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ESFPA E-News
Volume 7 - Issue 8
February 23rd, 2026
Register Today for Forestry Awareness Day 2026
On Tuesday, March 10th, ESFPA will be hosting our annual Forestry Awareness Day (FAD) in room 104-A at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. FAD is our annual “lobby day” with the New York State Legislature.
This is the opportunity for ESFPA members to put a face on our forest and wood products manufacturing sector; educate legislators and policy makers on the importance of forests and harvested wood products; and the contribution we have in New York’s economy, environment (including climate change) and the quality of life of all New Yorkers. Please consider attending, “the world is run by those who show up.”
To see a list of our 2026 Budget & Legislative Priorities, click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Gabriella Ferrera at the Empire State Forest Products Association at (518) 463-1297 or email gabriella@esfpa.org.
Registration for Forestry Awareness Day 2026 is now open. If you are planning to attend, please register as soon as possible so that you can receive a team assignment. Click the link below to register for the event:
U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Tariffs
On Friday the Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the use of tariffs, overturning President Trump's IEEPA authority and effectively deeming most tariffs currently in place unlawful. You can read the full 6-3 decision here.
Our national affiliates at AF&PA share with us that - "The Trump administration is now expected to move quickly to re-create under other statutes the tariff rates and structures that President Trump imposed through IEEPA. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said that the effort will prioritize continuity with the original program, including maintaining lists of covered and excluded products. He also said the bilateral trade deals the U.S. has struck with other countries using the IEEPA tariffs will “stay in place” regardless of the high court’s ruling. Expect statutes like Section 122 of the Trade Act to be used which would allow for tariffs of up to 15% for up to 150 days."
The Court only addressed whether IEEPA authorizes tariffs, not whether or how refunds should be issued. The Supreme Court remanded this back to the lower court who will be tasked with managing a wave of questions like this in various individual cases that have been filed over the course of the next few days, weeks and months.
In a press conference on Friday, the President announced all Section 232 and 301 tariffs remain in effect. Additionally, he announced a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act. He also indicated that additional trade investigations will be conducted and that tariff refunds will be litigated in court.
It will take some time for all this to unfold so as with all things tariff and trade to date, hang on.
Governor Hochul's 30-Day Budget Amendments
On Thursday, February 19th, Governor Hochul introduced her 30-Day Budget amendments to her 2026-27 Executive Budget Proposal. In it she added $2.7 billion more in funding including $1.7 billion in funding for New York City. This was largely reported last week in response to threats by Mayor Zohran Mamdani to raise property taxes in the City by 9.5% (so much for a State Cap of 2% on local property taxes). As we have reported before, the pressure is on to help bail out New York City which is faced with a $12 billion budget deficit over the next two years, this before the mayor looks to expand spending on a plethora of programs.
The Governor has also increased her budget spending in other areas of aid to localities and nearly $11 billion in health care statewide.
In her legislative package, the 30-day amendments were largely technical changes. There have been rumors that the Governor is considering using her leverage in the budget process to get amendments to the CLCPA, but nothing specific has been proposed. A number of pundits have suggested that the Governor may seek amendments in the CLCPA on emission targets, but environmental NGOs and several key legislators have threatened significant reactions if there are efforts to weaken the CLCPA. ESFPA and several business organizations would welcome amendments to the CLCPA, but timing just does not seem right. We will continue to watch and report on this.
30th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks
High Peaks Resort, Lake Placid, NY
April 15th and 16th, 2026
The Adirondack Research Consortium invites scholars, practitioners, and researchers from all disciplines to participate in the 30th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks. This year’s theme is: “Key Issues Shaping the Adirondack Future.”
This year’s program tackles some of the region’s most significant issues—from the expansion of mass timber and new energy technologies to wildlife impacts, water quality challenges, and partnerships with Indigenous communities.
Call for Papers and Posters - Application Deadline March 1,2026
Abstract Submission Form
Wood Innovation Grant Program
The U.S. Forest Service announced up to $95 million in competitive funding through its Wood Innovations, Community Wood, and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance grant programs to strengthen the forest products economy and support forest‑sector jobs. The funding will support projects that advance innovative wood products, expand the use of wood in commercial and residential construction, grow wood-energy systems, and modernize or expand wood‑products manufacturing capacity.
The agency emphasized that these investments are central to expanding domestic timber production, reducing wildfire risk, and supporting rural and tribal economies by creating new markets for small‑diameter timber and woody biomass. Eligible applicants include private businesses, nonprofits, tribes, state and local governments, higher‑education institutions, and public utility, fire, conservation, and school districts.
House Introduces Farm Bill with Strong Bioenergy Provisions
By Erin Krueger, SAF Magazine
The House Committee on Agriculture on February 13th released a draft Farm Bill that includes provisions that aim to expand the use of biochar and encourage growth and innovation in the biofuel, bioproducts and bioenergy industries.
The legislation, formally tilted the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, spans more than 800 pages and includes language addressing a wide range of issues, including energy, forestry, nutrition and conservation. A full committee mark-up of the bill is scheduled for Feb. 23.
The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs a wide array of agricultural and food programs. Congress typically renews the Farm Bill every five or six years, with the legislative package providing a predictable opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural issues.
The most recent Farm Bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018. That legislation was intended to be in place for five years. The development of a new Farm Bill, however, has faced several delays. Lawmakers released draft legislation in 2024 but failed to pass a new Farm Bill. Rather, congress has passed a series of short-term extensions, with the 2018 Farm Bill now set to expire on Sept. 30, 2026.
The Energy Title of the newly released Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 includes various provisions that aim to encourage growth and innovation in the biorefining and bioenergy sectors.
One provision of the Energy Title increases the maximum loan guarantee for the Rural Energy for America Program to $50 million and requires the USDA to consider the potential improvements to the financial condition of a REAP applicant when scoring applications.
The legislation also includes language aimed at updating the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Program, which provides loan guarantees to support the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging advanced biofuel, renewable chemical and biobased products technologies. The draft legislation would reauthorize the program and expand eligibility for innovative biobased product manufacturing technologies and authorize the USDA to waive the requirement to demonstrate commercial viability for projects adopting commercially available technologies. The bill also aims to update the loan guarantee program’s application process by establishing a technology review agreement that outlines the specific objectives, outcomes and conditions by which the agency will determine a project is technically feasible.
For sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the draft bill includes language affirming SAF as an advanced biofuel. It also calls on the USDA to establish an agency-wide strategy to advance the production of SAF by facilitating the collaboration between relevant USDA mission areas to encourage the advancement of the SAF supply chain, including utilization of agricultural crops growth for SAF production. The bill also directs USDA to identify opportunities to maximize SAF development, deployment and commercialization; leverage the capabilities of U.S. farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers to capture opportunities in the SAF market; support rural economic development through SAF production; and promote public-private partnerships for the development, deployment and commercialization of SAF.
The legislation also aims to reauthorize and improve the BioPreferred Program by requiring the USDA to issue procurement guidance to federal agencies, implement more thorough reporting procedures for agency procurement and increasing procurement accountability and verification. In addition, the draft bill reauthorizes the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program and the Feedstock Flexibility Program and maintains authority for and investments in the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
Also under the Energy Title, the bill directs relevant agencies to develop NAICS and NAPCS codes, establish a report to recommend bioeconomy-related changes for the 2027 NAICS and NAPCS codes revisions and assess the development of a national measurement of the economic contributions of the bioeconomy. It also provides the USDA with the authority to establish uniform labeling standards for bioproducts.
The legislation would repeal the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program and the Carbon Utilization and Biogas Education Program.
Biochar is addressed under both the Forestry Title and Research, Extension and Related Matters Title of the bill. One provision under the Research, Extension and related Matters Title aims to develop a Biochar Research Initiative in line with language included in the Biochar Research Network Act of 2025.
Under the Forestry Title, the bill authorizes a biochar application demonstration project to facilitate the use of biochar, develop new biochar applications and support the commercialization of biochar.
The Forestry Title also includes language that aims to reauthorize, rename and enhance the U.S. Forestry Service’s Community Wood Facilities Grant Program by increasing the maximum grant for a project, the maximum capacity of a community facility energy system, and the federal cost-share. In addition, the legislation would reauthorize and modernize the Wood Innovation Grant Program by reducing the non-federal match and authorizing grants for hauling hazardous fuels reduction materials to locations that can utilize it.
Additional information, including a full copy of the draft Farm Bill, is available on the House Committee on Agriculture website.
