Financial relief for landowners to fight cogongrass

WINSTON COUNTY - For the second year, financial relief will be available soon to assist Alabama landowners adversely affected by the non-native, invasive noxious weed, cogongrass.
Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission, the cogongrass mitigation program is made possible through a grant from the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection & Quarantine (PPQ). The goals of this program are to reduce the number of infested acres, eliminate the damaging effects of cogongrass on existing ecosystems  and improve the productivity of impacted sites.
Additional objectives include slowing the spread of current establishments of cogongrass and preventing introductions into new areas of the state.
The program application period will launch on February 15, and the portal will remain open until March 30 or until the threshold of 250 applications is reached. Eligibility for the funding requires that applicants be private, non-industrial landowners.
Property with cogongrass infestations must be located in any of the 67 counties of Alabama, although the landowner is not required to reside on the property or within the state. There is no minimum or maximum acreage ownership requirement to enroll. It is a cost-free program.
To apply for this funding or for further information regarding additional eligibility requirements, please visit the cogongrass mitigation program section of the Alabama Forestry Commission’s website at  https://forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Management/Cogongrass.aspx.
You may also email cogongrass@forestry.alabama.gov or contact your local AFC office.  The Winston County office is located on Coats Street in Double Springs.
The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principles and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water, and a healthy economy.
For more information about the Alabama Forestry Commission, visit the AFC website  www.forestry.alabama.gov