Overview
The vast majority of land in Missouri is under direct ownership and influence of private landowners. Private landowners own more than 93 percent of all land and 85 percent of forest land. To help care for these resources, it is essential that the Missouri Department of Conservation offer a wide range of landowner assistance programs. These programs help private landowners meet the objectives they have for the natural resources on their property. Some programs are cooperative efforts with the federal government while others are unique to MDC.
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
This federally funded program offers assistance as cost-share payments. These payments defray the cost of implementing certain forest and wildlife habitat management practices. The two most common programs are tree planting and improvement to an existing stand of trees.
Forest Stewardship Program
This program, created in the 1990 Farm Bill, is perhaps the most comprehensive natural resource program offered. The Forest Stewardship Program is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the State Forester. Because of its emphasis on the care of all natural resources, the Forest Stewardship Program has become the standard for management of private forest land. Landowners receive assistance in the preparation of detailed management plans. These plans consider all natural resources on the landowner's property. Wildlife and fisheries biologists, natural history specialists, soil scientists and others cooperating in the program insure that one resource is not emphasized to the detriment of the others.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program is a federally funded program that allows landowners with highly erosive land to establish permanent vegetative cover, such as grass or trees. In return for taking the land out of production, the landowner is paid a certain amount per acre each year. CRP is beginning a new phase. Many of the original agreements have or are about to expire. Landowners have been given the option to renew their agreements or to negotiate new agreements. Landowners are also being given the opportunity to extend their current contracts for an additional five years if they convert the enrolled acreage to trees.
Small Watershed Management (PL-566)
This program is designed to help landowners within designated watersheds with erosion problems or some type of critical wildlife concern. Currently three foresters in north Missouri are assigned to watershed projects. Management activities on these watersheds include developing Forest Stewardship Plans for cooperating landowners.
Forest Crop Land (FCL)
Provided by the Missouri State Forestry Law, the Forest Crop Land program is designed to increase production of forest crop land in Missouri by encouraging improved management and protection of privately owned forest land. A tax reduction is provided as encouragement to landowners devoted to growing trees on their property. Timber tracts more than twenty acres, valued at no more than $400 per acre, are eligible for classification as Forest Crop Land for 25 years. To make up for the loss of tax revenue, the Conservation Department makes an annual payment in lieu of taxes to the counties where Forest Crop Land is located.
Agroforestry in Missouri
The Missouri Economic Diversification and Afforestation Act of 1990 directed the Missouri Department of Conservation to develop an agroforestry program. Agroforestry in Missouri complements the CRP and is designed to provide state rental payments for an additional 10-year period on eligible lands used for agroforestry purposes. Agroforestry consists of planting rows of trees alternating with agricultural crops such as traditional row crops, hay or other crops. Demonstration sites are in place and participation in the program is increasing as landowners see the many benefits of this form of agriculture and forestry
