09/04/2026
Help Minnesota’s state tree grow! Red pine, or Norway pine, is Minnesota's state tree.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for red pine cone collectors ahead of anticipated bumper crop.
"Red pine plays a major role in our forests. Their height provides great nesting sites for eagles, they provide food for wildlife, and red pine timber helps support Minnesota’s economy,” said Jarrod Amundson, DNR seed and cone consultant. "Every year, Minnesotans collect cones to help reforest the state. With a bumper crop of red pine cones this year, we need people’s help more than ever. We hope to purchase 1,000 bushels of red pine from collectors.”
Red Pine produces a good seed crop every few years but only has a true bumper crop like this year about once every 10 years. The DNR needs help from Minnesotans this season to collect as many ripe, closed cones as possible to build a strong red pine seed supply for plantings in future years. DNR processes the cones it purchases to extract seeds, which are sown into nursery beds at the State Forest Nursery in Akeley to grow seedlings for reforestation projects. Annually, the DNR reforests roughly 2,000 acres of red pine, which takes nearly 1 million seedlings.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking the public for help collecting red pine cones and has increased its payment to $95 per bushel for clean, ripe and closed cones. This year's crop is expected to be the best the state has seen in a decade. Cones will be ready for collection from early September through October.
