Forest Productivity Program (FPP)

The Forest Productivity Program (FPP), administered by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), provides financial assistance to eligible landowners for establishing and improving a crop of trees. The program provides an incentive to offset the cost of implementing specific forestry practices designed to produce a timber crop. Incentive payments to the landowner help with the cost of implementing one or more forestry practices to establish and manage a timber crop, and eligible landowners can receive up to the maximum approved amount of FPP assistance each fiscal year. Eligible forestry practices include tree planting, post-planting site preparation to control undesirable vegetation, site preparation for natural regeneration, and control of competing vegetation (chemical herbicides or prescribed burning). Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

FPP assistance is available to landowners in all Louisiana parishes who own a minimum of 10 contiguous acres suitable for growing a commercially valuable timber species. There is no maximum size of ownership limiting participation. Each landowner who participates in an FPP cooperative agreement with LDAF is required to maintain the forestry usage for a period of 10 years; if the land is sold or conveyed before the end of the agreement, the original recipient of funds is bound unless the new owner assumes responsibility in writing.

Applications are available from LDAF foresters, industry foresters, forestry consultants, or foresters from other governmental agencies, and a non-refundable application fee is required. A professional forester trained in Louisiana's FPP prepares a management plan stating the practice(s) and acres requested; an LDAF forester approves the plan and forwards it to the state office. As each practice is completed, the landowner notifies the LDAF forester, who makes a final inspection; the landowner then provides copies of all receipts to the LDAF forester for payment. Contact your local District Office or email LDAF for questions.