ESFPA E-News Volume 3 - Issue 2January 14, 2022A round-up of our interesting stories from the past week. Commissioner Ball Delivers "State of Agriculture" Address Late last week, a day after Governor Hochul presented the State of the State Address, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball delivered the State of Agriculture Address at the 190th Annual NYS Agricultural Society Forum at the OnCenter in Syracuse, NY. The Commissioner touched upon topics such as climate changer, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts associated with food supply issues. A recording of the speech can be found here. A transcript is also available here. ESFPA Launches First Legislative "Write In" Campaign for our Leaders to Grow the EPF During the NYS State of the State Address last week, there was a glaring omission of any mention of the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and funding levels for programs vital to our sector. Along with other like minded organizations, ESFPA is preparing a legislative campaign for our members to voice our concerns and send letters to their local legislators and to the Governor to increases the EPF to $500 million. The time is now as the Governor is working on the State Budget through April 1st. We are still putting the final details of the campaign together..... Keep your eyes out for our campaign in your email in box in the next few days! SAF Holding Forest Carbon and Climate Short Course - Registration OPEN SAF is holding an on line workshop entitled Physical Science of Forests, Climate Regulation, and Carbon Storage with the goal of teaching participants to develop foundational knowledge in the relationship between climate regulation, forest and forest carbon over the course of 5 modules. The course begins on February 8th, is self-paced and $175/members and $220 for Non members worth 3.5 Category 1 CFE's. To register, follow this link. NYS DEC's Latest Invasive Species News In this month's issue of the Invasive Species News, NYS DEC highlights several topics, including updates on how to find and report Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in the winter and a new Hemlock biocontrol initiative being conducted in Greene County. To see the latest newsletter, please follow this link. AF & PA Produces Economic Impact Map In a recently produces electronic newsletter, Af & PA provided a quick take on the US Forest products industry's economic impact in the form of an interactive map. This tool was developed to assist states with determining their local economic impact. The newsletter, AF & PA Delivers, also highlighted the inclusion of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in New York's State of the State address. Although the EPR did not pass last year, it is back for 2022. ESFPA and AF & PA will be working on this issue and keeping members informed. ESFPA Staff "Meets" with 6th Grade Class Earlier today ESFPA Executive Director John K. Bartow, Jr. and Member Services and Communications Director Muriel Church were part of a presentation by students from the 6th grade Science class of Arthur Danny at the Franklin Regional Middle School in Murrysville, PA. The class took part in a project researching professions and benefits different sectors could provide. A trio of forward thinkers, Nick, Natalie and Isabella chose to look at the Biomass field and why it would be a great field to work in. John and Muriel were shown a pamphlet the students made to entice individuals to work in the field as well as a fully developed powerpoint on the background of biomass. The future looks bright with kids like this coming up! Kudos to Mr. Danny and the whole class!!! Welcome Dorian to ESFPA! If you have called the office this past week chances are you spoke with Dorian Johnson, ESFPA's new office manager. We are pleased to welcome him as part of our team! Dorian has been hard at work learning the ins and outs of our various companies. Dorian will be handling all of the financial work as well as the administrative work associated with the New York Logger Training Program. Welcome Dorian!
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