Browsing by Author "Kilgore, Michael A."

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2010 Outlook for Forest Biomass Availability in Minnesota: Physical, Environmental, Economic, and Social Availability
(University of Minnesota, 2010-10) Becker, Dennis R.; Klapperich, Jonathan J.; Domke, Grant M.; Kilgore, Michael A.; D’Amato, Anthony W.; Current, Dean A.; Ek, Alan R.
The growing interest and investment in forest biomass for energy production in Minnesota has created the need for accurate estimates of supply. This report estimates the total physical supply of residual forest biomass in Minnesota using a spreadsheet based Forest Age Class Change Simulator (FACCS) to model changes in forest growth and productivity at different harvest target levels, biomass retention levels, forest type, ownership, and biomass attribute (e.g., bolewood, limbs and tops). The findings are presented statewide and by region for different harvest levels and forest management scenarios. Total economic and social availability are further modeled for private woodland owners to determine the probability of their willingness to sell biomass in conjunction with ongoing forest management activities. The results provide a transparent analysis of biomass availability that illuminates policy dialogue and planning regarding the incremental increases in demand for forest biomass and the level of production that is ecologically sustainable within an area.
Assessing State Timber Sale Policies, Programs and Stumpage Price Drivers
(University of Minnesota, 2010-05) Brown, Ross N.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Blinn, Charles R.; Coggins, Jay; Pfender, Catherine
The recent major decline of Minnesota’s timber stumpage market has raised growing concern about the policies, procedures, and contract provisions associated with Minnesota’s public land timber sale programs, in particular those that apply to timber sold from state-administered forest land managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR). In its December 2006 report, Governor Pawlenty’s Task Force on the Competitiveness of Minnesota’s Primary Forest Products Industry (Governor’s Forest Products Task Force) identified timber sale policies and procedures as one of the most urgent economic issues facing the state’s wood products industry. Specifically, the report recommended a study be undertaken to assess how state timber sale procedures and associated conditions impact stumpage prices. This report describes several research studies undertaken to address the important information needs identified in the Governor’s Task Force Report.
Assessing trends in forest parcelization and development in Minnesota : an Itasca County case study.
(University of Minnesota, 2007-07) Mundell, Joseph; Taff, Steven J.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Snyder, Stephanie
Assessment of Carbon Flows Associated with Forest Management and Biomass Procurement for the Laskin Biomass Facility
(University of Minnesota, 2008-11-22) Domke, Grant M.; Ek, Alan R.; Becker, Dennis R.; Espeleta, Javier F.; D’Amato, Anthony W.; Reich, Peter B.; Suh, Sangwon; Kilgore, Michael A.; Current, Dean A.; Hoganson, Howard M.; Burk, Thomas E.; Blinn, Charles R.
This carbon life cycle analysis of forest-derived biomass was developed as part of a larger assessment by Minnesota Power detailing fuel supply, fuel procurement plans, and project engineering for a new 26-megawatt biomass generation facility in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Forest-derived biomass is a renewable fuel that can be procured locally from forest harvest residues, mill residues, material from early thinnings and land cleaning, short rotation woody crops, brush, and urban wood waste. Energy generation from renewable fuels like forest biomass may dramatically alter the carbon balance in comparison to the use of fossil fuels like coal or natural gas. This study identifies the source and rate of carbon accumulation by tracking key inputs and outputs from forests through the conversion, regrowth and management activities over a 100-year period—the net carbon impact.
An assessment of dead wood standards and practices in Minnesota.
(University of Minnesota, 2007-02) Brown, Ross N.; Ek, Alan R.; Kilgore, Michael A.
Through a review of existing data and literature, the amount of dead wood in Minnesota forests, its importance to forest health, the policies that guide sustainable dead wood management, and the level of compliance with dead wood guidelines are described. USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) monitoring efforts indicate there is a sizable and diverse supply of dead wood in Minnesota’s nearly fifteen million acres of timberland. There are almost eight cords of coarse woody debris (CWD) per acre on Minnesota’s timberlands. Federal timberlands have the highest density of dead wood, averaging over ten cords per acre. Scientific review indicates retention of dead wood in Minnesota forests contributes to ecological benefits such as wildlife habitat, improved water quality, and soil productivity.
An Assessment of Lake States Landowner Interest in Selling Forest Carbon Credits
(University of Minnesota, 2012-03) Miller, Kristell Anne; Kilgore, Michael A.; Snyder, Stephanie
Forests serve as important terrestrial carbon sequestration sinks. In response to industry, individual, and state/regional commitments to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon is now a commodity that can be sold in the marketplace. Practices that enhance sequestration ability can generate carbon credits that can be sold to entities wishing to offset emissions. The nation’s family forest lands, representing 40 percent of the nation’s forest land, can be an important contributor to carbon sequestration efforts. Yet very little is known about how family forest landowners view programs that enable them to sell carbon credits generated from the growth of their forest and the compensation level required to encourage meaningful levels of participation among the nation’s family forest owners. To address this information gap, we conducted a contingent valuation study to identify and quantify family forest landowner interest in participating in a voluntary carbon market-trading program in the Lake States. A mail survey was administered to 2,200 randomly selected family forest owners in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The questionnaire assessed landowner interest in participating in a hypothetical carbon credit program at certain compensation levels and sought information on landowner objectives, perspectives and forest land characteristics. A total of 850 usable responses were used to develop a profile of Lake States family forest owners, estimate required compensation levels, and determine how various program characteristics influence a landowner’s interest in participating. A logistic regression model was developed to examine the factors affecting participation in a forest carbon offset project by family forest owners. Results showed that carbon program characteristics, alongside landowner and parcel characteristics, are associated with the decision to participate in a carbon credit program. Specifically, payment amount, contract length, gender, value placed on other nonmarket forest amenities, need for additional income, attitude toward climate change, absentee status, land tenure, and total acres owned were found to be significant determinants. Models were run using all respondents as well as only with those respondents indicating a high certainty in their answer. The study’s findings and implications for future forest carbon policy will be discussed in this report.
An assessment of Norwegian family forest owner interest in carbon offset programs and comparisons to the Lake States
(University of Minnesota, 2015-06) Håbesland, Daniel; Kilgore, Michael A.; Snyder, Stephanie; Becker, Dennis R.; Solberg, Berger; Sjølie, Hanne Kathrine; Lindstad, Berit Hauger
An assessment of state forest resource planning in the northeast United States.
(University of Minnesota, 2003-10) Kilgore, Michael A.; Salk, Raintry
An assessment of stumpage payment methods used by state and county timber sale programs
(University of Minnesota, 2015-12) Reep, Nicholas D.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Blinn, Charles R.
Benchmarking Minnesota’s Environmental Review and Permitting Processes for Forestry and Mining Industries: A Comparative Assessment
(University of Minnesota, 2008-06) Aylesworth, Ryan J.; Becker, Dennis R.; Kilgore, Michael A.
Boards, Commissions and Councils Engaged in Policy Development and Conflict Management Involving Forest Resources: A Review of State Government Structures in the United States
(University of Minnesota, 2015-02) Hibbard, Calder M.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Ellefson, Paul V.
Characterizing Family Forest Owners who are Eligible to Participate in Preferential Forest Property Tax Programs (PFPTPs) across the U.S.
(University of Minnesota, 2018-02) Kilgore, Michael A.; Blinn, Charles R.; Meier, Justin T.; Frey, Greg; Snyder, Stephanie
Coordination of Forest Resource Policies and Programs
(Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1992) Kilgore, Michael A.; Ellefson, Paul V.
Evaluation of Administrative Mechanisms Used by State Governments.
Cumulative forestry impact assessments : lessons learned and planning for states.
(University of Minnesota, 2007-09) Kilgore, Michael A.; Ek, Alan R.
Developing a certification framework for Minnesota’s family forests.
(University of Minnesota, 2005-10) Kilgore, Michael A.; Leahy, Jessica; Hibbard, Calder M.; Donnay, Jacob S.; Flitsch, Kate; Anderson, Dorothy; Thompson, Joe; Ellefson, Paul V.; Ek, Alan R.
Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Retention and Disposal Policies for County Tax-forfeited Land in Northern Minnesota
(University of Minnesota, 2008-07) Brown, Ross N.; Kilgore, Michael A.
County-managed forest land, primarily known as tax-forfeited forest land (TFFL), consists of approximately 2.8 million acres found primarily across northern Minnesota. Although the title to these forest lands is held by the state of Minnesota, state law authorizes county governments to manage these lands for the benefit of local taxing districts. The legal framework that guides the management and use of TFFL also encourages county governments to manage this land base in a manner that provides “public benefits.” County governments have the option to retain TFFL in public ownership and manage for multiple public benefits, or sell the land. The decision whether TFFL should be retained in public ownership for the production of public benefits or returned to private ownership is complex―one that encompasses a variety of economic, social, and political considerations. This report describes the characteristics, uses, and management of 2.7 million acres of countymanaged TFFL in 12 northern counties: Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis. These counties collectively manage 96% of the state’s total TFFL acreage. The report describes the results of a survey of recent purchasers of TFFL regarding how the management and use of TFFL has changed following their sale from public to private interests. The report also describes the economic impacts associated with retaining TFFL in public ownership versus selling this land base to private interests.
Family Forest Landowners’ Interest in Forest Carbon Credit Programs: Focus Group Findings from the Lake States
(University of Minnesota, 2013-11) Miller, Kristell Anne; Kilgore, Michael A.; Snyder, Stephanie
Focus groups were organized with individuals owning 20+ acres in the Lake States region (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) to discuss various issues related to forest carbon offsetting. Focus group participants consisted of landowners who had responded to a mail-back survey on forest carbon offsets in 2010. Two focus groups were held per state with an average of eight participants each (49 total). While landowner participant types varied, overall convergence was reached on several key issues. In general, discussion results found that the current payment amounts offered for carbon credits are not likely, on their own, to encourage participation in carbon markets. Landowners are most interested in other benefits they can attain through carbon management (e.g., improved stand species mix, wildlife, trails). Interestingly, landowner perceptions about the condition of their own forest land were most indicative of prospective interest in carbon management. Landowners who felt their forest was currently in poor condition, or did not meet their forest ownership objectives, were most interested in participating. While the initial survey sought landowner opinions about carbon markets, a majority of focus group participants expressed interest in carbon management as a means to achieve reduced property taxes.
Federal and state agencies and programs focused on nonfederal forests in the United States : an assessment of intergovernmental roles and responsibilities.
(University of Minnesota, 2003-06) Ellefson, Paul V.; Hibbard, Calder M.; Kilgore, Michael A.
Financial tradeoffs associated with timber sale payment methods: evaluating St. Louis County Land Department's timber sales program
(University of Minnesota, 2015-12) Barron, Patrick M.; Kilgore, Michael A.; Blinn, Charles R.
Fiscal and Market Impacts of Conservation Easements in Minnesota
(University of Minnesota, 2014-07) Petri, Carl-Philipp; Kilgore, Michael A.; Taff, Steven J.

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