Utilization and Marketing Program

collage of photo showing different wood-based products and pine thinning

The DNR's Utilization and Marketing Program helps Minnesota's wood-based economy by:

  • Providing the most current data and analysis about Minnesota's forests and wood product industries.
  • Assisting businesses that makes products from wood fiber, wood energy, and decorative materials.
  • Conveying technical information, trends, and technologies about wood to help market forest products and mill residues.
  • Connecting industries and partners to grants, incentives, and funding opportunities.
  • Growing a market for wood that originates from Minnesota forests managed to be healthy, resilient, productive, and renewable while providing habitat, climate change alleviation, and recreation for all citizens.

Minnesota is home to 17.6 million acres of forests lands. Sustainable forest management is vitally important, providing a healthy forest, economy, and environment to the people of Minnesota.

Forestland owners accomplish the vast majority of their forest management through timber sales and harvest, making it essential to maintain Minnesota's markets for timber, including:

  • Pulp and paper
  • Engineered wood products (OSB, siding)
  • Lumber, cabin logs, building timbers
  • Posts, poles, fencing, lath
  • Pallets, paneling, flooring
  • Animal bedding, mulch, erosion control wood wool (excelsior)
  • Dissolved wood pulp for clothing
  • Chemicals used in health and beauty products
  • Specialty wood products (live edge slabs)

Thirty percent of all wood fiber in Minnesota comes from DNR-administered public lands. Most DNR-managed forests are third-party dual FSC/SFI certified to ensure they remain healthy, productive, and sustainable.

The Utilization and Marketing Program provides information, data, and marketing assistance to forest-based industries, public and private entities, and individuals. We strive to create new opportunities through collaboration and identify emerging markets that fit our forest resource and sustainable management goals.


Sign up for DNR Utilization and Marketing emails, where you will receive:

  • Periodic updates on available grants, incentives, surveys, and training for primary wood manufacturers.
  • Periodic updates on forest industry and resources.

Sign Up


Wood industry directories

Twin Cities wood utilization information

Marketing assistance for wood-based businesses

Information and reports on forest resources, industry and wood utilization

Wood Utilization Technical Guides

  • Grade Sawing - WI DNR forest products technical guide on sawing logs for grade lumber.
  • Edging and Trimming - WI DNR forest products technical guide on edging and trimming lumber.
  • Air Drying Lumber - WI DNR forest products technical guide on air drying lumber.

Forest Decorative Material Information

Utilization and Marketing staff

  • Scott Burns, Timber Utilization and Marketing Program Coordinator, 218-322-2514
  • Jeremy Fauskee, Timber Utilization and Marketing Consultant, 218-220-7094
  • Jon Drimel, Timber Utilization and Marketing Supervisor, 651-259-5289

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