Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR)

Contact a DNR stewardship forester before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval; the forester writes a project plan and signs you up. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deadline text on the page: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the second round of its Field to Forest Cost Share Program through Dec. 1. (news release 2026-06-11). Cost-share page: If you signed up after December 1, 2026, trees must be planted in the spring of 2027

General office

DNR Information Center

Reimburses private landowners for large-scale tree planting or direct seeding on historically forested open land, plus a $500-per-acre incentive payment once planting is done. Funding is limited and applications are first-come, first-served through a DNR stewardship forester.



- 3 acres minimum
- Trees must be planted or seeded on historically forested open land capable of supporting trees
- Each project must include a minimum of three tree species
- Landowners must plant trees the following year of signing up
- Not for residential landscaping, planting in existing forests or converting grasslands to forests (news release)

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Up to 75% reimbursement of site prep, seedling purchase and planting, and bud capping, plus $500/acre incentive; paid after a DNR forester inspects the completed planting.

Published amounts: 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.

For more information about the program and or land eligibility contact the Forest Legacy Program Coordinator.

Deadline text on the page: No application window published; contact the coordinator about land eligibility.

Andrew Kernan

Forest Legacy Program Coordinator

DNR uses federal Forest Legacy matching funds to buy permanent conservation easements or land on important private working forests so they stay forested. Landowners contact the program coordinator about eligibility.



- Privately owned, environmentally important forest land

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Permanent easements; purchased or donated.

Published amounts: Conservation easements are permanent and easement rights are either purchased or donated. (woodlands/financial.html)

Contact a local Native Prairie Bank contact (DNR prairie specialist) and complete the application.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published; find a local Native Prairie Bank contact, and when you are ready complete the application.

Prairie protection

A permanent conservation easement that pays landowners a one-time sum to protect never-plowed native prairie. Owners keep the land and can keep compatible farm uses such as grazing under an approved plan, haying, or seed collection.



- Land with remnant native prairie vegetation that has never been plowed (restored former cropland does not qualify)
- Grazing, haying or seed collection can be retained if compatible with protecting prairie values

Perpetual easement; payment as lump sum or in up to four tax years, no interest; 1099-S issued; donated value is matched by RIM credits; payment reduced for hayed acres.

Published amounts: Payments for Prairie Bank easements are 65 percent of the permanent marginal agricultural land payment rate in your township as established by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. (FAQ) Lump sum or up to four installments.

Complete the application; a DNR prairie specialist evaluates and certifies acres, then it is sent to the local County Assessor for enrollment.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published.

Exempts certified native prairie acres from property tax. A DNR prairie specialist visits and certifies qualifying acres, then the application goes to the county assessor.



- Never plowed, cultivated, or reseeded; not severely altered by heavy grazing or herbicides
- Dominated by native prairie vegetation with no or limited tree cover
- At least 5 native grass/sedge species and 12 native wildflower species
- Cannot be grazed (annually hayed tracts may still qualify)
- At least 5 acres (smaller tracts with rare species habitat may qualify)

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

Exemption lasts while the land qualifies; can be combined with an ungrazed Native Prairie Bank easement.

Published amounts: Qualifying native prairie acres are exempt from property taxes (page example: 10 prairie acres at $1,000/acre removes $10,000 from assessed value).

Obtain a Woodland Stewardship Plan and register it with DNR (deadline October 31 for new applications), record the covenant with the county, then submit the SFIA application to the Department of Revenue by October 31.

Deadline text on the page: October 31 Deadline to submit SFIA application to Department of Revenue. Covenant also must be recorded with the County Recorder's Office by this date.

General office (applications, payments)

Annual per-acre payments to private owners who keep forest land undeveloped and follow a registered woodland stewardship plan under an 8-, 20- or 50-year recorded covenant. DNR registers the plan; the Department of Revenue takes applications and pays each October.



- 20 or more contiguous acres
- At least 50% forest land as defined in Minnesota Statute 88.01, subdivision 7
- A registered forest management plan in place
- Covenant of 8, 20 or 50 years recorded with the County Recorder

Payments are taxable income; rates adjust yearly (increases capped at 10% per year; starting in 2027, payments may decrease by more than 10% each year); new plan required every 10 years; land must not be developed during the covenant; 2025 law changes affect 2027 payments and withdrawal options.

Published amounts: The 2027 payment rates are currently calculated to be: 8 years Up to 1,920 acres enrolled: $12.73; More than 1,920 acres enrolled: $17.63; 20 years $17.63 / $22.52; 50 years $22.52 / $27.42 per enrolled acre. For new applications in 2027 and land that is in a conservation easement, the payment is $4.90 per acre. (revenue.state.mn.us)

Consult a DNR stewardship forester early before starting your project to allow time for planning and approval.

Deadline text on the page: Landowners can apply starting July 2025. ... Cost-share requests are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted.

Reforestation cost-share for private land in the 15 counties affected by Line 3 pipeline construction. Pays up to 75% of tree planting costs plus $500 per acre planted.



- Project must be in one of 15 counties: 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

Up to 75% of seedling purchase/planting, site prep and tree protection costs, plus $500/acre incentive; rolling until funds run out.

Published amounts: 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.

To find out more information about enrolling land in the Walk-In Access program, please call your local Soil and Water Conservation District office (SWCD).

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment deadline published; sites open September 1 to May 31.

Pays private landowners per acre to open land with good wildlife habitat to walk-in public hunting and other quiet uses from September 1 to May 31. Local SWCDs enroll land, usually for two or three years, and enrolled acres get state recreational-use liability protection.



- At least 40 acres, or contiguous with a WIA parcel of 40+ acres
- Priority to land in CRP, RIM or other conservation programs; other land with high quality natural cover may qualify
- No land within 500 feet of a home or occupied livestock corral (unless the cooperator's)
- Must be accessible from a public road; habitat maintained through enrollment
- 54 counties currently participate

Landowner or State may terminate with 30 days' written notice; liability protection under Minn. Stat. 604A.20-604A.27.

Published amounts: $18 per acre payment rates! (2025 fact sheet PDF)

Contact your county assessor's office to determine whether or not your land qualifies.

Deadline text on the page: No deadline published.

Exempts qualifying wetlands on private land from property taxes as long as they stay in their natural state. Owners check eligibility with their county assessor.



- Wetlands inventoried as Public Waters Wetlands (M.S. 103G); lands mostly under water that produce little if any income and have no use except for wildlife or water conservation; land in a wetland preservation area
- Who May Apply: Private landowners

Exemption remains in effect as long as the wetland meets the statutory requirements.

Published amounts: Qualifying areas are exempt from property taxes.

Contact your DNR forest stewardship forester or your local SWCD forester to get started. Requests accepted on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted.

Deadline text on the page: Landowners may apply at any time with funding projected to be available through spring 2028. Projects will need to be completed by May 2028.

Tree-planting cost-share for landowners in the Long Prairie, Redeye and Rum River watersheds whose land is under a conservation easement or a 20- or 50-year SFIA covenant. Covers up to 75% of seedling, direct seeding and site prep costs.



- Land must be located within the Long Prairie, Redeye, or Rum River Watersheds
- Trees must be planted on open land capable of supporting trees
- Land must be enrolled in a conservation easement or in SFIA under a 20- or 50-year covenant

Up to 75% reimbursement; projects completed by May 2028.

Published amounts: Approved projects are eligible for up to 75% cost-share reimbursement for tree planting expenses.

How to Apply: Contact your area wildlife manager.

Deadline text on the page: All crop damage projects are considered equally and are handled in the order they are received.

Eric Nelson

Wildlife depredation specialist

Provides wildlife damage abatement materials, such as fencing and repellents, to producers of stored forage, crops hit by flightless geese, and specialty crops. Growers sign a cooperative damage management agreement with their area wildlife manager.



- Producers or growers of stored forage crops
- Owners of crops damaged by flightless geese
- Specialty crop growers: fruit, orchards, vegetables, tree farms, nurseries, turf farms, and apiaries
- Must enter a cooperative damage management agreement

Materials, not cash; producer pays costs above the cap.

Published amounts: Up to $1500 for damage to stored forage other than silage or grain and $3000 for stored silage or grain. Up to $1000 for damage caused by flightless geese. Up to $5,000 in damage abatement materials per eligible specialty crop grower (landowner, tenant, or parcel).

Consult a DNR stewardship forester early before starting your project; they will write a project plan and help you sign up.

Deadline text on the page: Because funding is limited each year, it’s best to reach out well in advance of your project.

Statewide cost-share for private rural woodland owners covering tree planting, invasive species control, woodland improvement, tree protection, wildlife habitat and forest recreation projects. A DNR stewardship forester writes the project plan and inspects the work before payment.



- Private woodland owners in rural areas
- Typical projects range from 3 to 20 acres, but smaller or larger projects may be eligible
- Yard landscaping projects are not eligible

50%-75% reimbursement depending on practice; work may be done by the landowner or a contractor; payment after forester inspection. Recipients hold a grant with the State of Minnesota.

Published amounts: Most projects are eligible for up to 50% to 75% reimbursement, depending on the type of work.

List of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) Funding Opportunities