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Funding for
balsam removal.

State and federal cost-share programs can cover some of the cost of clearing dead and dying balsam fir from your land. Most landowners don’t know this money exists. Here’s where to find it.

Help is available

You don’t have to
pay for it alone.

Across northeastern Minnesota, dense stands of balsam fir have died off and dried out, turning healthy forest into wildfire fuel. State and federal agencies want that fuel removed, so they help private landowners pay for the work.

These are real programs run by real local offices: your Soil & Water Conservation District, the DNR, and the NRCS. The catch is timing: nearly every program requires a plan and an approval before any trees come down. Start early, and a large share of your project can be reimbursed.

5
Funding programs to explore
25-75%
Of cost commonly covered
$1,612/acre
Top EQIP reimbursement rate
Free
SWCD site visit to start

Rates shown are 2026 figures and change annually; confirm current numbers with your local office.

The programs

Five ways to fund the work.

Listed in the order most landowners should look at them. Several can be combined, and your Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will help you figure out the right program combination for your property.

Program 01

Local SWCD Cost Share

County Soil & Water Conservation Districts + Arrowhead Forest Partnership
COUNTY SWCDS: ST. LOUIS COUNTY, LAKE COUNTY, COOK COUNTY, KOOCHICHING & ITASCA COUNTIES
Funded by MN BWSR & Legacy Amendment dollars
Find your local office

Your county Soil & Water Conservation District is one of the best places for any landowner to start. They know every program in the region and help you navigate the full funding landscape. Many districts offer free site visits and free Woodland Stewardship Plans, and in North St. Louis County, free plans cover properties up to 250 acres.

Free
Site visits in most districts
250acres
Free stewardship plan, N. St. Louis Co.
5counties
ST. LOUIS, LAKE, COOK, KOOCHICHING, & ITASCA COUNTIES
Key details
  • Free site visits and free Woodland Stewardship Plans in many districts
  • Additional funding from MN BWSR and Legacy Amendment dollars
  • SWCD staff navigate the full funding landscape for you
Program 02

USDA EQIP

United States Department of Agriculture – Environmental Quality Incentives Program
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
DELIVERED LOCALLY IN THE IRON RANGE VIA THE ARROWHEAD FOREST PARTNERSHIP
Visit program site

The largest source of funding for balsam removal in our area. You hire a contractor and have the work done to NRCS specifications; once it’s inspected and approved, NRCS reimburses you a set rate for every acre treated. You apply through your county SWCD or NRCS field office.

$1,344/acre
Base payment rate
$1,612/acre
Underserved landowner rate
60–75%
Of project cost covered
10+acres
Typical minimum property
Key details
  • Landowner hires the contractor; NRCS reimburses after the work is approved
  • Applied for through your county SWCD or NRCS field office
  • Delivered locally through the Arrowhead Forest Partnership
Program 03

MN DNR Woodland Improvement

Woodland Improvement Cost Share
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Visit program site

A state cost-share program that reimburses a large share of eligible project costs. Before any work begins, a DNR stewardship forester writes a project plan for your property. Funding is limited each year, so getting on a forester’s calendar early is the single most important thing you can do.

50–75%
Of eligible costs reimbursed
Planfirst
Forester plan required up front
Limited
Annual funding, contact early
Key details
  • Requires a DNR stewardship forester to write a project plan before work begins
  • Covers removal, invasive species work, site prep, and tree planting
  • Early contact with a forester is critical, and funds run out
Program 04

Firewise / GLRI

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
USDA Forest Service + U.S. EPA
Flows through local SWCDs & the North Shore Forest Collaborative
North Shore Forest Collaborative

For properties in or near a Firewise community, this federal program funds removal and replanting, and it can stack on top of an EQIP project, increasing how much of your cost is covered. Balsam fir is specifically the fuel type these programs are designed to address.

Stacks
Can layer on top of EQIP
Removal+ replant
Both are covered
Firewise
In or near a Firewise community
Key details
  • For properties in or near Firewise communities
  • Covers removal and replanting; can stack on top of EQIP funding
  • Balsam fir is specifically the fuel type these programs target
Program 05

SFIA & 2c Tax Incentives

Sustainable Forest Incentive Act & 2c Managed Forest Land
MN Department of Revenue + DNR
Visit program site

Not a direct grant, but a long-term financial reward for landowners who actively manage their forest. SFIA pays an annual per-acre incentive, and the 2c classification lowers your property tax rate. Both require a Woodland Stewardship Plan registered with the DNR, and both pair naturally with an EQIP or DNR cost-share removal project.

$4.67/acre/yr
SFIA payment (2026 rate)
0.65%
2c reduced property tax rate
20+acres
10+ forested; plan required
Key details
  • SFIA pays $4.67 per acre annually at the 2026 rate
  • 2c reduces your property tax rate to 0.65%
  • Both require a DNR-registered Woodland Stewardship Plan
  • Best paired with an EQIP or DNR cost-share project
How to get started

Four steps, in order.

1

Contact your county SWCD

Start with a free site visit. They assess your property and tell you exactly which programs you qualify for.

2

Get a Woodland Stewardship Plan

Required for most programs. A DNR or SWCD forester can write it, often at no cost to you.

3

Get approved before work begins

EQIP and DNR cost share both require a signed agreement before clearing starts, or the work won’t be reimbursable.

4

Call Dutchman Tree Service

Once funding is approved, we coordinate directly with your forester and work within NRCS / EQIP guidelines.

Before you apply

Let’s walk your property first.

We’re happy to walk through your property, discuss scope of work, and help you understand what questions to bring to your SWCD before you apply. We work regularly with NRCS-approved projects.

Request a property walk (218) 929-2502

Please note: Program rates, eligibility requirements, and funding availability change annually. Contact your local SWCD or NRCS field office for the most current information before making project plans. Dutchman Tree Service LLC is not affiliated with any government agency and does not administer grant programs.