Technical assistance and financial incentives are now available to help forest landowners in Alabama implement prevention practices to reduce the susceptibility of their pine stands from a southern pine beetle attack. The southern pine beetle (SPB) is the number one killer of pines in Alabama. Unmanaged and overcrowded stands of southern pines are susceptible to attack.

Here are the prevention practices that are available for incentive payments:

  • Non-commercial first thinning of a loblolly or shortleaf pine stand
    Thinning - $100/acre
    Borax Treatment - $15/acre
  • Longleaf pine planting on suitable sites
    Site Preparation - $15/acre
    Planting - $100/acre

There are certain requirements that must be met before a stand is eligible for the SPB Prevention Costshare Program. The Technical Guidelines document states in greater detail the requirements that the landowner and the stand must fulfill to be approved into the program.

  • This program is open to non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners who own between 10 and 5,000 acres of forest land in Alabama. Landowners can apply for and execute a SPB prevention practice for more than 100 acres, but the incentive payment for completing the practice(s) on 100 acres is the limit for reimbursement. These NIPF owners may include private individuals, joint owners, non-profit organizations, or corporations that are not wood-using industries and do not have publicly traded stock.
  • Ineligible owners include lands controlled by federal and local governments, wood-using industries or entities that derive more than 50% of their gross income from wood-using industries; corporations with publicly-traded stock, or public utility companies.
  • The same acreage cannot be enrolled in other incentive or cost-share programs.
  • The stand will not qualify for the SPB Prevention Cost-share Program if enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

All landowners interested in applying for the SPB Prevention Cost-share Program must contact the local Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) office. The AFC County Office information is located HERE. Make sure in the “View” window that “Office Information” is selected. Go to the “County” window and select the appropriate county. The result will give you the list of employees for that county and their contact information. If you are not sure of your local office’s contact information, contact Dana Stone, the Forest Health Coordinator at 334-240-9363.

  • Application period ends on Tuesday, April 30, 2019
  • Technical needs assessment completed by Friday, May 31, 2019
  • Selection and approval process completed by Monday, June 10, 2019
  • Landowner notification of approval by Friday, June 21, 2019

Additional Resources