28.042(1)(1) The department shall undertake and maintain an inventory of forested areas on land owned by the state, including the areas of timber in these forested areas that have been or are to be harvested for purposes of state forestry management.

28.042(2) (2) The department, in performing its duties under this chapter, shall give priority to the completion of the inventory described in sub. (1) and the completion of the harvesting of timber that has been identified for harvesting in this inventory.

28.045(1)(1) Every person hired as a field forester by the department on or after November 20, 2003, shall have received a bachelor's or higher degree in forestry from a school of forestry with a curriculum accredited by the Society of American Foresters or an equivalent degree, as determined by the chief state forester.

28.045(2) (2) Notwithstanding s. 230.14 (3m), the department may require as a condition of application that an applicant for the position of field forester has met the educational requirements specified under sub. (1).

28.05(1)(1) Limitations. Cutting shall be limited to trees marked or designated for cutting by a forester employed by the department or by an individual determined by the department to be qualified to do such marking or designating and who is under the oversight of a forester employed by the department. The department may sell products removed in cultural or salvage cuttings and standing timber designated in timber sale contracts, but all sales shall be based on tree scale or on the scale, measure or count of the cut products. The department may require that a person purchasing products or standing timber under a timber sale contract provide surety for the proper performance of the contract either directly or through a bond furnished by a surety company authorized to do business in this state.

28.05(2) (2) Procedure. Sales of cut products or stumpage having an estimated value of $3,000 or more shall be by public sale after 2 publications of a classified advertisement announcing the sale in a newspaper having general circulation in the county in which the timber to be sold is located. Sales with an estimated value of $3,000 or more requires approval by the secretary.

28.05(3)(a) (a) The department shall, by rule, establish a program that allows private cooperating foresters to assist the state in the harvesting and sale of timber from state forest lands to meet the annual allowable timber harvest established under s. 28.025. The rule shall include provisions authorizing the department to contract with cooperating foresters for the purpose of harvesting and selling timber from state forest lands and authorizing cooperating foresters to receive a portion of the proceeds from each timber sale. The department shall establish in the rule a method for determining what portion of the proceeds received from each timber sale shall be paid to the private cooperating foresters for their services in assisting the division in the harvesting and sale of timber from state forest lands. The division shall ask the council on forestry to recommend a method for determining what portion of the proceeds received from each timber sale shall be paid to private cooperating foresters under the rule.

28.05(3)(am) (am) The department shall, by rule, establish a program that allows cooperating foresters and private contractors to assist the state in regenerating harvested areas of state lands to meet the annual allowable timber harvest established under s. 28.025. The rule shall include provisions authorizing the department to contract with cooperating foresters and private contractors to conduct activities that promote artificial and natural forest regeneration including site preparation, invasive species control, and tree planting. The rule shall authorize cooperating foresters and private contractors with whom the department contracts under this paragraph to receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of timber harvested from state lands on which the cooperating forester or private contractor provided assistance under the contract.

28.05(3)(b)1.1. Each private cooperating forester with whom the department contracts under par. (a) to harvest and sell timber from state forest lands shall be entitled to receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of such timber in the amount determined by the department under par. (a).

28.05(3)(b)2. 2. Each cooperating forester or private contractor with whom the department contracts under par. (am) shall be entitled to receive the amount determined by the department as specified in the rule promulgated by the department under par. (am).

28.05(3)(c) (c) Of the amount received by the department from each timber sale for which the department used the services of a cooperating forester or a private contractor under this subsection, the department shall credit to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (2) (cy) an amount equal to the portion of the sale proceeds that the department is required to pay to the cooperating forester or private contractor.

28.06(1)(1) Limitation. Only planting stock of species and sizes suitable for forest and woodlot planting and for planting by school pupils, including pupils at a tribal school, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), to celebrate arbor day under s. 118.025 shall be produced in state forest nurseries. The department may employ labor at prevailing local wages for nursery operation or reforestation.

28.06(2) (2) Distribution. In addition to use of planting stock on state lands, the department may distribute stock for growing forest products, for establishing windbreaks or shelterbelts, for control of soil erosion, and for game food or cover, but not for ornamental or landscape planting except by school pupils celebrating arbor day. Prices of planting stock shall be approved annually by the department and shall be based on the total cost of administering the forest nursery program under this section, including the cost of processing applications and producing, packaging and distributing nursery stock. To encourage forest planting, free stock may be allotted to any nonprofit organization or any school for the celebration of arbor day under s. 118.025.

28.06(2m) (2m) Surcharge. A person who purchases a seedling under sub. (2) shall pay, in addition to the price of the seedling charged under sub. (2), a surcharge for each seedling purchased. Beginning on September 1, 2001, and ending on June 30, 2002, the surcharge shall be 2 cents for each seedling. Beginning on July 1, 2002, the surcharge shall be 3 cents for each seedling. All surcharges collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the conservation fund.

28.06(3) (3) Exchange, sale or purchase. For the purpose of adjusting forest planting programs, the department may exchange stock with, sell stock to or purchase stock from a county, another state or the U.S. forest service.

28.06(5) (5) Forfeitures. Any person who uses planting stock which he or she knows was produced in state forest nurseries for any purpose other than those specified in sub. (2) or for ornamental or landscape planting except as specified in sub. (2) shall forfeit not more than $500.