Are you a landowner looking to establish or enhance your woodland or a logger looking to improve your harvesting capacity? The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is offering cost share programs to assist forest landowners and industry with improving forest health and sustainability.
Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and Southern Pine Beetle Initiative were developed to promote long-term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The programs promote sustainable forest management practices on family forestland, which provide multiple resource benefits such as timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and soil protection.
Forest landowners are eligible to receive a 50% – 75% cost share reimbursement for funds spent with a combined maximum reimbursement of $15,000 per year. The landowner cost share sign-up period begins May 1 and ends May 31.
Tennessee Department of Forestry also offers Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and Southern Pine Beetle Initiative financial assistance for forest industry to help protect stream habitats and overall water quality by utilizing forestry Best Management Practices. Forest industry practitioners, such as loggers and sawmill owners, are eligible to receive a 50% cost share reimbursement for funds spent.
The programs each have a maximum reimbursement of $15,000 per year, allowing eligible recipients to receive up to $30,000. Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program cost share for forest industry is available for sign-up year-round, while Southern Pine Beetle Initiative sign-up period is between May 1 to May 31.
Those interested in forestry practices cost share programs should contact their local Area Forester to determine eligibility, implement a plan, and sign-up. For Area Forester contacts and more information about cost share programs.
