Tree Planting
Many properties throughout Illinois have fallow or highly erodible fields, marginal pastureland, wooded pasture, or frequently flooded cropland. These areas are ideal locations to create new forests that provide the habitat requirements of early successional game and non-game wildlife species. Various tree planting programs, including technical assistance, are available to eligible landowners throughout the state. Many of these programs offer financial assistance to offset a portion of the costs associated with planting large quantities of tree seedlings/seed. Please note that most state and federally sponsored programs require a formalized management plan and a contract commitment from the landowner(s). For more information on available tree planting programs, please contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA) or Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office.
| FSA | NRCS | DNR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) | X | X | |
| USDA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) | X | X | X |
| USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) | X | ||
| USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) | X | ||
| USDA Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) | X | ||
| USDA Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) | X | ||
| Illinois Forestry Development Act (FDA) | X | ||
| Illinois Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) | X |
Sources of Technical Assistance
State Agencies
Professional Consulting Foresters and Forestry Contractors
Federal Agencies
Helpful Links
Forestry & Conservation Programs Programs
- Illinois NRCS Conservation Programs
- Illinois Farm Service Agency Programs
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources Forestry Programs
Soils
Maintenance, Weeds, and Herbicides
- Penn State University, Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management
- University of Illinois, Department of Crop Science, Weed Identification
- CDMS, Inc. Pesticide Labels & MSDS Sheets
- University of Illinois Extension, A Reference Manual for Herbicide Use in Forest and Conservation Tree Planting and Timber Stand Improvement Projects in Illinois
Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.)
- USDA Forest Service, Black Walnut Notes
- Purdue University Extension, Black Walnut Information
- Virginia Cooperative Extension, Tree Crops for Marginal Farmland Black Walnut
- University of Wisconsin Extension, Walnut Tips – Soils and Site Selection
- University of Minnesota Extension Service, Growing Black Walnut
- University of Minnesota Extension Service, Black Walnut Management Slide Set
- Purdue Cooperative Extension, Corrective Pruning of Black Walnut for Timber Form
Additional Links
- Illinois NRCS Direct Seeding Handbook
- University of Illinois, Illinois Farm Business Management Publications
- USDA Woody Plant Seed Manual
- USDA Forest Service, National Seed Laboratory
- USDA Forest Service, Flooding and its Effects on Trees
- University of Minnesota Extension Service, Planting Trees in Minnesota
