NRCS seeks comments on proposed NIPF definition change

 
Non-industrial private forest land (NIPF) is owned by an individual, group, association, corporation, Indian Tribe, or other private legal entity that has decision-making authority over the land. As the forest product companies have either sold their forestland to timber investment management organizations or converted their forests to real estate investment trusts, the difference between non-industrial and industrial forest has become less distinguished.

NRCS seeks public input on proposed changes to the agency’s NIPF definition used to determine eligibility for program enrollment. Please see this Federal Register notice link to provide comments by January 19th.

NRCS proposes three revisions to the NIPF definition to ensure the wood products industry and their forest lands are not eligible for NIPF program enrollment. NIPFs are: 

1. Landowners who own fewer than with over 45,000 acres of forest land, and
   
2. Do not own or operate an *industrial mill* for processing wood products; or
   
3. Meet criteria established for a nonindustrial private landowner.
   

*wood processing plant (pulp or paper mill, sawmill, etc.)* State Conservationists, in consultation with the State Technical Committee, will determine an appropriate mill size to ensure family forest landowners that own and operate portable mills are not inadvertently excluded from NRCS financial and technical assistance programs.