Cash for cones.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for ripe cones and acorns whose seeds could someday become oaks and pines in the state's forests.
The DNR's forestry office in Bemidji will begin buying pine cones and acorns on Tuesday. Officials are looking for jack pine, tamarack and black spruce cones along with red oak and bur oak acorns.
The DNR plans to pay between $20 and $120 per bushel, depending on the type of seeds. Purchasing will run through late October or early November.
The DNR plans to use the acorns and seeds from pine cones to grow seedlings at its nurseries. Those seedlings are eventually planted in state forests for reforestation.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)