Minnesota Forestry Frequently Asked Questions

Both methods have a place, depending on your forest's species composition and goals. For most landowners in Crow Wing, Pine, and Cass counties, we use selective harvesting — carefully removing mature trees by species, age, and health while retaining young trees, oaks, and conifers. Oak produces acorns critical for deer; conifers provide winter thermal cover. If your forest is primarily aspen or jack pine, patch clear-cuts of 10–20 acres often produce the best natural regeneration. In pine plantations, row or corridor thinning is common — most landowners prefer the corridor method because it looks more natural. We tailor every harvest to your specific goals: income, wildlife habitat, forest health, or all three. Read more on our blog: Benefits of Selective Harvesting →

All timber sales through Timberlane Forestry are conducted on a consumer scale (pay-as-cut) basis — the fairest and most common method. You're paid per cord for the actual wood removed, tracked by species. We maintain computerized spreadsheets so you always know exactly what was harvested and what you earned. We avoid the appraised scale method, which is estimate-based and riskier for landowners. You get a professional timber appraisal upfront so you understand the value before any trees fall.

Harvesting is an active, physical process — it's not gentle. However, we take cleanliness seriously. We use chippers to process and haul away debris, leaving your site far cleaner than a typical logging operation. We intentionally leave some snags (standing dead trees) and fallen logs — wildlife depend on them. After harvest, we seed all landings, roads, and trails with clover to stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and provide a wildlife food source. Clover reseeds itself for 4–5 years and is a favorite of deer, turkey, and other species.

Winter (December through March) is ideal for most timber harvesting in Minnesota. Frozen ground protects soil structure, prevents rutting, and allows heavy equipment to operate without lasting damage to the forest floor. This is especially important for protecting future forest regeneration. Some species — like birch and aspen — are best harvested in fall and early winter for optimal wood quality. Market conditions also matter: sometimes waiting a season or two for stronger timber prices increases your return significantly. Read more: When to Harvest Timber in Minnesota →

Deer and grouse absolutely depend on young forest habitat — this is one of the most important things Minnesota landowners can understand. Deer need young aspen buds for winter survival and thick regenerating brush for hiding cover. Grouse require young aspen stands with dense cover for feeding, drumming, and nesting. A mature, unmanaged forest is actually poor habitat — the closed canopy shades out understory browse and cover. By harvesting mature overstory trees, we trigger regeneration of the young growth these species need. Oak trees are a deer magnet for fall acorns, but deer won't linger without nearby young brush to hide in. The result: a strategically harvested forest can dramatically increase deer and grouse populations within 2–3 years. Learn more: Wildlife Habitat Management →

In most cases, no replanting is needed — Minnesota forests regenerate remarkably well on their own. Aspen resproutes at 10,000+ stems per acre after harvest. Oak, birch, maple, and basswood are aggressive stump sprouters and reproduce from seed. Balsam and spruce regenerate naturally. Jack pine regenerates if we spread branches and cones across the site during harvest. The main exception is Norway and white pine, which regenerate slowly — we often recommend replanting these. Your main ongoing commitment after harvest is simply mowing trails and shooting lanes once or twice a year to keep them open.

The Sustainable Forest Incentive Act (SFIA) provides Minnesota forest landowners with annual per-acre rebate payments typically equal to 1/3 to 1/2 of your property tax. You continue paying your regular property tax, then receive a rebate check each fall. To enroll, you need a minimum of 20 contiguous acres and a DNR-approved Forest Stewardship Plan — which Erik writes. SFIA payments can add up to thousands of dollars annually on larger parcels. The program is 8-year renewable and transferable if you sell or pass down the property. Learn more: SFIA & 2c Tax Programs →

The 2c Managed Forest Land classification reduces your annual property tax by reclassifying your forestland at a lower assessment rate — up to 35% reduction in some situations. Unlike SFIA (which provides a rebate), 2c directly lowers your tax bill. It has more public access requirements than SFIA and is a longer-term commitment. We help you compare both programs and determine which provides the greatest financial benefit for your specific acreage, county, and goals.

Minimal — you're essentially committing to manage your land for forestry and wildlife, which most landowners are already doing. You cannot subdivide the enrolled acreage during the program period. Timberlane Forestry handles the Forest Management Plan required for enrollment, the DNR paperwork, and the renewal process. Both programs are transferable when you sell or hand down the property, so future owners can continue benefiting. For details, visit the Minnesota Department of Revenue at taxes.state.mn.us.

No — you must choose one program or the other. However, if your property qualifies for both, we'll run a side-by-side comparison of the financial benefits based on your acreage, current property tax rate, and county. This helps you make a confident, informed decision. Call Erik at (218) 232-3055 to discuss which program is right for you.

We charge the standard DNR rate of $10 per acre plus a $300 base fee per plan, with a minimum charge of $1,000. For example, a 40-acre plan is $1,000 (minimum) and a 100-acre plan is $1,300. Some of the cost may be recoverable if you renew early in the year your registration expires. Call (218) 232-3055 or use our contact form to get started.

Yes — completely free, no obligation. We offer a free property walkthrough where Erik personally visits your land, assesses your forest, and explains your options. You speak directly with Erik Eggen — not a salesperson or subcontractor. There's no pressure to proceed with any service. Many landowners simply want to understand what their forest is worth and what options exist. Call (218) 232-3055 or use our online contact form to schedule.

That's entirely up to you — we adapt to your preferred involvement level. Some clients want to walk every acre and approve every tree marked for harvest. Others are absentee landowners who prefer annual updates and periodic check-ins. Most fall somewhere in between. Your Forest Stewardship Plan documents your preferred involvement style, ensuring any contractor or future forester works within those boundaries.

Timberlane Forestry is based in Baxter, MN (Crow Wing County) and primarily serves Northern and Central Minnesota. Our primary service area includes: Crow Wing County, Pine County, Cass County, Kanabec County, Aitkin County, Morrison County, Mille Lacs County, and Carlton County. If you're outside this area, call (218) 232-3055 — we'll let you know if we can help.

For timber harvesting, Forest Stewardship Plans, SFIA enrollment, and 2c classification, Erik works with properties of 30 acres or more. Properties under 30 acres are not a fit for his services.