COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Forest Service is offering landowners financial and technical assistance through the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program. Applications for this cost-share program are open now and will close on Jan. 31, 2026, at midnight.
Eligible landowners can receive technical and financial assistance to reduce the threat of future Southern Pine Beetle infestations and outbreaks by stand thinning.
Eligible landowners will receive $50 per acre with a 100-acre maximum to assist with their first forest thinning. They may also receive $5 per acre to offset the cost of using a professional consulting forester.
Landowners may receive no more than $5,000 in total for assistance for thinning and/or consulting.
“The Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program helps landowners reduce the risk that southern pine beetles pose to Texas forests through stand thinning while also promoting overall stand vigor, growth and health,” said Allen Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Health Program Leader.
Eligible applicants must own a minimum of 10 contiguous acres composed of at least 70% pine trees; tree stands must start with a minimum of 120 square-feet per acre basal area; tree stands must be thinned to 80 square-feet per acre basal area or less; and thinning of stands must be completed within 14 months.
This program is designed to only assist first-time pine stand thinning operations.
Funding priority will be given to eligible applications within Angelina, Cass, Cherokee, Hardin, Harrison, Houston, Jasper, Liberty, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, and Walker counties.
Applications should be submitted through landowners’ local Texas A&M Forest Service office.
Notification of application approval status will be completed by March 1, 2026. Applications will be approved on ranking metrics.
For more information about eligibility and cost share rates, visit the Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program webpage.
