Wild rice conditions report posted

Each year we round up wild rice condition reports from DNR Area Wildlife staff and shallow lakes specialists across the state. The conditions report is available now on the DNR wild rice page.

Wild rice harvesters going out during the upcoming season will find generally good conditions throughout much of Minnesota.

Unusually warm days this spring got plant growth off to a fast start. And generally dry weather meant many rice waters weren’t impacted by rainstorms. Overall rice stands are looking pretty good, though rice stands on some lakes are better than others.

When is wild rice season?

Wild rice harvesters are allowed to take ripe wild rice each year between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30, but Minnesota’s green rice law makes it illegal to harvest unripe or “green” rice, even within the dates of the harvest season. So although rice beds may look like they are ready, ricers must make sure the grain is ripe and falling easily from the stalk before attempting to harvest it. Check the DNR website for wild rice harvesting regulations.

Will you sell us wild rice seed?

To increase wild rice and improve wildlife habitat, DNR Wildlife staff are planning several wild rice seeding projects around the state. DNR biologists are looking to purchase seed from natural wild rice waters close to the lakes where rice will be planted. 

The Minnesota DNR is looking for rice seed from specific lakes in Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Hennepin, Lake and St. Louis counties. The specific lakes are listed in the document on our wild rice page. If you harvest rice on any of these waters and might be interested in selling your unprocessed rice, please call or e-mail the DNR contact in the document by Monday, Aug. 14.

The Wisconsin DNR is also looking to purchase rice seed from a variety of locations. Harvesters interested in selling seed should contact David Grandmaison with the Wisconsin DNR at david.grandmaison@wisconsin.gov.

Know the boundaries of tribal lands before harvesting

Wild rice (manoomin/psiŋ) is spiritually, culturally, nutritionally and economically significant to tribal communities. Wild rice plays a key spiritual and cultural role in Ojibwe, Dakota and other tribal traditions. Additionally, a significant portion of the wild rice in Minnesota is located within Ojibwe reservations or treaty ceded territory.

It is unlawful for any person to take wild rice grain from any of the waters within the original boundaries at the White Earth, Leech Lake, Nett Lake, Vermilion Lake, Grand Portage, Fond du Lac and Mille Lacs reservations except for Native Americans or residents of the reservation upon which said wild rice grain is taken.

The exceptions to this are Native Americans and residents of the reservations listed. In addition, all nontribal members wishing to harvest or buy wild rice within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Reservation must have a Leech Lake Reservation permit. Find these and other wild rice harvesting regulations on the DNR website.

Learn to harvest wild rice

Do you want to learn how to harvest wild rice and get lots of other important information about wild rice harvesting? We have a couple webinars for you! You can watch the webinars online. To find them, click on the “past webinars” tab and search “wild rice.”

The webinars were part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series, which aims to give participants quick, relevant information on upcoming seasons and events, as well as skills to enjoy these opportunities.