A logger, a consulting forester, an auditor and DNR staff discussing an active timber harvest. Photo Credit: Allen King

Each year, the MFL Certified Group participates in two audits – one internal and one external – to maintain forest certification status and continually improve as a forest management organization. The internal audit, as the name would suggest, is conducted internally by DNR staff. The external audit is when a team of third-party auditors visits Wisconsin to evaluate the MFL Certified Group to American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) requirements.

Highlights From The Internal Audit

The internal audit took place on April 29 and 30 and included site visits to 40 certified MFL properties in Ashland, Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Sawyer, Trempealeau and Washburn counties within the Northwest Tax Law Team. The internal audit showcased a lot of superb forest management and several other positive outcomes, including:

• High level of landowner satisfaction with the MFL program and local MFL staff.
• Investment in landowners, loggers and consulting foresters both through one-on-one engagement and larger efforts such as mandatory practice workshops.
• Commitment to improving understanding and consistency through peer-to-peer check-ins and consulting with subject matter experts such as the DNR forest hydrologist and silviculturists.

The internal audit team also observed three instances where post-harvest road construction best management practices were absent or not fully implemented. None of these instances, however, generated any negative on-the-ground impacts. One instance of failed regeneration was also observed. All four of these findings are being addressed locally between landowners and Tax Law staff.

The discussions and corrective actions that occur during and after these internal audits contribute to shared understanding and improved implementation of forest certification among the DNR staff, landowners and external partners that play a role in the MFL Certified Group. Continue reading “Another Year Of Successful Audits For The MFL Certified Group” →

As a Certified Group, we aim for 100% pesticide reporting on certified MFL Lands. Recent articles have described the pesticide reporting requirements for forest certification. As we approach the end of the year, this is a reminder to submit your report if any pesticides have been applied to your certified MFL property in the past year. Certified MFL landowners are encouraged to report pesticides soon after they are applied, or on an annual calendar year basis. You can use the worksheet to track pesticide applications to facilitate reporting.

Thank you to everyone for submitting their pesticide report(s).

Submit a pesticide-use report.

If you have questions about pesticide reporting, please email DNRMFLForestCertification@wisconsin.gov.

Did you know that Certified Plan Writers (CPW) received new Forest Tax Law Handbook procedures earlier this year for creating approvable MFL applications and management plans? CPWs are required to follow DNR guidance, and as the voice of the MFL program during the enrollment process, the CPW is required to discuss and confirm your, the landowner’s, understanding of a lengthy list of MFL program requirements and conditions of enrollment. Please see below for some timely reminders of the MFL landowner’s roles and responsibilities as we head into the plan writing season for 2026 enrollments.

Delinquent Property Taxes Must Be Paid

• Lands with delinquent property taxes are ineligible for designation. Any delinquent taxes must be paid by Oct. 1 the year before the land is designated.
• If split payments are made or if there are delinquent taxes, the landowner, upon request of the DNR, must provide proof of full payment.
• By Aug. 15 of the year in which the MFL order will be issued, the DNR will notify each county treasurer of MFL applications to determine if there are unpaid property taxes. Notifications are sent after the July 31 split property tax payment date. If the department is notified of delinquent taxes, Tax Law Forestry Specialist will assist the landowner and determine if taxes are paid or if the application will be denied entry.

Continue reading “Updated Guidance Brings Timely Reminders For Landowners Enrolling Land In MFL” →

This summer, the DNR rolled out the new Public Access Lands web map. This new web mapping application consolidates various types of public access land information. It also incorporates open Managed Forest Law (MFL) and Forest Crop Law (FCL) properties and replaces the previous Private Forest Lands Open for Public Recreation application. You can learn more about this tool by checking out the press release.

There are a couple of easy steps to follow to view the open MFL and FCL properties. There is also an “MFL/FCL Help” button located on the right side of the top toolbar, if you’re having problems viewing the open MFL/FCL layer.

Good luck this season, and please refer to the open tax law lands page for more information and to find answers to common questions about hunting and access to these properties.

Need funding for the conservation practices in your forest plan? Join thousands of woodland owners, many of them MFL landowners, who have secured cost-sharing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). A historic amount of funding will be made available to woodland owners through landowner assistance programs implemented by the NRCS and made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. See more information here.

What Does This Mean For You?

This funding is a rare opportunity for MFL landowners. NRCS has identified that “shovel-ready projects identified in a Forest Management Plan are more likely to secure funding.” Examples of projects include invasive species treatment, timber marking and native tree/shrub planting (note that activities such as costs associated with building pole sheds or creating food plots are not projects that NRCS funds).

How To Get Started

Contact your local USDA service center to learn how NRCS can help fund practices on your MFL property and help you accomplish your forest management objectives. Be sure to contact the service center for the county where your property is located, and please be patient with the NRCS staff. The increased funding is driving increased demand at NRCS field offices.

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As a property tax incentive program, new Managed Forest Law (MFL) enrollments become active at the start of the year to align with a new year for property taxation. 2024 was similar to last year, with more than 1,400 new enrollments!

Some statistics from the new enrollments include:

• Nearly one-third are new landowners in the MFL program
• A total of 107,304 acres were added to MFL
• 1,411 enrollments are individual landowners, and 24 added land to large ownerships with at least 1,000 acres statewide
• The average size of the new enrollments is 64 acres for individual landowners and 719 acres for large ownerships
• 22,281 acres are open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing and cross-country skiing
• Nearly 70% (15,422 acres) of the open MFL acreage is part of a large ownership
• 70% of eligible new enrollments elected to participate in the MFL Certified Group

The start of the year is an excellent time for new and existing MFL landowners to review some of the available resources. Check out these resources to understand your obligations, the MFL Certified Group and where to secure professional help.

• Table of landowner roles and responsibilities
• The landowner’s guide to professional resources
• MFL Certified Group Tip Sheet

Welcome to all new MFL landowners, and thank you to new and existing MFL landowners for your commitment to practicing sound forestry.