Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Quality Deer Management Prescribed burn cost per acre?

What’s the going rate these days, per acre, to burn Longleaf stand?
Fire lanes have been established but need going over.
I need to know how much it is for the actual burn.
This would be for someone certified to do and not me.

Used to be around $20/acre I think, probably more now. Seems steep, but I think that's what I remember. I bet it's $25+ now.

Serval variables but could be anywhere from 10-25

Thanks for the replies. That at least gives me an idea of what I’m looking at.

I am assuming you arent burning a large amount of acres as in hundreds to thousands like on a plantation. With that being said I am guessing most people you talk to will tell you somewhere between $18-25/ac.

I spent $25/acre last year

I charge $22/acre on most understory and wildlife burns. Includes burn plan with insurance. That’s standard rate. Could be more or less depending. $28/acre on site prep.

There’s a company on Facebook that says they apply for federal grants and charge the landowner nothing. On point habitat management I think it’s called.

All they’re doing is having the landowner apply for NRCS farm bill conservation programs. If the landowner is approved and awarded a contract they still pay the contractor for the habitat work. The federal program is reimbursing the landowner for the work performed. They still pay up front. It does cost something.

They make it sound good but not exactly true

Exactly. Especially when cost share programs are typically around 70-80%. And the landowner will get a 1099 from the Feds because it’s considered income.

Yep it’s taxable income. I’d be willing to bet that company is agreeing to conduct the habitat work at the rate the NRCS is reimbursing, but you have this long waiting time to see if the client is approved, then following through with the NRCS guidelines, etc. I do quite a few contracts for NRCS clients each year but I’m certainly not relying on them. It can be a headache at times.

I burned this week. There is a minimum for the service which I exceeded so it was $20 per acre. That cost does not include firebreaks. If you do a cost share program it will be considered income however you may be able to deduct your out of pocket expenses from your taxes for timberland improvement. I’m not an accountant so check with your CPA on that one.

Im late on this one but I need to go up on my rates

Gobbler - What counties do you operate in?

We try to stay within an hour of montgomery, preferrably less

My understanding is they are requesting the government payments be made to them. The upper echelon in the State NRCS is frowning on this one.

Their whole approach had too much “buck on the bag” feel to me.

Sounds like they might better change their ways or they won't be in business long!