Minnesota Ag News Headlines State Land Reforestation for Detroit Lakes Area Minnesota Ag Connection - 07/29/2010 Herbicides will be applied to approximately 15 acres of state land in the Detroit Lakes area in an effort to control vegetation and help establish new forests. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the applications will begin around mid July and end about Aug. 15. All sites treated with herbicides will be signed. The DNR plants trees on state lands to reforest harvested areas, provide wildlife habitat, protect watershed values and maintain the quality of state forests. Professional foresters determine the tree species appropriate for the site. The DNR hires private contractors to do the actual planting. Conifers are the major species planted. About 800,000 white pines are planted on Minnesota's forests annually. Many other native tree species are also planted. Oak and other hardwoods, for example, are widely planted in the state forests of southeastern Minnesota. In the last 10 years, the DNR has planted or seeded close to 90,000 acres of state forest land. For more information on planting and contracts, contact Howard Mooney, DNR forester at 218-846-8363. Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.