Qualified Forest Program (QFP)
On June 6, 2013, Governor Snyder signed into law Public Act 42 of 2013. PA 42 (in addition to eight other Public Acts) 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 the school operating tax, which is usually 18 mills, 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 productive forest.  Properties of 40 acres or more must be at least 50% stocked in productive forest.  A forest management plan must be written for the enrolled acres by a forester qualified under QFP. 

The District Forester provides free on-site assistance to help forest landowners in Wexford and Missaukee 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 Larry Czelusta at 231-775-7681, ext. 3 or  Email him at [email protected]  

Below are links to the MDARD website where you can find more specific information about this newly revised tax incentive program.

Private Forestlands Initiative www.michigan.gov/PFI   -  This directs you to a page that outlines all three of MDARD's forestry programs.

Qualified Forest Program
www.michigan.gov/QFP  -    This page contains all of the forms and informational material pertinent to QFP landowners.

Qualified Forester Registration www.michigan.gov/QFR   -    This page is designed for the foresters that are/wish to be registerd as Qualified Foresters.  Here you will find material directed towards foresters.

Michigan Forestry Assistance Program www.michigan.gov/MIFAP   -    This page contains a map of current FAP forester locations.