Georgia Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost Share

Cost-share for Georgia forest landowners to thin overstocked pine stands or suppress active southern pine beetle spots. Covers commercial thinning, suppression of active spots, and non-commercial thinning of pre-merchantable stands. Priority goes to priority counties and stands with active infestations.

• Non-industrial landowners (private individuals, groups, associations, corporations, Indian tribes, other private legal entities), excluding publicly traded corporations and entities principally engaged in processing or manufacturing wood products.

• All of Georgia eligible; priority to priority counties or active SPB infestations.

• Practice size 10 to 50 acres (20-acre minimum if commercial thinning is the only practice).

• Susceptible southern yellow pine stands.

• No retroactive cost-share; work must follow written approval.

Harvest contract required within 6 months of written approval for suppression/commercial thinning; harvesting and non-commercial thinning completed within 12 months of approval.

Published amounts: Per acre pay rate based on 50% of the average cost of the practice in Georgia; approved funding = listed per-acre rate or 75% of recorded costs, whichever is less. Maximum funding amount will be $10,000. Non-commercial thinning $130/acre; Commercial Thinning $200/acre; Suppression $200/acre.

Apply online through GFC's SPB application (Survey123) during the sign-up window; questions to the Cost Share Coordinator.

Deadline text on the page: The sign-up period will be open from September 18, 2026 to October 9, 2026.