OK Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share Grant Program

The OK Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share Grant Program aims to assist landowners in eastern Oklahoma in managing their pine forests, particularly those at risk from the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB). The program provides financial support for practices that promote healthy forest conditions and reduce infestation risks. Priority is given to landowners in LeFlore, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties, but funding is also available for high-risk stands outside these areas, ensuring comprehensive protection against SPB threats.

The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) is a native bark beetle and
major threat to the pine forests of Oklahoma and the southern United States. Unmanaged and overcrowded stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines are particularly susceptible to SPB attack. Outbreaks of this bark beetle occur periodically and can devastate large areas of forest in a short period of time. Overstocked pine stands are at risk should an infestation occur. The best way to minimize the risk of SPB infestations is through good forest management and prevention. Landowners need to recognize the factors that make their pines more susceptible to beetle infestations and take appropriate actions to maintain healthy forest conditions.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and ForestryForestry
Services (OFS) is initiating a Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Project in cooperation with the U.S. Forest ServiceSouthern Region. The project is intended to encourage forest landowners in eastern Oklahoma to undertake recommended prevention practices. The project offers cost-share funding to eligible landowners that own pine stands at risk from SPB attack.
The project
applies to eligible landowners with pine forests in eastern Oklahoma at risk from SPB attack. For purposes of this program, pine stands are defined as those in which pine species constitute over 70% of the stand’s basal area.
Priority for cost shares will be given to landowners within
the three counties most prone to SPB outbreaks:

• LeFlore,McCurtain, andPushmataha.

Outside these counties, cost shares will be available only to landowners whose pine stands are SPB hazard rated as high or very high risk and meet the other cost-share criteria listed below.
Stocking LevelEligible pine stands for first thinnings must
be rated moderate to very high hazard. Pine stands eligible for pre-commercial thinning must be from 6 to 12 years of age and support greater than 700 stems per acre. Ownership SizeA minimum stand size of 10 contiguous
acres belonging to a single ownership is required for participation.

Eligibility

The following applicants are eligible if
they own non-industrial private forestland in Oklahoma: Private individuals;
Federally recognized American Indian tribes or
other Native American groups, provided that all tribal or group members request cost-sharing if they are on tribal or native land associations; Corporations or other legal entities that do not offer
publicly traded stock; and Forest landowners engaged in primary processing of
raw wood products, but only if on a part-time or intermittent basis.What About Joint Ownerships?Where more than one
person owns the land jointly, such as a group, association or corporation, the joint owners are considered as one eligible landowner.Joint ownerships are not eligible unless all owners or their duly authorized agents sign the costshare application and agreement.Individual owners who share in a joint ownership, but also own separate property in their own name, may participate as individuals, and the joint ownership does not affect the eligibility.Applications and agreements with jointly held ownerships will include only one tax identification number and only one payment will be issued.The principal applicant is responsible for dividing the payment appropriately among the owners.

Ineligibility

The following persons or entities are
not eligible for funding, although individual landowners who are stockholders in the businesses listed may apply themselves: Federal, state or local governmental agencies or
related entities; Corporations that offer publicly traded stock;
Private entities that are principally engaged in
primary processing of raw wood products or that provide public utility services of any type or any subsidiary of such entities, including but not limited to:sawmills,pulp mills,paper mills,plywood plants,oleoresin plants,power companies, orrailroads. Commercial campgrounds, hunting reserves and
recreation areas.