ESFPA E-News

Forest Markets Grant Program

On Friday, DEC announced the release of funding availability for DEC’s Advancing Forest Markets (AFM) grant program. "The program is designed to help remove key barriers to large-scale tree planting efforts by increasing access to high-quality, locally grown seedlings for reforestation, afforestation, and climate resilience projects. It also seeks to strengthen New York State’s forest economy by expanding access to critical resources for producers of forest commodities like wood and maple syrup and other forestry businesses through projects that encourage innovation and expansion in product development, capacity, and market access." The full release is now available. 

Eligible applicants must establish a Farm Record with the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to obtain a Farm ID and either: 

Specialize in collecting, processing, germinating, storing, propagating, and/or growing native trees or those that support this supply chain through associated market, workforce, and network development or own at least one acre of land that is forested or has the potential to become forested and allows for timber harvesting.

There are three unique funding categories through this grant program:

1. 25 Million Trees Nursery Discount Program: Nurseries may apply for funding to offset costs to offer trees for sale to the public at a reduced cost;

2. Growing Reforestation Opportunities: Nursery growers, seed collection networks, and other entities may apply for funding to scale up their production capacity and support tree supply chain markets; and

3. Tree Market Boost and Revitalization Program: Forestry and forest product businesses and other entities may apply for funding to expand their capacity and support forest-based markets related to reforestation, forest management, low-grade wood products, timber, and other forest products.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $12 million with no match required.  Grant awards will include an incentive payment for program participation (between $2,000 and $10,000, dependent on project size). These incentive payments will be distributed after a contract becomes fully executed with DEC at the beginning of the project. All work funded through these grants must be completed before January 2028.

 Applications will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.  Applications must be submitted through the Statewide Financial System (SFS). Those interested must register in SFS before applying. Not-for-profits must also prequalify before the application deadline. For more details about the grant opportunity, including eligibility information, examples of fundable projects, and application and scoring criteria, visit DEC’s website. 

A webinar explaining project eligibility, an overview of the application process, and info on using of the Statewide Financial System will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can register at the DEC website.

The program has some quirks in the qualifications for applicants, such as applicants must own at least 1 acre of forest to qualify and there are limits to projects that involve land disturbance. Applicants are encouraged to vet projects with the FSA contacts and DEC contacts ASAP to ensure that their projects meet qualifying criteria,

Farm Bill

The full House is scheduled to consider the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567) this week. As we have mentioned, the House Agriculture Committee-passed bill includes a number of ESFPA priorities, including:

• Jobs in the Woods Act language. The bill modifies the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program to include the forestry and forest product sectors. RISE is a workforce development initiative that covers several industries, but currently does not address our sector’s workforce needs.
• Wood innovation and wood energy funding. Extends the Wood Innovation and Community Wood Grant programs.
• Biomass carbon neutrality. Requires the USDA to assign a greenhouse gas emissions value of no greater than zero in any of its policymaking.
• Sustainability. Extends the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.

The measure is expected to pass the House. A timeline for action in the upper chamber is not yet clear.

Renewable Fuels Standard

A group of House Republicans is working to include an amendment during this week’s House floor consideration of the Farm Bill that would open up and expand the definition of “renewable biomass” in the national biofuel production mandate known as the Renewable Fuels Standard or RFS. Led by Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02), the amendment would qualify liquid fuels derived from all forest fiber that comes from both private and most public lands.

In order to receive serious consideration, however, the language would need the consent of House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), whose panel has jurisdiction over all matters related to the Clean Air Act in which this definition is embedded. Thus far, Chairman Guthrie has not waived jurisdiction, but discussions are ongoing. The House Rules Committee is expected to meet today to determine which amendments will be cleared for a vote.

EUDR

A joint forestry/forest products value chain communication was sent last week to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and key cabinet members advocating for targeted changes to the deeply flawed European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The key plank in the communication is language, requesting that the law’s definition of “plot of land” be amended or clarified. Specifically, the document suggests that Article 2(27) be changed to allow for broader-scale geolocation for forest products originating in countries already classified as low risk.

ESFPA is a member to several of these national associations and supports this positioning. As we have reported before, the EUDR regulations have been pushed out again until 2027 and there is pressure to yet push them even further. 

Pack Forest Open House

Warrensburg, NY - Tues. June 23rd, 2026, 8:30 AM 3:30 PM

On Tuesday June 23^rd the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District together with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will be hosting a Working Woods Exchange at Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County.  This is a full day event filled with working forest demonstrations and exhibits. 1 New York Logger Training TLC continuing education credit will be awarded for attendance. 

Here is the schedule for the day's events:

Registration & Coffee - 8:30 AM

• provided at no cost to attendees.

Opening Discussion- 9 AM

Field Tours - 10:15 - 12:30PM

• Climate Adaptive Silviculture
• Prescribed fire
• Tree marking exercise & discussion

Lunch - 12:30 - 1:15PM

• provided at no cost to attendees.
• Door prizes announced!

Field Tours - 1:15 - 3:30 PM

• Old growth and recreation
• Hemlock management
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Click the link below to register:

Loggers' Expo: Log-A-Load Raffle

CJ Logging is partnering with Vermont Teddy Bear to raffle off an authentic 6ft. Vermont Teddy Bear at this year's Loggers' Expo to celebrate CJ Logging Equipment's 45th Anniversary. All ticket sales will benefit Log-A-Load for Kids, a Children's Miracle Network fundraising campaign!

Tickets will be available for purchase at the CJ Logging booth (219-224, and 400-403)! Email address or phone number required to enter.