Utilization and Marketing Program

Utilization and Marketing Program

The DNR's Utilization and Marketing Program provides technical assistance to public and private individuals and organizations to:

  • Help "stretch" the timber resource.
  • Help wood manufacturers be more efficient users of wood residue and more efficient product manufacturers by providing them with information on the latest technology.
  • Aid in decision making that results in sustainable economic development.
  • Harness market forces to provide enhanced opportunities for sustainable forest management.

Sustainable timber harvest and efficient and wise utilization of our wood resources are crucial elements in maintaining a healthy economy and ecology because most forest management is done through commercial timber harvesting activity, and because wood-using industries are an important element of Minnesota's economy. Figures for 2006 indicate that about 40,000 Minnesotans are employed in the forest products industry with an annual value of forest products manufactured in the state close to $6.9 billion.

 

What's New- Estimated Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on Ash Timber Supply in Minnesota pdf

This analysis of potential annual ash timber volumes under several Emerald Ash Borer mortality scenarios was done to inform development and execution of marketing strategies for ash timber.  These strategies will be an important management and mitigation tool as Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) spreads.  Utilization strategies will be very different depending on potential annual volumes that may be available to the marketplace.  


Available Resources from U& M program

Wood Industry Directories

Twin Cities Wood Utilization Information

Marketing Assistance for Wood Based Businesses

  • GovDelivery logo for email updatesThe Market Place is a quarterly newsletter published as a service to Minnesota's forest industry. It features articles of general interest to foresters and those in the wood industry. It also includes free ads for buyers and sellers of forest products.
  • The Wood Product Business Assistance Directory This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (184 Kb) is published by the DNR's Utilization and Marketing staff to help Minnesota's small- to medium-sized wood product businesses find available sources of technical assistance in marketing, financing, and general business areas.

Information and Reports on Forest Resources and Wood Use

  • Estimated Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on Ash Timber Supply in Minnesota pdf (574 mb)- This analysis of potential annual ash timber volumes under several Emerald Ash Borer mortality scenarios was done to inform development and execution of marketing strategies for ash timber.
  • Economic Contribution of Minnesota's Forest Products Industry – 2011 edition This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. ( 1.18mb)
    Forest products manufacturing is the fifth largest manufacturing sector in Minnesota with a total economic impact of $17.1 billion shipments, $6.9 billion value added, 86,775 jobs, and an estimated total state and local tax impact of $621 million. Approximately 40 percent of all forest products manufactured in the state are used locally with the balance being shipped to other states and exported. For timber harvested in Minnesota, the value added impact of primary manufacturing is $230 per cord and $24 per $1 stumpage value.
  • Softwood Sawtimber Supply Analysis This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (1.3mb)- The report contains a significant volume of information that can be useful to informing discussion and decisions affecting softwood resource management while maintaining a healthy softwood sawtimber industry, and healthy, productive forests.
  • Development of Procedures to Assess Brushland Resources for Woody Biomass Energy Markets This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (983kb)- Brushlands have the potential to provide biomass for energy particularly in northern regions where these land types are common. A pilot project was completed to assess shrubland density over a several county area using a combination of on-site biomass measurements and remote sensing techniques. Additionally, a simple technique for appraising Brushland biomass volumes for markets was developed for use by field resource managers.
  • Minnesota Logged Area Residue Analysis This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (404 Kb)
    Logged area residue is the wood material remaining on a site after merchantable timber has been harvested. The type of material typically left is the tops of harvested trees, branches, leaves; standing trees too small to harvest or reserved clones within the harvest area; and wood that has an underdeveloped market or is a poor form and thus not marketable.
  • Ash Listening Sessions - Necessitated by the arrival of the exotic Emerald Ash borer, Minnesota DNR is leading development of an ash Utilization and Marketing Plan to help minimize negative ecological and economic impacts. In order to gather input and set priorities for inclusion in the plan, two ash "stakeholder listening sessions" were held this spring. Executive summary This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (172 Kb)| Full report This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (347 Kb)
  • Minnesota's Forest Resources is an annual publication with information on Minnesota's forest resources and forest industry, and trends impacting them.
  • Minnesota Wood Waste Studies—1994 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (3.4 Mb) is a report that identifies volumes of wood wastes generated in a number of categories and quantifies how these wastes are currently disposed of or utilized.
  • A Report on West Central Minnesota's Red Cedar Resource 2004 thru 2006 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (55.7 Kb) This report presents an analysis of the Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) resource and potential markets in west central Minnesota.
  • Minnesota Residential Fuelwood Survey is a study that is part of a long-term effort to monitor trends in the use of fuelwood by residential households and the impact of fuelwood on timber harvest levels.
  • 2002-2003 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. (1.3 Mb)
  • 2007-2008 This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.(759kb)

Special Forest Products Information

What are Special Forest Products (SFPs)?

Special, or Non-timber Forest Products include many of species of plants that can be used for a variety of products including botanical and medicinal (like ginseng, and goldenseal), wild foods (such as mushrooms and berries), decorative and floral greens (like boughs, spruce tops birch bark and ferns), wild native seeds (for restoration and nursery stock), and some specialty items, such as diamond willow sticks and stem burls from several tree species.

Links to additional Utilization & Marketing

For more information, check these sites:

Utilization and Marketing staff

  • Keith Jacobson, U&M Program Leader, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, 651-259-5270; e-mail: keith.jacobson@state.mn.us
  • Lance Sorensen, Southern/Central Region U&M Staff, Silver Lake Road, Rochester, MN, 507-206-2837 Email: lance.sorensen@state.mn.us
  • Mimi Barzen, Northern MN U&M Staff (R1 & R2) 1201 E. Hwy 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, 218-327-4119, email: mimi.barzen@state.mn.us

Contact the program by e-mailing keith.jacobson@state.mn.us.