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Pine Beetle grants now available Financial incentives are available for a limited time to help forest landowners in Alabama protect pine forests from bark beetle attacks. In the short term, these incentives are designed to offset some of the costs of SPB prevention measures. The long-term goal is to reduce the susceptibility of Alabama forests to future SPB outbreaks. Federal funds from the U.S. Forest Service and administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission will be awarded to qualified private landowners once the approved thinning practices are completed. The deadline to apply for this program is December 21, 2007. The southern pine beetle (SPB) is the number one killer of pines in Alabama. Unmanaged and overcrowded stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines are susceptible to attack. Epidemic populations of this bark beetle occur virtually every year in Alabama. Expanding populations, if not controlled, may devastate entire forests causing millions of dollars in damage. Thinning of dense, slowgrowing pine stands will stimulate growth and vigor in young stands and reduce the SPB hazard. To qualify for federal funds, your pine stand must have a SPB hazard rating from medium to very high and written approval must be received from the Alabama Forestry Commission before beginning a thinning practice. You must meet certain program guidelines when implementing the thinning activities. Landowners who own less than 60 acres of land, have not participated in cost share programs in the last 10 years, and whose timber has a very high SPB Hazard Rating on their timber will receive priority ranking. Thinning practices and other requirements for these incentive funds are: Incentive costs will be reimbursed to the landowner at the rate of $50/acre for thinning and $20/acre for Borax application, not to exceed a maximum of $5,000 per landowner per year.
To apply for funding, contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office.
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