December 26,2005

TREE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

This spring will be the third growing season for the three direct seeded research plots which are located in Chaseburg WI, Muscada WI and Washington IA. Deer predation has been eliminated by erecting 7.5 ft fences on the major portion of the plantings except for small control plots. (The Krotz planting has no control area and the entire study site is fenced.)

This spring we will begin monitoring the sites for frost damage and insect damage. In addition to the monitoring, we will study the efficacy of mid summer pruning compared to late winter dormant pruning. There is good evidence that there are definite advantages to doing "mid course" correction rather than waiting until the end of the entire growing season. Mid season corrective pruning is thought to result in better tree form, more rapid vertical growth, callous closure prior to winter temperature extremes and less chance for infection since sap flow is complete and fungal spore populations are less. One of the objectives of this study is to see if these claims are valid.

The grant is listed for a five year study, but the study will probably be continued. Since acrobasis infestations tend to be scattered, it is possible that none of the study sites will be targeted by these insects and it is planned to inspect plantations that are heavily infected and see if there are predisposing factors that may contribute to the infestation.

Mike Ostrey, a plant pathologist with the U S Forest, has designated the Rockland tree farm as a test seed orchard site for the Butternut Survival Project. Mike has been collecting scion wood from butternut trees that show evidence of resistance to the devastating fungal blight, sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum.

He has been collecting scion wood for the past eighteen years and the Rockland plot will be the first planting on a cooperative private land owner’s site. This practice is much more common in Europe where much of the forestry research is done on private land and it has been very successful since there remains a personal steward in the project even though the initial Institutional researcher my "move on", as frequently happens.

One Hundred-fifteen (115) grafted seedlings selected from 25 different healthy butternut trees, that appear to be blight resistant, will be planted in the woodland nursery this spring. All of the parent trees were growing in the presence of trees infected with the fungus, so hopefully, they have some blight resistant characteristics. The seedlings will be planted, spaced 20x30 feet apart and carefully monitored for evidence of susceptibility to the fungus. Those trees that are susceptible to the disease will be culled. It is hoped that such an approach will not only assure survival of this threatened species, but maintain genetic diversity as well.

The good news is that the seed and seedlings from these trees will be available to Walnut Council members and WWOA members who want to save this important forest tree.

Western Wisconsin will be hosting the State meeting. The meeting location will be in Onalaska at the Stoney Creek Inn . Bob Skemp and I are hosting a Friday (Sept 8) one day elective tour featuring Methods of Mixed Deciduous Tree Reforestation. Bob has planted 50 acres of trees that includes white oak, red oak, butternut and conifers over the past 3 years. Half of the group will spend a half day at Bob’s and then a half day at my place. Lunch will be served at one of our places, then a group will travel to the other host’s farm.

At Rockland, we will highlight direct seeding, mixed plantings, high density plantings, thinning, and pruning; as well as feature the butternut nursery, the American chestnut trees and high density white oak and black walnut plantings.

There are numerous other Friday tours, but this is the only forestry tour scheduled. I am not sure what the response will be but I hope that the Walnut Council- WWOA members will talk it up. I also may need volunteers to assist if there is a hefty response. We hope that there will be at least 2 buses, maybe 3 who will want to go on the forestry tour. We anticipate about 300 to 350 attendees and the State Meeting but many may not be interested in deciduous reforestation.

Larry Severeid, Chairman