ESFPA E-News

ESFPA Meets with LEAD-NY

Last Thursday, ESFPA Executive Director John Bartow met with the LEAD-NY Class of 2026 at the Wagner-Baillie Owego Mill to discuss the Wood Product Manufacturing Sector and New York's forests.

This is an annual outreach of ESFPA and Wagner Lumber in support of Cornell's Leadership training program and an excellent opportunity to present our sector to future leaders in the agriculture and related industries.

Budget Extenders

Last week the Legislature passed a series of Budget Extenders that run through tomorrow, April 7th, enabling the State to continue to operate. Tomorrow the Legislature returns, as opposed to being on its two-week mid-term break and will likely pass another Budget Extender at least for one more week. The Legislature and Governor continue to meet and negotiate over climate amendments to the CLCPA, auto insurance reform, as well as differences over raising taxes on the wealthy, school aid and Tier 6 pension reform.

In the meantime, the late February revenue and expenditure forecast that the Governor and Legislature base so much of their budget haggling on is falling apart as the global and national economy goes into turmoil. What may have looked rosy 6-weeks ago is now much bleaker, and what they were counting on for revenues and economic growth may not materialize and nothing has changed in their projections.  In fact, spending appears to be rising. 

Grant Funding Reminder

The U.S. Forest Service has reopened its Wood Innovations and Community Grants to stimulate, expand, and support U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of the National Forest System and other forest lands. 

Deadline: April 22nd, 2026. 

Click the link below for more info:

Cutting Trees to Save Hemlocks

A recent article in the Adirondack Explorer highlighted work that SUNY ESF is doing in Pack Forest within the Adirondacks on cutting Hemlocks as a silvicultural treatment for Hemlock woolly adelgid. 

"New York, which has more hemlock trees than any other state, has used predator beetles, flies and insecticide in the invasive insect fight so far. But now forest managers and researchers are looking to thin hemlock stands in the hopes of producing healthier trees that can better tolerate invaders."

In the Adirondacks on Forest Preserve Lands, it is unlikely that cutting trees will be allowed for management, but work being done by Mike Federice of SUNY ESF on Pack Forest is demonstrating how thinning Hemlock stands may well aid in stand health and improvement. ESF is collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service and local loggers on studying how thinning together with predator bugs as a biological control may buy hemlocks more time and survival.

Nobody Gets Left in the Woods Event

Nobody Gets Left in the Woods: A Safety Network for Forest Workers

• Location: 4-H Camp Shankitunk, 2420 Arbor Hill Rd, Delhi, NY 13753
• Date/Time: Friday, Apr 17 from 9am to 12pm
• Cost: $15
• SAF Credit Available

Forest work can be intense with rough terrain, weather, and no cell service. Are you prepared? What’s in your vest? Hear from a panel of professional foresters about the necessities we often overlook when entering the forest for a day’s work. We’ll begin in the classroom with light refreshments and a presentation. Afterwards, we’ll walk in the Lennox Model Forest to discuss further awareness for woodland work.

Learn about the new initiative “Nobody Gets Left in the Woods”, a network of foresters working towards awareness of the challenges being forest workers, maintaining a safe workday, and positive mental health. Too often, we mourn the loss of forest workers. Let’s come together as an industry and make sure everyone makes it out of the woods.

Register through the link below:

Forest Service to Relocate HQ to Utah and Shift to State‑Centered Operating Model

The following was reported by the Forest Resources Association and continues to affirm the Trump Administration's focus of the U.S. Forest Service of federal Forest Service Lands and Wildfire and relinquishment of focus on State, Tribal and Private forestry.  While Congress continues to restore federal focus of State, Tribal and Private Forestry, this announcement to move the U.S. Forest Service headquarter to Utah further cements the administration's interests and focus. New York's State Based Operation will be based in Warren PA with the Regional R&D Facility in Durham NH.

"The U.S. Forest Service announced last week, a major restructuring that will move its national headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, placing the Chief and much of the agency’s leadership closer to the forests and communities they manage. USDA leaders framed the move as a “common‑sense” modernization effort intended to improve mission delivery, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen recruitment by shifting staff and decision‑making authority westward. Approximately two‑thirds of National Capital Region positions will relocate, while one‑third—including the Associate Chief—will remain in D.C. to support interagency and congressional coordination.

Alongside the relocation, the Forest Service will transition from its long‑standing regional structure to a new state‑based organizational model. Fifteen state directors will oversee operations, forest supervisors, and partnerships within one or more states, supported by small state‑level leadership teams. Many functions previously housed in regional offices will shift to a network of Operations Service Centers located in Albuquerque, Athens, Fort Collins, Madison, Missoula, and Placerville. The agency will also consolidate its research stations into a single national Research and Development organization headquartered in Fort Collins. While regional offices will close, several facilities, including Juneau, Vallejo, and Albuquerque, will be retained for specific mission needs. Throughout the transition, the Forest Service emphasizes that frontline work—forest management, wildfire response, restoration, recreation, and partnerships—will continue without interruption."

U.S. Endowment Launches Funding Opportunity to Accelerate Wood Fiber Markets

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities announced a $5 million funding opportunity to connect underutilized wood fiber with new buyers, strengthen regional supply chains, and keep working forests economically viable.

This effort will invest up to $1 million per year over five years in organizations that can develop durable market solutions, helping keep working forests productive and rural economies strong, especially in regions facing reduced processing capacity and shifting market conditions.

An additional $500,000 is available for certain projects in New York (also ME, VT and NH) through a partnership with the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Forest Economy Initiative. NBRC funding is available to non-profit and institutional projects.

The Endowment expects to select three to five organizations by June 2026 for five-year agreements focused on practical market-building work, including:

• Identifying and securing new buyers for wood fiber that currently has limited market options.
• Strengthening regional supply chains so wood can move efficiently from forest to end use.
• Supporting near-term, on-the-ground development that can scale and attract additional investment.

Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate readiness to launch, clear potential for growth, strong alignment with regional needs, and the ability to leverage additional resources over time.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based private, nonprofit organizations or institutes of higher education with demonstrated experience and a strong track record in wood products manufacturing, biomass utilization, business development, economic development or related fields.

Proposals are due by May 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST. Selected applicants will be notified by June 12, 2026.

Full application details and submission instructions are available through the link below: