(NAFB) – The Department of Agriculture is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced losses due to COVID-19.

Announced Tuesday, the funding is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency from July 22 through October 15, 2021. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program is administered by FSA in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack states, “the pandemic caused a major disruption for loggers and timber haulers including lack of access to wood processing mills.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 authorized assistance for the timber industry. Timber harvesting and hauling businesses that have experienced a gross revenue loss of at least ten percent between January 1 and December 1, 2020, compared to 2019, are encouraged to apply.

The maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive directly is $125,000.