United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Ohio Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content



2009 EQIP Forestry Program

News Release

Are you interested in establishing a stand of trees? Would you like to improve the health and vigor of your existing woods?

If you own a woodlot in Ohio that is at least 5 acres and qualify as an agricultural producer, Ohio’s EQIP Forestry program may be for you.   EQIP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, is a way for landowners to receive program payments and technical advice from professional foresters.

Am I eligible?

The eligibility criteria for Ohio’s EQIP Forestry program include:
  • Owning or managing a minimum of 5 acres of woodland.
  • *Having a Forest Stewardship Plan.
  • Restricting livestock from the forested land
  • **A USDA customer service record with the Farm Service Agency
*If you do not have a Forest Stewardship Plan, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry (ODNR), or your local Soil and Water Conservation District may be of assistance in creating a plan.
 
**You must qualify as an agricultural producer to become a FSA customer. An agricultural producer is defined as a landowner or manager who has an interest in the nonindustrial private land or land that is capable of growing trees. Forest landowners are exempt from the $1,000 annual sales requirement.

What is available?

The 2009 Forestry EQIP practices include:
  •  Tree Planting
  • Grape Vine Control
  • Crop Tree Release (selective cutting of trees to allow other trees of value to grow)
  • Thinning
  • Control of Woody Invasives – (Bush Honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven)
There is a minimum of five acres and a maximum of 50 acres for all practices except the Control of Woody Invasives.

How do I apply?

Applications for the EQIP Forestry program are available at your local USDA Service Center in the NRCS Office. While applications are accepted throughout the year, a selection period will occur approximately once per year, typically in the fall or winter. EQIP is a competitive program; all applications are ranked and evaluated against other applications. Contact your local NRCS Office or call your local ODNR Service Forester at 877-247-8733 for more information. Information is available on-line at www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ or www.ohiodnr.com/forestry

USDA-NRCS and ODNR’s Division of Forestry have established a partnership to provide technical assistance to forest owners.

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

2009 EQIP Forestry Program - Print version of this page (PDF, 222 Kb)

Program Contact:

Tom Berger, 614-2536 or 614-265-6366

< Back to EQIP