TAEP for Forest Landowners
Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program
FORESTRY PRACTICES FOR HEALTHY FORESTS
The Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) was developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s livestock, farming operations, and forest resources by providing cost share funds to qualifying producers and communities. TAEP is a direct result of Tennessee’s continued commitment to supporting rural, and urban forest resources along with Tennessee’s agricultural community.
Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The programs help promote sustainable forest management practices on family forestland, which provide multiple resource benefits such as timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and soil protection.
Forest landowners are eligible to receive a 50% - 75% cost share reimbursement for funds spent with a combined maximum reimbursement of up to $20,000 per year. Cost share sign-up periods occur four times throughout the year. Interested landowners should contact their local Area Forester to determine eligibility and complete the planning process prior to sign-up.
Forest Establishment Cost Share
The Forest Establishment cost share is an incentive for landowners to establish hardwood or softwood forest stands for multiple benefits. Eligible practices include site preparation, planting seedlings, and vegetation control. The cost share amount is based on the components required by the forester and the corresponding rates and maximums found below. Maximum cost share for TAEP Forestry Practices combined is up to $20,000 per landowner per year.
| COMPONENT DESCRIPTION | COST SHARE RATE | MAXIMUM PER UNIT |
|---|---|---|
| SITE PREPARATION (prior to planting thru June after planting) |
||
| Chemical or mechanical site preparation for artificial regeneration of hardwoods and softwoods |
50% |
$50.00 per acre - woody vegetation control |
| 50% |
$35.00 per acre - herbaceous vegetation control |
|
| 50% |
$100.00 per acre - woody vegetation control, requires special need |
|
| Prescribed burning as needed to establish a forest |
50% |
$30.00 per acre – prescribed burning |
| Rotary mowing to help facilitate artificial regeneration of hardwoods and softwoods |
50% |
$15.00 per acre – rotary mowing |
| Subsoiling to break up compacted subsurface layers |
50% |
$25.00 per acre - subsoiling |
| Midstory and vine removal |
75% |
$82.50 per acre - midstory removal |
| Site preparation for natural regeneration of hardwoods |
75% |
$82.50 per acre – natural regeneration |
| SOFTWOODS |
||
| Planting softwoods on applicable agricultural, pasture, and cutover timberlands |
50% |
$60.00 per acre loblolly pine |
| 50% |
$65.00 per acre shortleaf pine |
|
| 50% |
$75.00 per acre white pine |
|
| 50% |
$125.00 per acre bald cypress |
|
| 50% |
$45.00 per acre, planting softwoods (labor only) |
|
| HARDWOODS |
||
| Planting hardwoods |
50% |
$125.00 per acre – planting hardwoods (seedlings & labor) |
| 50% |
$75.00 per acre, planting hardwoods (labor only) |
|
| Protective tubes | 50% | $520.00 per acre, 200 tubes for the 300-600 seedlings/acre |
Forest Stand Improvement Cost Share
The Forest Stand Improvement cost share is an incentive for landowners to actively manage existing forest stands. Active management improves the long-term health and vigor of forests which provide multiple benefits. Maximum cost share for TAEP Forestry Practices combined is up to $20,000 per landowner per year.
| COMPONENT DESCRIPTION | COST SHARE RATE | MAXIMUM PER UNIT |
|---|---|---|
| COMPETITION CONTROL - YOUNG STANDS |
||
| Chemical or mechanical release of natural or planted stands of hardwood or softwood, 1 to 10 year old stands |
50% |
$50.00 per acre - woody vegetation control |
| 50% |
$35.00 per acre - herbaceous vegetation control |
|
| PRE-COMMERCIAL THINNING |
||
| Pre-commercial thinning natural and planted pine stands where overstocking threatens stand health. |
50% |
$55.00 per acre - pre-commercial thinning |
| CROP TREE RELEASE - POLE-SIZE TIMBER |
||
| Chemical or mechanical release of crop trees where active thinning markets do not exist, 15 to 45 year old stands |
50% |
$45.00 per acre - softwood |
| 75% |
$67.50 per acre - hardwood |
|
Eligibility
Eligible participants for forest practices include private individuals; joint owners; corporations (except wood-using industries) without publicly-traded stock; and non-profit organizations and groups. Participants must be Tennessee residents or be a business incorporated in Tennessee. Ineligible participants include federal, state, and local governments; wood-using industries or entities that derive more than 50 percent of their gross income from wood-using industries; corporations with publicly-traded stock; public utility companies; and commercial campgrounds, commercial hunting preserves, and commercial recreation areas.
Eligible stands include single ownerships of at least 10 acres of forestland, at least 5 contiguous acres, and at least 120 feet in width. The forest ownership and treatment area size requirements are waived when the treatment area is a riparian zone.
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