and businesses in the forest products industry, including forest landowners, suppliers, consuming mills, associated businesses, and state forestry associations. Members all share a common interest – they rely on FRA to promote the public policy interests of the forest products industry’s supply chain on Capitol Hill and our work to advance safety, operational and technical efficiencies, and supply chain relations. FRA has member representation in 49 states and 384 Congressional Districts.
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