Alabama Agriculture Chief Pushes USDA To Cover Logger Diesel Costs

Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to add loggers to its federal fuel relief program. Pate stated that rising diesel costs are reducing the industry's ability to cover operating expenses. The USDA announced an $8 billion harvest fuel relief initiative in October for farmers, but it has not yet indicated whether it will expand the program to include the logging sector.

Diesel prices in Alabama reached a record high of $6.16 per gallon in September, according to the American Automobile Association. As of early November, the state average stands at $5.86. This represents an increase of more than $2.40 per gallon compared to the same period last year. Pate noted that while farmers use diesel heavily during harvest, loggers consume fuel daily through the year.

"Loggers use a lot of diesel every day, heavy trucks with their gears low and just really burning a lot of diesel day in and day out over the whole year," Pate said. He added that the South serves as the nation's primary source of wood, and loggers have already faced financial strain before the recent price spikes.

The logging industry contributes approximately $12.5 billion to the Alabama economy each year, according to data from the Alabama A&M and Auburn universities extension program. More than 123,000 jobs depend on the state's roughly 1,500 logging operations. Pate argued that the current cost of diesel is exaggerating existing financial problems for these businesses.

The USDA plans to release payment rates for farm crops this month. The agency has not confirmed whether loggers will be included in the final distribution of the $8 billion relief fund.