Field to Forest Cost Share Program

Field to Forest Cost Share Program is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This program provides financial assistance to private landowners to reforest open lands, such as former pastures or crop fields, with native tree species. It aims to improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and enhance resilience to drought and floods.

Cost share for woodland owners | Minnesota DNR Report Potential Fraud | DNR is committed to ensuring public funds are used for their lawful and intended purposes. Woodlands of MN Landowner Handbook Find a DNR Stewardship Forester Find a Stewardship plan writer Cost share for woodland owners Do you own woods in rural Minnesota? Money may be available to share the costs of your woodland stewardship projects.

Taking care of your woods benefits all Minnesotans by growing future forests which improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, and support a healthy forest products economy. Woodland cost share is financial assistance that helps private landowners practice good forest stewardship. Typical projects range from 3 to 20 acres, but smaller or larger projects may be eligible as well.

Whether you want to plant trees, improve forest health, reduce invasive species, or enhance wildlife habitat, DNR stewardship foresters can help you plan and access funding. It all starts with a phone call or email to your forester. Yard landscaping projects are not eligible for cost-share assistance.

For help with residential tree care, contact a professional arborist . The DNR does not provide tree care assistance to individuals, but does provide grants to local governments, Tribal Nations and nonprofits to assist low-income residents. View our tree care financial assistance page to see if there is a local initiative in your area.

Explore Available Cost Share Landowners can take advantage of several cost shares, depending on your goals and location. Explore the options below to find the program that best fits your needs. The Woodland Improvement Cost Share covers widest range of stewardship activities.

The Tree for Tree Cost Share and What A Match Tree Planting Cost Share only helps cover costs related to planting trees. Field to Forest Cost Share The Field to Forest cost share supports large-scale tree plantings or direct seeding projects. Funding was provided by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

Landowners can apply until Dec. 1, 2026 for plantings in 2027. Funds are limited, so make sure to apply early.

Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting or direct seeding expenses and will also receive an incentive payment of $500 per acre planted. Contact a DNR stewardship forester before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval. Eligibility requirements: Landowners must plant trees the following year of signing up.

If you signed up after December 1, 2026, trees must be planted in the spring of 2027 Trees must be planted or seeded on historically forested open land capable of supporting trees To promote forest diversity, each project must include a minimum of three tree species Eligible projects include: Planting seedlings, including purchase and planting costs Seedlings can be purchased from either a private nursery or the State Forest Nursery Woodland Improvement Cost Share This cost-share program supports woodland management projects across Minnesota.

Most projects are eligible for up to 50% to 75% reimbursement, depending on the type of work. Because funding is limited each year, it’s best to reach out well in advance of your project. Private woodland owners in rural areas Eligible projects include: Tree plantings and costs related to planting - consider purchasing seedlings from the State Forest Nursery .

Wildlife habitat enhancement Forest recreation development The Tree for Tree cost share supports reforestation on private lands in counties impacted by the Line 3 pipeline construction in Minnesota. Funding for Tree for Tree was provided by Enbridge to fulfill requirements for the Certificate of Need issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

It supports the replacement of trees removed by the project and helps replant healthy forests across Minnesota. Landowners can apply starting July 2025. Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses and will also receive an incentive payment of $500 per acre planted.

Cost-share requests are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Consult a DNR stewardship forester early before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval. Eligibility requirements: Project must be in one of the 15 counties impacted by pipeline construction.

Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, St.

Louis, Wadena 10-acre minimum project size Trees must be planted on open land capable of supporting trees Eligible projects include: Planting seedlings, including purchase and planting costs What a Match Tree Planting Cost Share The What a Match Tree Planting Cost Share helps with tree planting projects within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds that enhance water quality and support long-term forest stewardship.

Landowners may apply at any time with funding projected to be available through spring 2028. Projects will need to be completed by May 2028. Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses.

Cost-share requests are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted. Contact your DNR forest stewardship forester or your local SWCD forester to get started. Eligibility requirements: Land must be located within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds.

A map of the watersheds can be found on the Board of Water and Soil Resources page.

Trees must be planted on open land capable of supporting trees Land must be enrolled in a conservation easement or in the Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) under a 20- or 50-year covenant Eligible projects include: Planting seedlings, including purchase and planting costs This program is designed to improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and support long-term forest growth in priority watershed areas.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Federal Cost Share The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is handled by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and is geared towards helping landowners restore forest health after a natural disaster.

They are currently offering up to 75% cost share to landowners impacted by severe storm that caused major blowdown in the Bemidji area on June 21, 2025. Eligible counties include: Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, and Mahnomen. Sign-up ends on July 31, 2026.

For more information on requirements and eligible projects, view their factsheet. How to apply: Contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at your local USDA Service Center. Hubbard, Cass, Itasca: [email protected] Beltrami, Clearwater: [email protected] Mahnomen: [email protected] Learn more about Bemidji Blowdown assistance.

How does it work? A DNR stewardship forester will review and approve eligible activities. To get started, contact the DNR stewardship forester for your area.

They’ll work with you to develop a project plan that aligns with your goals. Once your project is approved, you may complete the work yourself or hire a contractor. After the project is finished, a DNR stewardship forester will inspect the site to verify work before payment.

Reimbursement is based on cost-share rates and the type of work completed. Contact a stewardship forester to get started! Requirements for DNR grantees Landowners who received DNR cost share have a grant with the state of Minnesota.

The requirements for DNR grantees document provides general grant management policies and procedures for grantees.