Member Weekly Update - April 18, 2025

Welcome to this week’s update from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast! We have important news and events to share that are vital for your business and the logging community. Let’s dive into what’s happening this week:

GENERAL NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Logger’s Voice Spring Edition Now Available!
✔ Northeast Professional Logger
✔ PLC 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting
✔ Free PLC Spring Safety Trainings Underway, 4 dates left!
✔ Free CPR Classes – Schedule Your Class Today!
✔ Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo PLC Logger Gathering May 16
✔American Loggers Council Newsletter

MAINE NEWS & EVENTS

✔ FRA Coverage of the Latest Policy News
✔ Maine’s Direct Link Loan Program
✔ Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave
✔ Maine News Clips

VERMONT NEWS & EVENTS

✔ You’re Invited: Spring Climate Action input sessions
✔ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report
✔ Vermont News Clips

SAFETY & EDUCATION

✔ FREE CDL Training May 27-29
✔ MDOL Safety Classes
✔ Small First Aid Pack
✔ Crew First Aid Pack
✔ Northeast Safe Logger

MEMBER BENEFITS

✔ Cost Calculators
✔ PLC Store
✔ Member Discounts

Logger’s Voice Spring Edition Now Available!

Read Spring Issue

New Online Portal for PLC Training:
Northeast Professional Logger

All Northeast Professional Logger Training is Free for PLC Members & Master Loggers

Training & Onboarding

Do you have new hires that need training?
We offer online safety and responsible logging modules to get them job-ready — fast.

Safety & Risk Management

Are safety incidents hurting your bottom line?
Our annual safety workshops and online resources help you reduce losses and keep your team safe.

Driver & Operator Training

Need CDL training or skilled equipment operators?
We partner with Maine Community Colleges to deliver CDL classroom prep and train the next generation of logging equipment operators and forest truck drivers through the MLOFT program.

Keeping Up With Regulations

Struggling to stay current with forest rules and certifications?
Northeast Professional Logger training covers forest management, harvest certifications, erosion control, and more.

Staff Development

Looking to build leadership or business skills in your crew?
We offer training in communication, leadership, and logging business fundamentals — because success in the woods starts with strong teams.

Need Flexible Training Options?

Can’t make it to in-person workshops?
Our online training portal offers 24/7 access to courses, videos, and materials — free for PLC members and Master Loggers.

Learn More

3 weeks until our 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting!

We need you to register so we can finalize details!

Event Highlights:
Dates: Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9
📍Location: The Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine
🪵Thursday North Haven Island Outing: Shuckin’ Fun: Timber, Tides, and Ferry Rides
🪵Friday Morning: PLC Membership Meeting
🪵Friday Afternoon: Dan Burns Live Chainsaw Carving & Baxter Brewing Beer Tent
🪵Friday Night: Log A Load Auction with Maine Cabin Masters cast

PLC Room Block at the Samoset has ended. Rooms are still available on their website. Click Here>

If you need a place to stay on May 7 we have a room block at the Hampton by Hilton of Rockland. Reserve by calling the hotel directly at 207-594-6644 and referencing PLC Member block. or use the direct booking link provided below. Accommodations will be available until midnight on April 21, 2025.

We are looking for donations for our Log A Load for Kids Friday Night Auctions!

Donate Online Download Donation Form

Thank you to our sponsors for this event!

Free PLC Spring Safety Trainings Underway! 4 dates left!

Free CPR Classes – Schedule Your Class Today!

Are your logging employees CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogen certified? Did you know that evidence of training is required every two years for OSHA and Master Logger compliance?

If the currently scheduled locations don’t work for your company or you have more than 10 employees and would like to schedule a company-specific training, we can work with you and companies in your area to schedule an alternative date for free training.

If your employees need this training in 2025, the PLC is offering the course, and it is free to members and their employees. If you would like to schedule or sign up for an existing training, contact Jessica@plcloggers.org or 207-688-8195.

PLC’s Northeast Logger Gathering at the Expo May 16, RSVP Now!

From American Loggers Council Newsletter

Senate Introduction of Fix Our Forests Act Offers Path to Address Wildfire Risks to Forests, Communities

Read Article

Maine News

Jobs in the Woods Act Introduced in the Senate

Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have introduced the bipartisan Jobs in the Woods Act (S.1336), aiming to address workforce challenges in the forestry sector. This legislation mandates the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a competitive grant program, providing funding to eligible entities for career pathway training initiatives in forestry operations and forestry products industries. Eligible entities encompass nonprofit organizations, state governments, Indian tribes, local government units, and higher education institutions. The USDA is directed to prioritize applicants that focus on tackling workforce aging and youth migration issues, collaborating with secondary schools to engage students, and demonstrating effective workforce placement and hiring strategies in the forestry sector. Senators King and Risch are joined by original cosponsors, including Senators Mike Crapo, Susan Collins, Amy Klobuchar, Jeff Merkley, Jeanne Shaheen, and Tina Smith. Notably, provisions of the Jobs in the Woods Act were incorporated into the House version of the Farm Bill last Congress.

Read Sen. King’s Press Release Read FRA issue Brief: Jobs in the Woods Act

House Adopts Senate Framework Unlocking Reconciliation

On Thursday, the House approved the Senate’s budget framework, paving the way for the reconciliation process to move forward. This critical step could result in substantial fiscal policy changes, including the potential extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions. These provisions, such as bonus depreciation and pass-through deductions, have historically encouraged business investments and could continue to do so if extended. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire on December 31, 2025, lawmakers are under pressure to act swiftly. Beyond tax and spending adjustments, Republican leaders are prioritizing increased funding for military operations and border security enhancements. The House and Senate leadership will now collaborate to draft the reconciliation bill, aiming to finalize and pass the legislation by Memorial Day.

Tariffs/Trade

On April 9, via social media, the President announced a pause and reduction of the reciprocal tariffs his Administration has levied against more than 75 countries. However, he is doubling down against China, raising tariffs to 125 percent, which is now in effect. China immediately announced retaliatory tariffs to match the U.S. action. The Chinese ban on the importation of U.S. logs, purportedly due to phytosanitary concerns, remains in effect.

The pause will last 90 days, and the tariff rate during that period for targeted countries will be 10 percent. The announcement was welcome news to Wall Street, where the one-day rebound in stock indexes was historic. The Administration has yet to name the 75 countries, but we understand the list will include the 27-member European Union.

EUDR

This week, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer testified before the Senate Finance and House Ways & Means Committees on “The President’s 2025 Trade Policy Agenda.” During his time in front of the Senate Finance panel, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) asked him about the EUDR, indicating how this regulation imposes excessive reporting requirements on Tennessee pulp and paper producers that would shut them out of the EU market. Senator Blackburn asked how USTR is working to protect U.S. businesses and deal with foreign governments who are weaponizing their ‘bogus environmental regulations’ to harm U.S. companies. Ambassador Greer responded that American companies are always the cleanest and most responsible and should always be treated that way. He also acknowledged that he had raised this issue with his counterparts in the EU. You can view the exchange here at the 2:39 mark.

Wood Innovation Grants

The USDA Forest Service has announced the resumption of its review process for Wood Innovations Grants, which the Trump Administration had temporarily paused. During this pause, the agency revised its guidelines to better define funding priorities and preferences. Applicants are now encouraged to revisit their original grant submissions and, if desired, submit a one-page addendum detailing how their proposals align with the updated guidelines.

Biomass Tax Incentive

This week, Senator Angus King (I-ME), joined by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced S. 1345, America’s First Fuel Act. The bill would amend the existing tax incentive for residential wood and pellet stoves to provide a more generous credit for whole-home biomass heating systems (boilers) and those used to heat small to mid-sized commercial buildings. Currently, consumers purchasing a wood or wood pellet stove are eligible for a 30 percent tax credit on fully installed costs capped at $2,000. This legislation would maintain that level for these units but increase the cap to $10,000 for larger systems.

The bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Maine’s Direct Link Loan Program

Are you a Master Logger in Maine who is buying new equipment? Take advantage of the Direct Link Loan Program and get an interest rate reduction of up to 2% on qualifying equipment. Details of the program and how you can take advantage of it are below:

1. A Master Logger signs an Agreement with the Maine Forest Service (MFS), the bank submits Agreement to MFS, and it is approved by the MFS for the purchase of a new or new to them piece of qualifying equipment. (Cut to Length Harvesters and Forwarders, Tracked Feller Bunchers, Stroke Delimbers, Mulching Machines, Road Graders; also includes retrofitting of existing equipment like Flotation tires, Bogey wheels, harvester and processor heads; and Miscellaneous purchases like Metal and Wooden Bridges, Bottomless arches, and sediment and erosion control products) Purchases are considered on a case by case basis, with eligibility based on whether the equipment facilitates the implementation of Best Management Practices.

**Equipment that is NOT eligible: Grapple Skidders, Pull-Thru Delimbers, Tree-to-Tree Feller Bunchers.

2. The Master Logger gets a loan from a participating bank. (See list below) Example: Loan is for $500,000 at current bank interest rate (ex. 7.00%). Contractor can have multiple loans but can’t exceed the $800,000 aggregate limit allowed by the program.

3. The Master Logger is given an interest rate subsidy (reduction) of 1.50% (up to 2%) – the same amount as the *CD rate for as long as they continue to qualify for the program.

Example: 7.00% loan interest rate less 1.50% rate subsidy = 5.50 effective rate.

The following banks participate in the direct link loan program.

Katahdin Trust Company – David Cambridge
Farm Credit East – Shannon Webber
Machias Savings Bank – Anita Madden
Acadia FCU

**Note: Maine Municipal Bond Bank buys a $500,000 CD for up to five years from bank for up to 2.00% less than the bank’s going CD rate matching the term of the loan. Ex. 1.50 % – (up to 2%)

Don’t see your bank on the list? Reach out and encourage them to get involved!

Not yet Master Logger Certified? Email Sydney at sydney@plcloggers.org, call (207)-688-8195, opt. 2 or visit masterloggercertification.com.

Click Here for More Info

First Quarter Filing for Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave Began April 1
Employers must register for the Maine Paid Leave portal, and submit wage reports and premiums, by April 30.

MAINE – The Maine Department of Labor is reminding employers that first quarter filing for the new Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave program (PFML) began on April 1. The deadline to register on the PFML portal and to submit wage reports and premiums is April 30.

The PFML portal is the online system for employers to file quarterly wage reports and remit quarterly premium contributions. If an employer wishes to authorize their payroll company to file on their behalf, the payroll company must also register in the portal and request access to your account to file for you after you register. The portal also allows self-employed individuals and tribal governments to elect coverage.

Any employer with at least one Maine-based employee must have begun payroll withholdings January 1, 2025:

Employers with 15 or more employees contribute 1 percent of wages and may deduct up to half of the contribution from the employees’ wages.
Employers with less than 15 employees contribute 0.5 percent of wages and may deduct the entire amount from the employees’ wages.

Access the portal here.

Those with questions can call the PFML call center at (207) 621-5024 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Benefits are scheduled to begin May 1, 2026.

For more information, visit https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/

Maine News Clips

📌 Logger News Online – April 2025 Industry News
📌 King wants to boost workforce for Maine’s forest products industry
📌 Project at former Jay paper mill uncertain after tariffs
📌 A success story: Wood pellet manufacturers in the Northeast

Vermont News

You’re Invited: Spring Climate Action input sessions

You are invited to weigh in on the draft plan at input sessions around the state. Choose from virtual or in-person events with diverse engagement activities focused on the priority actions. Find full details and registration info below!

LEARN MORE

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Weekly Report

Click below to read the latest weekly Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report from the Vermont Motor Vehicle Police.

Read the Report

Vermont News Clips

📌 What do Trump’s ‘reciprocal tariffs’ mean for Vermont?
📌 The vast majority of timber products sidestep Trump’s tariffs – for now
📌 Vermont’s Loggers and Sawmills Are Disappearing – and That’s Bad News for Forests
📌 Tariffs Will Hurt Wood Products Industry In Vermont
📌 Final Reading: A US-Canada trade war could pose an existential threat to Vermont’s forest economy
📌 Inventory Assesses Carbon Stored in Vermont Forests

Safety & Educational Resources

PLC FREE and easy CDL Training May 27-29th!

On May 27-29, the PLC will offer Members its 4th FREE CDL training class for their employees. Each participant must be a current employee of a PLC Member Company. Questions call 207-688-8195. Please send a picture of participants license to office@plcloggers.org or upload. There is no charge for this class and it will be held online and in-person – Augusta/Waterville, ME area. Class will be 8:00am – 4:00 pm daily. Instructions for the employer to create an FMCSA account as a Training Provider will be sent after registration. Click the link below to learn more and sign up!

Upcoming Classes.

Impairment Detection Training for Employers –
April 24, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine’s Substance Use Testing Law.

Fire Extinguisher/Emergency Action Plan/Workplace Violence –
April 28, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Workplace emergencies include fire, medical, and workplace violence. This course covers the requirements of an emergency action plan, fire extinguisher use, and considering the potential for workplace violence. The SWTI Lab includes a fire extinguisher discharge activity to assist participants in learning how to use a fire extinguisher.

Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries –
April 29, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries can be a challenge to recognize as they often come on gradually from repetitive use. Other times these injuries are related to sprain or strain. In any event, MSKs make up the most injuries we see in the workplace. In this session you will learn: The importance of matching employee fitness to the essential physical demands of a job, evaluate a job looking to prevent MSK risks, how to successfully develop and implement a custom workplace stretching and strengthening program that improves flexibility and reduces sprain and strain severity and incidence, to properly respond to employees’ early symptoms and provide effective first aid intervention that alleviates fear, prevents a disability mindset, and promotes recovery.Wage & Hour Compliance –
April 30, 2025 l 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 orbls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.

New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!

In response to demand for a smaller/”must have in an emergency” first aid pack to be stored in a machine or pickup, the PLC has created a new Operator/Driver First Aid Pack.

Contains “must have in an emergency” bleeding control items
One pack is recommended per machine/truck
Detachable velcro panel ideal for mounting in a machine or truck
Meets OSHA requirements for a logging first aid kit
Supplements PLC’s larger first aid back pack but is not a replacement

More information on the pack and its contents is available HERE.

Purchase

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid Pack: In response to widespread interest from members, we have created a PLC First Aid Pack that has everything you need for emergencies in the woods.

This Military Elite Tactical Trauma First Aid Backpack was designed for the PLC by Paul Stewart – EMT Houlton, ME.

Purchase

Now Free to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

Member Benefits

PLC Members Only! Equipment Cost Calculators Available

Members,

With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.

These easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.

These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.

DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.