Lucas County Contacts for Forestry

USDA Service Center

Your local USDA service center houses staff from multiple agencies that can help with a variety of projects on private land.

1. The Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) has staff who work exclusively with private landowners to improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat through federal land conservation programs. They administer the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides financial assistance and technical service for many activities including weed control, prescribed burning, forest management plans, and forest stand improvement. The NRCS is also a good source of information regarding pond construction.
2. The Farm Service Agency administers several conservation-focused programs including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in addition to many loan and financial programs for farmers and landowners. Examples of practices eligible for federal cost-share and rental payments through CRP include grassland habitat establishment, hardwood tree planting, riparian forest buffer establishment, and many others.
3. Soil and Water Conservation District staff provide assessment, planning, design, and cost share assistance to reduce soil loss, improve soil health, reduce runoff and protect water quality on private land.

Wood Processors

Wood processors are a resource for people who have timber to sell, who want logs sawn, or who want to buy logs, lumber, or other wood products. Note: Iowa wood processors range greatly in capacity and services provided. For example, larger wood processors may not accept small volumes of timber to be processed for hobby purposes. Loggers who buy timber and are not listed on Iowa's Bonded Timber Buyer list are breaking the law.