Opportunity
Federal Register #Doc. No. AMS-SC-25-0023
USDA Final Rule: Softwood Lumber Assessment Rate and Board Membership Update
Buyer
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service
Posted
September 22, 2026
Identifier
Doc. No. AMS-SC-25-0023
NAICS
926140
This final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service clarifies and updates regulatory requirements for the softwood lumber industry: - Government Buyer: - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement - Products/Services Affected: - Softwood lumber (domestically manufactured and imported) - Assessment rate set at $0.41 per thousand board feet (MBF) for both domestic and imported lumber (nominal size) - Imports measured in net volume assessed at $0.62 per MBF - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Clarifies assessment calculations for both nominal and net volume imports - Revises Softwood Lumber Board membership: increases industry seats from 14 to 15 (plus one public member), adding a seat for the U.S. South Region - Applies to manufacturers and importers shipping or importing 15 million board feet or more annually - Exemptions and refund provisions for smaller volume manufacturers/importers - Includes updated reporting requirements for affected parties - No procurement of goods or services is taking place; this is a regulatory update impacting industry compliance.
Description
This final rule implements changes to the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order. The changes clarify the assessment rate for softwood lumber imported into the United States and revise the membership of the Softwood Lumber Board. The assessment rate is set at $0.41 per thousand board feet for both domestically manufactured and imported softwood lumber, with adjustments for net volume measurements. Additionally, the rule adds one board seat to the U.S. South Region, increasing the total industry seats from 14 to 15, plus one public member seat, totaling 16 members.