The Timber Culture Act was a law which gave homesteaders 160 acres of land in addition to that permitted by the Homestead Act, so long as they planted 40 acres of it with trees.

The Timber Culture Act was signed in 1873.

Trees were extremely important in the West. They could be used as a barrier to the strong winds; houses could be built from it; and it could be burnt as a fuel. However, there were few trees on the Great Plains, so timber was rare, and expensive to bring to the Plains. The Timber Culture Act was designed to encourage the planting of trees.

Many trees died, as they did not have enough water. Also, people used the Act to claim more land, which they sold for a profit after a few years.

In Minnesota large numbers of trees were planted successfully.