Private landowners can apply until March 13 for federal and state help to thin forested areas to promote growth of young trees.

The cost-sharing "State & Private Forestry Program" involves the Forest Service, state Department of Agriculture and state Conservation Commission.

For more information, call the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (in state, call 800-275-4954; out of state, call 605-394-2395), the Lawrence Conservation District at 642-3590 or the Pennington Conservation District at 342-0301.

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