����������������Introduction to NRCS�Forest and Woodland Improvement Programs�Katelyn Suderman�Eureka Field Office Forester�Natural Resources Conservation Service���

Making Money with Your Forest

March 2026

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Katelyn Suderman

Eureka Field Office Forester

RPF #3294

Katelyn.suderman@usda.gov

Welcome!

Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS

• NRCS is a federal agency that provides voluntary, science-based assistance to agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland to help conserve natural resources.
• Non-regulatory
• Provides free-of charge services, including technical and financial assistance.
• Financial assistance is offered through several programs and is not designed to cover the entire cost of the project.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

NRCS Resource Concerns - Forestland

• Resource Concern: ”An expected degradation of the soil, water, air, plant, or animal resource base to the extent that the sustainability or intended use of the resource is impaired.”

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• Degraded plant condition
• Undesirable plant productivity and health
• Inadequate structure and composition
• Excessive plant pest pressure
• Wildfire hazard, excessive biomass accumulation

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• Water Quality Degradation
• Excessive sediment in surface water

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• Soil Erosion
• Concentrated flow erosion

(e.g., gullies from roads)

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EQIP/CSP Priorities on Forestland

• Reduce Fuel Loads: thinning, fuel breaks, brush management, Rx fire
• Improve Forest Health: thinning, reforestation, pest/disease control, plant competition control
• Improve Oak Woodland Health: conifer removal, seedling protection
• Reduce Sediment Delivery: road improvements

Eligible Forestland Practices: Plans

CAP 106 Forest Management Plan

DIA 160 Prescribed Burn Plan

Eligible Forestland Practices:�666 - Forest Stand Improvement

Removal of Conifers and Other Evergreen Species in Deciduous Oak Woodlands

Eligible Forestland Practices: �666 - Forest Stand Improvement

Thinning to Reduce Fuel Loading,

Thinning to Reduce Competition and Release

Thinning to Adjust Species Composition

Thinning to Prepare for Prescribed Fire

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Eligible Forestland Practices: �384 - Woody Residue Treatment

Slash Treatment Following Thinning

Chipping, Mastication, Pile/Burn, Lop/Scatter

Clean Up after Catastrophic Events

Eligible Forestland Practices: �314 – Brush Management

Brush removal through mechanical, hand, biological, or chemical treatments to manage fuel loads, improve habitat/forage, or control invasive species

Eligible Forestland Practices: �338 - Prescribed Burning

Burning to reduce fuel loading

Burning to alter species composition

Burning to improve forage/acorn crop

Burning to maintain fuelbreaks

*Must have NRCS approved Burn Plan to implement this practice

Eligible Forestland Practices: Roads

Stream Crossing Upgrades

Culverts, rocked fords, rock-lined waterways, and road re-shaping/re-grading to prevent sediment delivery to waterways

Other Eligible Forestland Practices

• Fuel breaks & Firebreaks
• Tree/Shrub Planting & Site Preparation

Success!

Before

After

Success!

Before

After

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Success!

NRCS EQIP/CSP Eligibility

• Applicant must own or lease the property. (needs land management authority/control)

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• Average adjusted gross annual income (AGI) must be less than $900,000 for the last three years.

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• Single applicant cannot receive > $450,000 for EQIP or > $200,000 for CSP in cost-share incentives per Farm Bill.

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• No minimum acreage requirement.

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• CSP - All forested land under ownership must be enrolled and farm must meet baseline conditions for 2 resource concerns at time of application

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• Cannot treat within defensible space or double dip with CFIP funded work.

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Application & Evaluation

• Submit an Interest Form to your local planner.

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• NRCS conducts a site visit to assess resource concerns, collect data, and scope potential projects.

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• NRCS develops a Forest Management Plan with current conditions & management recommendations incorporating landowner objectives.

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• Fill out an application packet.

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• Applications are evaluated and ranked through a competitive process once per year. Funding is allocated to highest ranked projects.

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• Funded projects undergo environmental evaluation: T&E Species, Hydrology, Cultural Resources, etc

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• Proposed treatment actions must address natural resource concerns, including Soil, Water, Air, Plants, and Animals.

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Prescribed Burn Plan Process

• Identify a Technical Service Provider (TSP) to write the burn plan
• Apply for NRCS funding for a DIA 160
• Complexity/fuel type & acreage determines payment rate
• Work with a TSP/ qualified burn professional to develop Burn Plan
• Submit to NRCS for review

and approval

• Receive reimbursement at

set rate

• Burn!

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Prescribed Burn Plan Components

• Management objectives
• Reduce biomass accumulation
• Manage pests, pathogens, and diseases
• Improve habitat and forage for wildlife and cattle
• Manage undesirable vegetation to improve plant community composition and structure
• Burn window (temp, RH, wind speed & direction, soil moisture, etc)
• Weather parameters, smoke dispersion, and other factors affecting fire behavior
• Pre-burn preparation needs (control lines, thinning, piling, etc)
• Ignition method and firing sequence
• Equipment, materials, and personnel needs
• Pre-burn notification checklist
• Post-burn evaluation criteria
• Smoke Management Plan
• Maps

EQIP Payments

• NRCS pays a flat rate per unit for each practice included in a contract. Contracts are typically 5 years.

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• Payments are reimbursable.
• Payments are not released until work is inspected and certified as meeting NRCS standards and specifications.

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• Applicant is responsible for acquiring permits and completing the contracted work.

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• Participants will receive a Form 1099 to report EQIP payments on their tax return.

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CSP Payments

• Applicant receives a $4000 annual payment for life of contract.

• NRCS pays a flat rate per unit for each practice included in a contract. CSP practice payment rates are ~70% of EQIP payment rates.

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• Incentive payments are reimbursable.
• Payments are not released until work is certified as meeting NRCS standards and specifications. Payments are issued at the end of the calendar year in which each practice is scheduled

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• Applicant is responsible for acquiring permits and completing the contracted work.

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• Participants will receive a Form 1099 to report CSP payments on their tax return.

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EQIP vs CSP

• EQIP
• Bulk of forestry projects
• Intended to improve degraded resources to reach a baseline functioning condition
• Flat rate payment per practice. Practice payments higher than CSP

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• CSP
• Newer program for forestlands
• Intended to reward landowners for increasing their level of conservation
• Annual payment + flat rate payment per practice.

To sign up for EQIP/CSP Contact Your Local NRCS Planner

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Katelyn Suderman

Eureka Field Office Forester

RPF#3294

Katelyn.suderman@usda.gov

(707) 798-7480

Thank You!