Texas Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost Share

Cost-share for East Texas landowners to do a first thinning of overly dense, pulpwood-size pine stands to prevent southern pine beetle outbreaks. Open to owners of at least 10 contiguous forested, mostly-pine acres in 21 priority counties. Funded by the USDA Forest Service.

• Minimum 10 contiguous forested acres predominantly pine.

• In Angelina, Cass, Cherokee, Hardin, Harrison, Houston, Jasper, Liberty, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, or Walker county.

• Must meet program eligibility criteria.

Up to $50/acre for first thinning (FY2024 rate; page not updated).

Published amounts: For FY 2024, through funding from USDA Forest Service-Region 8 and Forest Health Protection, we are providing financial assistance up to $50 per acre to eligible landowners to assist in the first thinning of overly dense, pulpwood sized pine stands.

The FY2026 application window (opened Nov. 1, 2025; closed Jan. 31, 2026) has ended and no FY2027 dates are posted yet. Submit the SPB Prevention Program application and W-9 during the Nov 1 - Jan 31 window.

Deadline text on the page: The grant application will open Nov. 1, 2025. Completed applications are due no later than Jan. 31, 2026, at midnight. (No FY2027 dates posted yet.)