Texas A&M Forest Service

When considering certain management practices that are a cost to you and are directly related to managing timber for profit, there are cost share programs for site preparation, herbicide application and tree planting available to forest landowners under certain circumstances. Contact your Texas A&M Forest Service office for current programs that may apply. A few of these programs are described below.

EQIP: A federal program administered by the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural landowners through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation and reforestation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. In addition, a purpose of EQIP is to help landowners meet Federal, State, Tribal and local environmental regulations.

Information about how to apply for assistance through EQIP is available online at the USDA Nartural Resources Conserservation Service website. Each State's EQIP page includes application ranking criteria, priority resource concerns, lists of eligible practices, payment rates, information about where you can submit applications, eligibility requirements and other program requirements.

Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications. To obtain an EQIP application, visit or contact your local NRCS field office.

For EQIP program requirements and assistance in determining appropriate management practices, please contact the local Texas A&M Forest Service office.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program: A federal program administered by the US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Partners Program provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes who are willing to work with us and other partners on a voluntary basis to help meet the habitat needs of our Federal Trust Species. The Partners Program can assist with projects in all habitat types which conserve or restore native vegetation, hydrology, and soils associated with imperiled ecosystems such as longleaf pine, bottomland hardwoods, tropical forests, native prairies, marshes, rivers and streams, or otherwise provide an important habitat requisite for a rare, declining or protected species. Information is available on the USFWS website.

LIP: A state of Texas program administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Texas Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) is a collaborative effort between TPWD Wildlife and Inland Fisheries Divisions to meet the needs of private, non-federal landowners wishing to enact good conservation practices on their lands for the benefit of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. LIP focuses on projects aimed at creating, restoring, protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and species of greatest conservation need throughout the state. We seek projects that positively impact watersheds by reducing soil erosion, restoring and enhancing native vegetation, and restoring proper functioning of rivers, creeks and other riparian areas. LIP is funded through partnerships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other partners. Information is available on the TPWD website.