USDA Offers Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers

Timer harvesters and haulers who experienced losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can receive assistance through a new relief program announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA’s $200 million Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program will be administered by Farm Service Agency in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. The program is part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers Program the agency announced in March to fill gaps not addressed through previous rounds of assistance and direct additional relief to agriculture.

Eligible individuals or businesses must receive at least 50 percent of their gross income from cutting or transporting timber or processing wood on-site of forest lands and must have experienced a gross income loss of 10 percent or more during calendar year 2020 compared to calendar year 2019.

Payments will be made in two rounds and will be based on 80 percent of the difference between 2019 and 2020 gross revenue up to a maximum of $125,000 per applicant total. Applicants may receive up to $2,000 in the first round of payments and the second round will be based on how much funding remains.

Applications are being accepted July 22 through Oct. 15. Click here for more information and application instructions.