Forest Resource Development Program

What is FRDP?
The Forest Resource Development Program (FRDP) provides financial assistance to eligible landowners for establishing and improving a crop of trees. This program helps offset a landowner’s expenses by sharing the cost of implementing specific forestry practices designed to produce timber and enhance wildlife development.

Cost-share payments cover 50 or 75 percent (depending on the practice) of the total cost of implementing one or more forestry practices, not to exceed a maximum limit set for each individual practice. Eligible landowners can receive up to $7,000.00 of FRDP assistance each year. In turn, a landowner agrees to protect the area receiving FRDP assistance from fire and grazing and to properly manage the area for a minimum of ten years.

Created in 1974 when state legislature passed the Mississippi Forest Resource Development Act, FRDP has since played a significant role in providing landowners the financial support needed to turn idle and unproductive lands into well-stocked, responsibly managed forest land teeming with game and non-game species of wildlife. FRDP is funded by the Timber Severance Tax - a state tax collected when timber is harvested. The Mississippi Forestry Commission administers the program and provides technical assistance to FRDP participants.

The landowner submits the prescription to the country forester for approval. Once approved, the landowner is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to implement each practice (e.g., contract with vendor, order seedlings, etc.). As each practice is applied, the landowner makes periodic inspections to ensure that the work meets quality standards required by FRDP. The county forester will explain what to look for when making an inspection. As each practice is completed, the landowner notifies the county forester, who then makes a final inspection of the work to ensure that the practice has been applied in compliance with FRDP standards. The cost-share payment is made to the landowner after all recommended practices have been completed according to specifications and the landowner has paid all costs related to each practice.

Each site to be planted is placed into one of the following categories:

*Open Land (for tree planting only; no site prep is needed)

*Light Site Prep (when tree planting is combined with light site preparation - e.g., chemical, bushhogging, disking, subsoiling, burning, etc.)

*Heavy Site Prep (when tree planting is combined with heavy site preparation - e.g., chemical, chopping, shearing/raking, burning, etc.)

* Private nonindustrial landowners, groups, or associations

* Landowning state agencies

* Political subdivision of Mississippi

Applications for FRDP assistance are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Landowners failing to receive immediate cost-share assistance will be notified as soon as funds become available.

* Provide a forest management prescription for each area where cost-share assistance will be applied.

* Implement all practices approved in the forest management prescription.

* Carry out each practice as soon as possible following approval. (All forestry practices must be completed during the fiscal year for which they are approved - a period from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next.)

* Pay the total cost of implementing each approved practice. (FRDP payment will be forwarded to landowner only after costs have been paid.)

* Protect trees established with FRDP assistance from destructive fire and grazing.

* Use the area improved for the long-term purpose of growing timber.

* Ensure that property lines are correct and clearly marked.

FRDP assistance will not be repeated for any practice except when failure is caused by natural disaster and can not be applied on any acreage already receiving federally funded assistance.

2. Submit a forest management prescription to the county forester.

3. Make necessary arrangements for accomplishing each practice approved by the county forester.

4. Make periodic inspections of each practice as it is applied.

5. Notify county forester as soon as each practice is completed.

Private forestry consultants and the Mississippi Forestry Commission offer a variety of forest management services to private, nonindustrial forestland owners. Also, other financial assistance programs and forestry tax incentives may be available to eligible landowners. Contact your county forester for details.

Forest Resource Development Program Kent Grizzard Mississippi Forestry Commission 301 North Lamar Street, Suite 300 Jackson, MS  39201 Phone: 601-359-1386 Fax: 601-359-1349  Visit Website

  Click to locate USDA offices in Mississippi
  Click to locate a Mississippi Cooperative Extension
 Click to locate a Mississippi Conservation District
  Listing of all programs in Mississippi

Federal Assistance Programs

financial assistance, grants. The following are federal assistance programs that provide cost share incentives for habitat conservation, habitat restoration, forestland, ranchland, and farm conservation.Agricultural Management Assistance. Conservation Innovation Grants. Conservation of Private Grazing Land. ...