Field to Forest provides a new opportunity for landowners to turn their fields into productive sources of diversified revenue streams. This new project, offered by the American Forest Foundation, offers multiple ways for a landowner to profit from their land, resulting in an average of $3000/acre of total benefit from all the potential income sources and cost savings.

The Field to Forest project covers all planting costs, coordinates the planting and covers the cost of a forest management plan developed by a professional forester. During and at the end of the enrollment period, landowners keep all profits from their pre-approved commercial timber thinning and harvest. Landowners can continue farming and raising cattle on adjacent farmland during enrollment.

Investment Savings

Field to Forest provides multiple and diverse types of revenue. It covers the upfront investment costs of growing loblolly pine, by paying for and coordinating the initial planting. It also covers the cost of a forest management plan developed by a professional forester, with the combined value of $400/acre by covering these two investment costs.

Average Value: $400/acre

Guaranteed, Annual Income

Enrolled landowners receive guaranteed, annual payments from Field to Forest during the entire 30-year contract period. The payments of $30/acre/year represent a guaranteed, passive revenue stream for landowners. These payments are earned by simply growing trees according to the project’s forest management plan. This new and guaranteed source income for the enrolled landowner totals $900/acre by the end of the project.

Average Value: $900/acre

Profits from Thinning

All profits from pre-approved, intermediate commercial timber harvests throughout the 30-year enrollment period are kept by the enrolled landowner. Landowners earn an average of $30,000 in new income during the contract period from professional intermediate harvests that are within their forest management plan.

Average Value: $400/acre

Profits from Harvesting

At the end of the project’s 30-year enrollment period, landowners keep all profits from a commercial timber harvest of their loblolly pine trees. Landowners enrolled in Field to Forest receive an average total of $140,000 from their high-quality timber harvest at the end of their contract period.

Average Value: $2000/acre

Revenue from Cattle and Crops

While enrolled in Field to Forest, landowners are fully able to continue to farm and raise cattle on adjacent acres with no impact to existing business. While enrolled acres are growing pine as a crop on previously unproductive fields, landowners can continue their cattle ranching or row crop farming business without any impact or interruption. Field to Forest is designed to fit your goals for your land.

Low-effort, Low-risk Financial Return

Field to Forest turns unplanted, non-productive fields into a revenue stream for landowners that includes diverse sources of income that include guaranteed payments and timber harvesting income, all without risk or significant upfront cost to the landowner.

Landowners are paid to grow pines for profit on unused land without the risk inherent in farming crops, and with the upfront project costs covered. The landowner keeps all profit from forest thinning during the program and from harvesting at end of enrollment. The program does not impact any existing farming or ranching on non-enrolled acres, so the income resulting from enrollment in the project is entirely incremental. Field to Forest landowners experience little or no downside to enrollment.

How to Enroll

It’s easy to learn more about Field to Forest and find out if your property qualifies. Just visit Field to Forest to confirm your property is eligible and schedule time to speak with a member of our team who can answer your questions.

For more information, see: www.familyforestcarbon.org/fieldtoforest