Weed Management Area - Private Forest Grant Program (WMA-PFGP)

Weed Management Area Private Forest Grant Program (WMA-PFGP) Application deadline has been extended to April 13, 2026. The WMA-PFGP assists eligible weed management groups (WMG) in addressing invasive plants, both by dealing directly with the invasives and by providing education, information and outreach to others. This is a reimbursement program that covers up to 75% of the eligible costs, 25% match is required. Having trouble with a PDF form? Go to our PDF help page for more information. Who can apply Applicants should be interested in good stewardship of natural resources and meet the following requirements to be eligible for a grant under the program: A Weed Management Group (WMG) is eligible for assistance under the program if it consists of 3 or more persons of which at least one person shall be a "Person Participating." "Person participating" is a person who owns 500 acres or less of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land in Wisconsin on which a practice or portion of a practice under the grant will be implemented. A "Responsible Party" must submit a W-9 for payment and tax purposes. "Responsible party" may be a non-profit or for-profit organization, government entity or individual as long as the funding is used on NIPF land. The nonprofit organizations and government entities can be one of three persons participating and can apply if they are part of a WMG. A non-profit organization does not need to be 501(c)3. The "responsible party" may be changed after the grant is awarded, and before payment is received, by submitting another W-9 form. A "Participation Agreement" for the WMG must be submitted and include the following information: The NIPF landowner as a "person participating." Contact information for the NIPF landowner. The location of the NIPF land. Advanced written permission by the NIPF landowner for the WMG to enter and conduct practices on NIPF land. Advanced written permission by the NIPF landowner to allow WMG to share contact information with the department. Note: If the NIPF landowners are not known at the time of application, they must be added to the Participation Agreement before the WMG conducts a practice. Eligible practices Applicants are encouraged to contact the Forest Invasive Plant Specialist for guidance prior to completing the application. Applications will be funded on the basis of priorities, need and feasibility. Rapid response funding Up to 20% of the grant funds may be designated annually for the rapid response to early detection species upon discovery. Rapid response practice means a practice to control or eradicate "prohibited" invasive plants listed in s. NR40, Wis. Admin. Code and early detection species, those invasive plants new to the state or to a region of the state as determined by the department. Applications for rapid response practices are accepted year-round. If appropriate, applications submitted for rapid response funding will receive immediate approval and grant award. As species may be detected and reported by anyone, the department will coordinate the distribution of the funding based on the species and the feasibility of control. Rapid response funding does not require match. Eligible Cost-Sharing Practices Education, information & outreach Coordinating a weed management group Inventory of invasive plant species occurrences Control of invasive plant species that impact NIPF land Monitoring Miscellaneous practices pertaining to management of invasive plants that impact forests, including: Reforestation and afforestation Forest improvement Soil and water protection and improvement Wetland and riparian protection and improvement Terrestrial wildlife and habitat enhancement Forest historic cultural and archeological site protection Endangered, threatened or rare natural resource and enhancement Long term invasive plant management plan development Eligible costs Documented reasonable costs

The WMA-PFGP assists eligible weed management groups (WMG) in addressing invasive plants, both by dealing directly with the invasives and by providing education, information and outreach to others. This is a reimbursement program that covers up to 75% of the eligible costs, 25% match is required. Having trouble with a PDF form? Go to our PDF help page for more information.