Minnesota Forestry Association

09/05/2026

Want to learn more about climate-ready trees? University of Minnesota Extension is hosting 4 separate workshops this month to highlight various tree species that are projected to adapt well to Minnesota's future climate.
Events this month are located in:
September 11 - Duluth
September 15 - Rochester
September 17 - Collegeville
September 29 - St. James
Registration is free, but you must register to attend.

09/04/2026

A great way to help with reforestation efforts, and also a great way to earn a few extra dollars!

09/02/2026

Come join us on September 18th at the North Star Expo for the State of the Forest Forum, and Polaris Gathering! Learn about the future of Minnesotas forests, the challenges they face, and a new statewide mapping project.

Event RSVP and event schedule can be found here: https://www.minnesotaforestry.org/events/polaris-gathering-annual-event

We hope to see you there!

State of the Forest Forum & Polaris Gathering Friday, September 18, 2026 9:00 AM 4:00 PM 09:00 16:00 Itasca County Fairgrounds 1336 Fairgrounds Road Grand Rapids, MN, 55744 United States (map) Google Calendar ICS

08/29/2026

Tree seed collection workshops are a great way to gain valuable skills in collecting high quality seed. Here are some great chances to join University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in their free workshops! They will teach you to indentify multiple species of tree and their ripe seeds, and how to collect and process them!
Registration details are in the flyer below.

08/26/2026

While the drought of this summer continues on, it is important to keep an eye out for drought stress in your trees. While large swaths of trees struggle during prolonged periods of drought, urban trees tend to have a more difficult time. With lack of shade, urban heat island effect, and poor compacted soils, it is important to keep an eye on your urban trees and if able, give them a deep watering every 7-10 days.
Check out this PhysOrg article for more details:

Recurring and prolonged periods of drought are worsening worldwide, triggering a dangerous chain reaction for trees, according to a forest health expert at North Carolina State University.

08/22/2026

This article from the Grand Rapids HeraldReview highlights the potential market for low-value wood in the aftermath of northern Minnesotas wildfires. This Bi-partisan bill may be a boon for the timber industry

As wildfires burn in northern Minnesota, a federal bill has been introduced targeted to help improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk and create a larger market for loggers.

08/21/2026

08/19/2026

Forest tent caterpillars or Armyworms, are within the range of a possible outbreak in the coming years. While typically not fatal to trees, forest tent caterpillars can defoliate entire branches, and can cause some branch die back if their numbers are large enough. Be on the lookout for large numbers of these caterpillars!

https://www.kaxe.org/local-news/2026-08-10/forest-tent-caterpillar-damage-rising-as-dnr-eyes-potential-2027-outbreak

08/14/2026

Besides the heat of the summer, invasive species and diseases are also a major stressor within north-central Minnesota forests. Despite that, there are things that we can do to strategically manage our forests to limit the impacts, and make a healthier and more resilient forest 🌳.

To learn more, MyMinnesotaWoods has a Forest health and resilience Workshop on October 17th in Grand Rapids. Register here:

Forests can face multiple stressors that impact their health and resilience, such as native and non-native insects and diseases, over-competition, deer browse, and climate change. Woodland stewards can implement management strategies to promote the long-term health and resilience of their woods whil...

08/08/2026

In July of 2026, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and various other organizations gave their support for the Wildfire Emission Prevention Act (WEPA). This legislation will simplify the process for states to utilize prescribed fires to lessen the impact of emissions from wildfires, and to further protect and strengthen forests against wildfire impacts.
Read the whole article here: