After 20 years of existence and for a variety of reasons, the Wood Supply Research Institute (WSRI) has decided that it is time to dissolve. The organization is transferring its assets and some of its mission to the Forest Resources Association (FRA). This move guarantees that WSRI’s research on the wood supply chain will not be lost.

On February 14, the House and Senate passed the final spending bill for fiscal year 2019, which included funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Although a permanent fix for the H-2B visa cap was not included in the legislation, discretionary language which addresses the H-2B visa shortage for FY2019 was included.

Rollover accidents are the number one cause of serious injuries and fatalities to our wood industry drivers. Most rollover accidents are preventable and usually the driver’s fault.

On a dry summer morning in the Appalachians, a log trucker was binding down a load of pine pulpwood at the landing.

On a winter afternoon day in the Lake States, a logging business owner was training a new employee. The business owner and employee scaled-in and were directed by the scaler to unload the wood at a specified landing where the truck was to be unloaded.

URGENT: Contact your House and Senator Member and urge them to support a fix to the H-2B guestworker visa program.

As we begin to focus on what opportunities are ahead in the new year and with the new Congress, FRA would like to take a brief look back over 2018 on the policy front. It was a year with several key issues relevant to the forest products industry coming together and remaining active at the end of the year. From continued guestworker visa reform efforts to ensure there are workers available to plant trees for a stable and sustainable fiber supply, opportunities to grow the industry’s footprint with the passage of the Farm Bill, and the continued focus to address transportation challenges, below are some of the key highlights.

FRA continues to work with the H-2B Coalition to increase the availability of H-2B visas. On January 23, in an effort led by Senator Tillis (R-NC) and Representative Harris (R-MD), a letter was delivered to House and Senate leadership requesting that any agreement ending the partial federal government shutdown include a legislative solution to the H-2B guestworker visa program.