United States Department of Agriculture
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Forestry Incentives Program

The 1996 Farm Bill extends the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), which was originally authorized in 1978 to share up to 65 percent of the costs of tree planting, timber stand improvements, and related practices on nonindustrial private forest lands. Numerous natural resource benefits can be attributed to FIP goals, including reduced soil erosion, enhanced water quality and improved wildlife habitat, as well as helping to assure a reliable future supply of timber. FIP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Forest Service.

FIP is a nationwide program available in counties designated on the basis of a Forest Service survey of total eligible private timber acreage that is potentially suitable for production of timber products. Federal cost-share money is available-with a limit of $10,000 per person per year and a 50 percent cost-share reimbursement. All counties in Missouri are eligible to participate.

FIP is intended to assure the Nation's ability to meet future demand for sawtimber, pulpwood and quality hardwoods by planting more trees and placing more forest land under good forest management. FIP's cost sharing for these measures helps eligible private landowners, whose small parcels represent the majority of the Nation's forest lands.

There will be a continuous sign-up period through all local USDA NRCS field offices. Designated flat rates or percent of actual cost (with not to exceed levels) will be used with respective practice components.

Available practices under FIP are:

  • Tree planting
  • Improving a stand of forest trees
  • Site preparation for natural regeneration

Cost-shared areas must be protected from grazing and destructive fire. A forest management plan is required in all cases to be eligible for cost-sharing.

Technical Servicing

The Missouri Department of Conservation, Division of Forestry, provides technical advice and servicing in developing a forest management plan and helps find approved vendors, if needed, for completing the FIP work. In addition, MDC must certify that the project has been completed satisfactorily before cost-share payments can be made.

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