Draft:Minnesota Forestry Association

The Minnesota Forestry Association (MFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization, established in 1876, and dedicated to supporting Minnesota's private woodland owners and advocating for responsible forest stewardship. The current headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Activities
The mission of the Minnesota Forestry Association is "To inform, educate, and advocate for woodland owners, and others, on issues related to good woodland stewardship." The organization conducts workshops and field tours, facilitating education on responsible land stewardship and fostering networking among woodland owners. Information is disseminated through newsletters, annual meetings, and the organization's website. Collaborative efforts with state and local partners are aimed at advocating for responsible forest management. Furthermore, the organization provides tools and technical assistance to support landowners in their stewardship initiatives.

Timber Harvesting Advice
The Minnesota Forestry Association collaborates with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to offer the Call Before You Cut program, which provides woodland owners with a complimentary service by professional foresters to assist owners in making informed decisions about timber cutting and sales on their property by offering valuable information and guidance.

Newsletter
The organization publishes a seasonal newsletter, Minnesota Woodlands, formerly called Minnesota Forests prior to 2009.

Annual Meetings
MFA conducts its annual meeting during the North Star Expo each year in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Workshops for woodland owners are also offered by the organization during the expo.

History
Originally founded as the Minnesota State Forestry Association in January 1876, the MFA was established to work for the encouragement of tree planting and timber cultivation. In 1879, then-Secretary of the Association, Leonard B. Hodges published The Forest Tree Planter's Manual, printing 5,100 copies in the first edition and 6,000 copies in the second in 1880.

Over time, the organization became known as the Minnesota Forestry Association, officially adopting the name in 1978 and expanding their mission to the dissemination of forestry information and advocating for good woodland stewardship.

The first president of the organization was Elias Franklin Drake, a railroad executive and former member of the Minnesota senate.

The organization has a long history of advocating for governmental woodland issues and programs, most notably in its contribution to the establishment of the 2c Managed Forestland Tax Classification. The program aims to reduce the tax rate for wooded land that is initially categorized as Rural Vacant Land, by reclassifying eligible acreage as Managed Forest Land with a property tax rate of 0.65%. The program places emphasis on responsible woodland stewardship and requires applicants to obtain and adhere to a Stewardship Plan.

Affiliations
MFA is affiliated with many other notable conservation organizations and entities in Minnesota, including:


 * Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Division
 * Minnesota Timber Producer's Association
 * Minnesota Women's Woodland Network
 * University of Minnesota, Department of Forestry
 * University of Minnesota Extension