Federal Cost Share Update

As the bloody budget battle in Washington enters the final stages (for this year), here is how things are shaping up for the main federal funding sources available to private non-industrial forest landowners:

* Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP) Funds available for reforestation will be about 25% less than last year. (Last year overall program funding was cut 50% but the funds earmarked for forestry were minimally affected.)

* Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) Funding is expected to be about the same as last year. (Last year's funding was only half of what it had been previously.) These funds are for reforestation and Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) only. The name FIP will likely not be around anymore, as these funds will probably be lumped with several other programs and awarded to the states in block grants. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)--formerly the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)--now administers these funds, which used to be handled by the Farm Services agency (FSA)--formerly the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS).

* Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP) Funding is expected to be only about 25% of what it was for the year just ended. Each year since 1992, 60-80% of SIP funds have been used for reforestation (site prep, planting, and natural regeneration) and TSI.

* Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Funding will be about the same. Greater emphasis will be placed on wetland restoration, seasonal use of farmed wetlands by waterfowl, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitat improvement, including hardwood tree planting.

* Forest Stewardship Program Funding will continue at last year's level. The Stewardship Program funds enable government agency resource professionals to visit landowners and prepare Forest Stewardship Management Plans. They also cover this newsletter and other publications, workshops, and other technical assistance. Adequate funds will continue to be available for landowners to hire consultants to prepare their Stewardship Management Plan preparation.