Invasive plants can do more than make a property difficult to maintain. They can compete with crops and native vegetation, reduce usable pasture and forage for livestock, and spread quickly across agricultural land.
A new Texas A&M Forest Service program is offering financial assistance to Texas landowners who want to control or remove invasive plants from their property.
The Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program has $140,000 available statewide and will reimburse 75% of eligible treatment and removal expenses, up to $7,000 per landowner. Applications opened Sept. 1 and will be accepted until available funding is exhausted.
Invasive plants are non-native species that can spread aggressively after being introduced into an area. Once established, they can compete with desirable plants for water, nutrients, sunlight and space.
For farmers and ranchers, that competition can become a practical land-management issue. Invasive plants can crowd out grasses and other vegetation used for livestock forage, interfere with crop production and gradually reduce the productivity of pasture and other managed acreage.
The new cost-share program is designed to help property owners offset some of the expense involved in bringing those plants under control.
Eligible management methods include mechanical removal, herbicide application and prescribed burning. Mechanical treatment can involve mowing, cutting or using heavy equipment to remove unwanted vegetation. Herbicides may be used to kill or suppress invasive species, while prescribed burning can help control certain plants and encourage desirable native vegetation.
Because no single treatment works for every invasive species or property, participants will work with a local Texas A&M Forest Service forester or woodland ecologist to develop an appropriate treatment plan. The agency will also verify completion of the approved work. All approved treatments and removal projects must be completed before June 1, 2027, to qualify for reimbursement.
Personal labor costs are not eligible for reimbursement, and individual items costing more than $5,000 are also excluded. Landowners interested in participating are encouraged to apply early because applications will only be accepted while funding remains available.
Additional information, including program requirements and application details, is available through the Texas A&M Forest Service Texas Invasive Plant Solutions Cost-Share Program.
