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April 24, 2024

 

I'd like to take the opportunity in this week's Zipline to share about North Carolina's legislative session and the importance of Forestry Day in the Legislature.


The NC General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year (called the “Long Session”), and adjourns to reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session (called the “Short Session). Typically, the Short Session is convened in May.

This year is a Short Session. Throughout this session, the NCFA will be monitoring bills that have crossed over during the 2023 Long Session that are still eligible for consideration, which include House Bill 295: Promote North Carolina Sawmills, and House Bill 463 - NC Farmland and Military Protection Act, which currently resides in the Senate. We will also be on the lookout for any changes that may be made to legislative appropriations and tax and regulatory issues regarding environmental and tax policy and property rights. This session the legislature will also be tweaking the biennium budget and focusing on other bills eligible for consideration.


This brings me to the importance of Forestry Day in the Legislature, which is on June 5 this year. This is a day when all entities of the forest products community come together for a common cause and commit to advocating for change. Members of the NC General Assembly and their staff attend and NCFA members have an opportunity to speak with their elected officials on the issues that matter most to them. The efforts behind Forestry Day – and everything we do – are a testament to our investment in the future, and we are strategically involved in the legislation behind the policies that affect our industry. Below is just a sampling of key legislative wins we've had over the years for NC forestry:

You can read more about the importance of Forestry Day by checking out our article featured in Forestry Mutual Insurance Company's magazine, page 10 - click here. Don't forget to register for Forestry Day in the Upcoming Events section below!

An Update on H-2B Visas


Last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that sufficient requests were submitted to make an additional 19,000 supplemental H-2B visas available for returning workers for the second half of the federal fiscal year under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary rule. Our national industry counterparts have been instrumental in lobbying for raises to the cap. The DOL is still accepting additional petitions to raise the cap on the number of visas that will be allotted for specific countries. We will be monitoring this issue and reporting updates as we receive them.

If you have sold PAC tickets this year, we encourage you to please return your sold tickets early to the NCFA office by June 3 to be entered into a separate preliminary drawing at the June 6th board meeting. If selected, you will win a YETI cooler!


Any tickets sold early will still be entered into the final drawing at our Annual Meeting in September for the cash prize. Early ticketholders will have a chance to win two prizes.


If you would like to pick up PAC tickets, please contact Jill Bite at jbite@ncforestry.org. ALL sold tickets must be returned to the NCFA office no later than September 16.


Thank you for your support of the Friends of Forestry Political Action Committee!


Above: Allen Whitesell, Troy Lumber Company, 2023 PAC ticket reverse raffle winner.

Members in the Community

Pictured here is Cierra Ward, RF, Forestry Manager at Resource Management Service, and Seth Ward, CF, RF, ACF, of Premier Forestry, & Environmental Consulting, PLLC, serving at their daughter's Career Day in 2017 and 2024. They teamed up and engaged 250 6-8th graders throughout the day, teaching them about the career opportunities available in forestry through resources provided by ForestryWorks® and a green jobs quiz provided by Project Learning Tree.

Check Out This Video!

Roseburg, the Working Forests Initiative, and The New Yorker Brand Studio recently collaborated to create an educational video explaining the role of working forests in storing carbon and mitigating climate change. It is extremely well done and we encourage you to watch it!

May 2 | Bridgers Creek


Join us for BBQ, clay shooting, and networking from 4-7 p.m. at Bridgers Creek, located at 2280 Candor Troy Rd., Candor, NC 27229. Thank you to Troy Lumber Company for hosting and IFCO Seedlings for sponsoring this event. RSVP to Mike Powell before May 2: mpowell@ncforestry.org


May 3 & 4 | Log a Load for Kids Sporting Clays Miracle Shoot


On May 3 & 4, Log-A-Load for Kids will host the 27th Annual Colony Tire & Pinnacle Trailer Sales Sporting Clays Miracle Shoot at Hunters' Pointe Sporting Clays in Washington, NC. Registration includes 50 round sporting clays and shooting, lunch, an event t-shirt, drawings, and games.

Click here to register!

June 5 | Forestry Day in the Legislature - Register Today!


This year NCFA's Forestry Day in the Legislature will include a young professionals networking breakfast with legislators as well as an evening reception at Merrimon-Wynne House in Raleigh. You can register by clicking the link below.


We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Today!

In-Person ProLogger Module 24 Training

THIS WEEK!

April 25 | Kenansville, NC


WHERE: 133 James Sprunt Dr., Kenansville, NC 28349 in the Monk Auditorium


WHEN: Register onsite at 5:30 p.m. The class is from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided.


Thanks to our friends at International Paper for hosting! Questions? Contact Tonia Burger at Tonia.Burger@ipaper.com.

Interested in hosting an in-person Module 24 Training? 


Email Mike Powell: mpowell@ncforestry.org


ProLogger Module 24 is also available online. You can access Module 24 here.


The NCFA staff recently teamed up to compile 900 Goods from the Woods boxes, now available with a brand new look! Goods from the Woods boxes contain 14 everyday products made from trees, descriptions of the products, and a Project Learning Tree Activity: We All Need Trees. These kits are perfect for educators and anyone wanting to learn more about the forest products we use and enjoy daily. If you are in NC and would like to receive a Goods from the Woods box, email Abigail Ridge at aridge@ncforestry.org.

Our friends at the Appalachian Society of American Foresters (ApSAF) are seeking input on behalf of their Student Engagement Task Force. Both members and non-members are encouraged to take a survey to gather feedback on membership values, professional society involvement, and student and young professional engagement. Click the link below to take the survey by April 26 for a chance to win a $50 gift card!

Take the Survey
 

Make a Difference:

Donate to the FFPAC


It's an election year, which means there couldn't be a better time to make a difference with a donation to the Friends of Forestry Political Action Committee (FFPAC). Your support of FFPAC will ensure that NCFA continues to support legislators who will vote in our best interests. If you are interested in donating, please reach out to Jill Bite (jbite@ncforestry.org).

Donate Today!

Employee Retention Credit Opportunity


The NCFA has partnered with Delta ERC to help members interested in taking advantage of the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) – a refundable tax credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations. Anyone who kept 5-500 employees working through the pandemic is eligible for the program.  


If you have not yet taken advantage of the ERC program, Delta ERC is available to help fill out paperwork and guide you through the application process. 

 For more information, click the button below.

Click Here


Account Login

Renew with Us

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