Section 1536.30  Planting Trees and Direct Seeding

The purpose of this practice is to establish a stand of forest trees for timber production purposes and compatible multiple uses and to provide general environmental benefits.

a)         The District Forester shall determine the suitability of the land for site preparation and tree planting, considering soil erodibility and the economic feasibility of soil stability practices such as timing of the practice and ground cover requirements.

b)         Cost-sharing is not authorized for:

1)         planting trees or direct seeding on less than 1 acre or planting less than 435 trees per acre unless specifically modified later under Section 1536.30(c)(2)(D)(iii) as approved by a District Forester.

2)         planting or culture of fruit or nut orchards, Christmas trees or planting for ornamental, landscaping or violation mitigation purposes.  For the purposes of this subsection (b), "mitigation" means alleviation, reduction, abatement or diminution of a condition that is prohibited by State or federal law or regulation.

3)         irrigation of planted trees.

c)          Cost-Share Rates/Specification:

1)         Site Preparation – 75% of the actual cost not to exceed a variable amount ranging from $30 to $180 per acre, as determined by the Plan preparer and approved by the District Forester.  The Plan preparer conducts a careful field inspection of current vegetation cover on the site to be prepared, and then uses categories and amounts in subsection (c)(1)(B) to make a determination about the cost-share rate per acre.

A)        Cost-share categories and corresponding variable cost-share amounts shall be prorated per acre, per category, and shall be approved by the District Forester.

B)         Cost-share categories and variable Cost-share payments follow:

C)        This is limited to areas having undesirable vegetation (such as grass sod, perennials and annual broadleaved plants and trees or shrubs).  These areas will be replanted to desirable tree species.

D)        Measures necessary to minimize erosion must be undertaken and plantings must be according to prescribed standards set forth in the approved Plan.  Measures may include, but are not limited to, hand planting, machine planting on contour, establishment of temporary herbaceous cover, the use of herbicides for minimum disturbance of established cover and similar accepted practices as set forth in the approved Plan.  Temporary herbaceous cover means oats, rye, wheat or similar grain.

E)         Removal may be undertaken mechanically with machinery including all normal farm tillage implements, chopping or sawing. Herbicides may also be used with mechanical measures or to replace mechanical measures.

2)         Tree Planting (Trees and Labor) – 75% of the actual cost not to exceed $95 for no-cost planting stock or $280 for purchased planting stock, per acre.

A)         Selected tree species and seed sources to be planted must be in accordance with the Plan.

B)         Plantings must be made in accordance with the Plan. Trees must be firmly planted at the proper depth.  Tree planting machines, augers or hand tools may be used.

C)         At least 90% of the conifer stock must be not less than 3/32 inch in caliper at 1 inch above the root collar (nursery soil line).  At least 90% of the hardwood stock shall be 7/32 inch caliper at 1 inch above the root collar (nursery soil line). In addition to the standards above, hardwood stock purchased from private nurseries shall be ordered from the 12-18 inch category as described in the nursery's catalog or other written description.

D)         Spacing requirements are as follows:

i)           Plant seedlings 6 to 12 feet apart in rows 6 to 12 feet apart.  Plant at least 435 trees per acre.

ii)          Interplantings within wooded areas are to be spaced 6 feet apart or more in openings which receive partial or full direct sunlight.

iii)         Variations in these spacing and seedling density standards may be made to enhance an existing forest area or riparian area in accordance with written recommendations approved by the District Forester.  Cost-share for planting of less than 435 trees per acre will be prorated using 435 trees as the basis.

E)         Stocking and replanting requirements:

i)           At least 300 of the planted trees, per acre, must be maintained throughout the practice lifespan.

ii)          Cost-share assistance for replanting will be available where losses are due to natural causes, such as heat, drought, flood, hail, and similar occurances, if 70% of a stand is not obtained, or if a stand deteriorates to less than 70% within two growing seasons.

3)         Direct Seeding Component

The purpose of this practice is to extend limited supplies of plant materials and thereby to increase forestation.

A)        Direct seeding may be used in lieu of seedling planting, when approved by the District Forester as part of a Plan.

B)        As references for standards use:  "Direct seeding of Southern Oaks - A PROGRESS REPORT", by Robert L. Johnson and Roger M. Krinard, Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Stoneville, MS, Forest Service, USDA (1988); and the guidelines offered in Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States (1974), Agriculture Handbook 271, Forest Service, USDA, Washington, DC 20250.  (No later editions or amendments are included.)

C)        This cost-share practice may be attempted a second time if through no direct fault of the landowner (i.e., drought, tornado, etc.) fewer than 300 seedlings of acceptable growing stock per acre survive after one full growing season.

D)        If, after 2 full growing seasons there are fewer than 300 seedlings of acceptable growing stock per acre, no further attempts to direct seed shall be made.  However, tree planting must be done per subsection (c)(2).

E)         Cost-share Rate and Specifications

i)         This practice shall pay 85% of the owner's cost not to exceed $95 per acre for seed collected or purchased plus labor and machinery use.

ii)         Seed shall be local source, within 25 miles of the seeding site. Or, if local seed is not available, seed shall be collected within an area described as 50 miles west of the Mississippi River, 50 miles north of the Illinois Wisconsin border, a north-south line extended along the eastern border of Ohio and 100 miles south of the Ohio River.

iii)        Measures to protect seed from predator pilferage shall be required when predator pilferage is identified as a problem.

iv)        Site preparation measures are best done before direct seeding. Additional treatments to introduce adequate sunlight and to reduce competition may be needed.

v)        Overstory removal may be required following establishment of seedlings – saplings.

4)         Control of Undesirable Vegetation With Herbicides or Mulching – 75% of the actual cost not to exceed $40 per acre with herbicides, $60 per acre with mulch.

A)        The practice is limited to plantings that conform to specifications cited in Section 1536.30.

B)        Application of herbicides may be in either the liquid or granular form and may be pre-emergents or post-emergents or combinations of these types as approved by the District Forester. Application may be made as pre-plant, post-plant or at time of planting. If vegetation control is a component of the forestation practice, it must be completed to qualify for reimbursement for site preparation and planting. Treated bands for hardwoods shall be 4 feet, spot treatments shall be at least 12 square feet.  For conifers minimum band width is 2 feet, and spots of 4 square feet.

C)        Organic mulches may be used in combination with herbicides or in lieu of herbicides and must be used if required in the approved management Plan, to qualify for site preparation and planting payments. Minimum per seedling mulched area is 12 square feet with an initial depth of 4 inches. Mulched areas must be pretreated by removing existing vegetation to expose mineral soil prior to applying the mulch.  Weed control fabric (cloth) can be used if at least 9 square feet is used around each seedling.

D)        Herbicide or mulching applications must be made, if required in the Plan and included on the practice cost-share application, to qualify for site preparation and planting payments.

E)         Treatments for control of undesirable vegetation may be cost-shared for a second and third application as prescribed in the Plan and approved by the District Forester.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 10473, effective June 1, 1998)