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.

Cost-share rate: 50% of your actual cost, capped at a per-practice rate schedule. The application/cooperative agreement states: "I will be paid a cost-share rate of 50% of the actual cost not to exceed the stated rate in effect at time this agreement is signed and that I am not allowed to receive more that $15,000 in any one fiscal year."

Annual cap: $15,000 per landowner per fiscal year. Where forestland is owned jointly, the joint owners count as a single eligible landowner for the maximum payment, and multiple ownerships apply under a single tax ID number.

Per-practice rates: Set annually, not on the program page. The State Stewardship Coordinating Committee reviews rates, the Forestry Commission approves them, and "the approved rates will be published in the Louisiana Administrative Code" (maximum payment limitation is set in LAC 7:XXXIX.1307). Ask your LDAF forester for the rate sheet in effect.

Application fee: $25, non-refundable, per application — "Each application will be assessed a $25 fee." A separate application is required for each non-contiguous property.

Contract length: 10 years. "Each landowner who participates in a cooperative agreement with the LDAF shall be required to maintain the forestry usage for a period of 10 years" from the date of Certification of Performance (prescribed burning exempted). If the practice is not maintained, LDAF initiates a refund and can sue to recover the state's cost plus court costs and attorney fees.

Timing: You have 11 months (July 1 – May 31) to complete the authorized practices, and "no extensions will be granted." You bear all costs up front; payment follows LDAF's final inspection and your submission of receipts. Partial payments are not made.

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.