Virginia Reforestation of Timberlands Program (RT)

Virginia's Reforestation of Timberlands (RT) Program reimburses landowners for a portion of the cost of getting pines started: site preparation, tree planting and release treatments on cutover land or worn-out fields. It has run for more than 50 years and is funded by the Virginia Forest Products Tax with matching state General Fund dollars. Landowners apply through their local DOF forester.

• Private landowners (the DOF program table also lists forest industry / companies) with harvested forestland, pine plantations or open land in Virginia

• Practices follow the prescription recommended by a DOF forester

• Assistance shall not exceed 100 acres per tract, 100 acres per program year per landowner (tax identification entity), and 75% of the total cost of all projects

Reimbursement at the published per-acre rates, capped at 75% of total project cost; 100-acre caps per tract and per landowner per program year (July 1 – June 30).

Published amounts: 2026-2027 program year rates (FT0020, April 2026): Tree Planting – Loblolly Pine $40 per acre; Tree Planting – Other Pine $75 per acre; Site Preparation – Herbicide (pine & hardwood control) $70 per acre; Site Preparation – Herbicide (hardwood control) $50 per acre; Site Preparation – Herbicide (white pine only) $80 per acre; Site Preparation – Mechanical $65 per acre; Site Preparation – Prescribed Burning $35 per acre; Release (all pines except white pine) $30 per acre; Release (white pine only) $75 per acre. Assistance shall not exceed 100 acres per tract; 100 acres per program year (July 1 – June 30) per landowner (tax identification entity), and 75% of the total cost of all projects.

Apply by contacting your local DOF forester (Find a DOF Forester). Applications are generally accepted starting in May until funds are committed.

Deadline text on the page: Applications are generally accepted starting in May until funds are committed. (Program year is July 1 – June 30 per FT0020; DOF financial assistance table: Continuous Sign-up, Approvals April - May.)