Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share Program to Begin Accepting New Applications

News Date June 29, 2007

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that beginning July 30, 2007, the department's Division of Forestry will re-offer the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost Share Program to eligible non-industrial private forest landowners. 

The goal of the program is to minimize southern pine beetle damage in Florida by helping forest landowners reduce the susceptibility of their pine stands to this destructive insect pest. Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Florida have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres. Forest management practices, such as thinning and prescribed burning, can improve the health of pine stands and decrease the likelihood of developing southern pine beetle infestations. 

The program offers up to 50% cost reimbursement for pre-commercial thinning and prescribed burning treatments, and a $50 per acre incentive payment for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties located within the range of the southern pine beetle. Qualified landowners may apply for one approved practice per state fiscal year. The minimum tract size requirement is 10 acres and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. 

For an application and more information on program requirements and procedures, landowners can visit their local Division of Forestry office. Contact information for the county forester office is available at http:://www.fl-dof.com. Applications cannot be submitted before July 30 and will be evaluated on a first-received, first-served basis. The program is supported through temporary grants from the USDA Forest Service and will be offered only as long as funding is available. (Contact: Jeff Eickwort, 352/372-3505 x 491)