Qualified Forest Program
On June 6, 2013, Governor Snyder signed into law Public Act 42 of 2013. PA 42 changed the manner in which the 2006 Qualified Forest Program (QFP) is administered and moved the program jurisdiction from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). The purpose of the Qualified Forest Program is to encourage private forestland property owners to harvest timber in a sustainable fashion based on a forest management plan.
There are two benefits from QFP enrollment available to forest landowners. The first is an exemption from 16 mills of the school operating tax, and the second is an exemption from an uncapping, or “pop-up” of taxable value when the property is transferred.
To meet QFP qualifications the property must be productive forest which is defined as that being able to produce forest products of at least 20 cubic feet per acre per year, which is about ¼ of a cord of wood per year. Parcels of more than 20 acres but less than 40 acres must be at least 80% stocked in a productive forest. Properties of 40 acres or more must be at least 50% stocked in a productive forest. A forest management plan must be written for the enrolled acres by a forester qualified under QFP.
Conservation District Foresters provide free on-site assistance to help forest landowners in Northern Michigan counties decide whether QFP is a good option for them and to connect landowners with the Qualified Foresters that write management plans. To learn more, call Ellie Johnson at 231-866-0103; ellie.johnson@macd.org. She serves landowners in Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties and can help you connect with the other District Foresters serving 48 counties in northern Michigan.
Below are links to the MDARD website where you can find more specific information about this newly revised tax incentive program.
Private Forestlands Initiative
– This directs you to a page that outlines all three of MDARD’s forestry programs.
Qualified Forest Program
– This page contains all of the forms and informational material pertinent to QFP landowners.
Michigan Forestry Assistance Program
– This page contains a map of current FAP forester locations.
Qualified _Forest_Program_Brochure 2
There are two benefits from QFP enrollment available to forest landowners. The first is an exemption from 16 mills of the school operating tax, and the second is an exemption from an uncapping, or “pop-up” of taxable value when the property is transferred.
To meet QFP qualifications the property must be productive forest which is defined as that being able to produce forest products of at least 20 cubic feet per acre per year, which is about ¼ of a cord of wood per year. Parcels of more than 20 acres but less than 40 acres must be at least 80% stocked in a productive forest. Properties of 40 acres or more must be at least 50% stocked in a productive forest. A forest management plan must be written for the enrolled acres by a forester qualified under QFP.
Conservation District Foresters provide free on-site assistance to help forest landowners in Northern Michigan counties decide whether QFP is a good option for them and to connect landowners with the Qualified Foresters that write management plans. To learn more, call Ellie Johnson at 231-866-0103; ellie.johnson@macd.org. She serves landowners in Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties and can help you connect with the other District Foresters serving 48 counties in northern Michigan.
Below are links to the MDARD website where you can find more specific information about this newly revised tax incentive program.
Private Forestlands Initiative
– This directs you to a page that outlines all three of MDARD’s forestry programs.
Qualified Forest Program
– This page contains all of the forms and informational material pertinent to QFP landowners.
Michigan Forestry Assistance Program
– This page contains a map of current FAP forester locations.
Qualified _Forest_Program_Brochure 2
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