Published by the MU Center for Agroforestryand the School of Natural Resources

Vol. 8, No. 3 Growing Tomorrow’s Future Today Summer 2004

Missouri trees face new threats from pests

by Rachel McCoyUMCA Information Specialist

From the first bite of a native Missouri pecan, peo-ple know there's something special and differentabout these nuts. The taste brings families yearafter year to the central Missouri town ofBrunswick, Mo., and the state’s southwest area ofVernon County, Mo., the two regions identifiedwith the majority of Missouri’s pecan production.Missouri has retained thousands of acres of nativepecan trees in its riverbottom regions, making thestate an excellent source of “northern” pecans -known for their smaller size and rich flavor that

by Hank StelzerExtension Forester

Landowners across the Show-Me State need to beaware of two new threats to Missouri's trees: one isan insect, and the other is a fungus. While neitherhas been found among our trees to date, theirpotential impact on native ashes and oaks warrantour attention.

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), or EAB,was discovered in July 2002 feeding on ash trees insoutheastern Michigan. Despite extensive quaran-tines and eradication efforts, the insect has beendetected in northeastern Indiana and northwesternOhio. (cont. page 4)

Community Forestry

Market Opportunities

Missouri pecan growers seek “sweet spot”in organic market

Left: : Exit holesleft by the emeraldash borer are typi-cally D-shaped.Theinsect, shownbelow, poses apotential threat toMissouri ash trees.

(cont. page 2)

Native Missouri pecans ready for harvesting. Growersin Nevada, Mo., are expanding their market opportu-nities with certified organic native pecans.

D-shaped exit hole

2

distinguishes them from the nation'ssouthern-grown pecans.

The Missouri Northern Pecan Grow-ers LLC, (MNPG) based in Nevada,Mo., has found three simple wordsto describe this distinction: “sweeterby nature.” The tagline is meant toexpress that pecans grown in Mis-souri naturally offer a sweeter, rich-er flavor than southern-grownpecans, due to a smaller size andhigher oil content.

Recently, a new symbol has beencapturing consumer attention onpackages of fresh pecans from thesmall farmer-owned company.MNPG's newest product is labeled“American Native” Pecan, Certified100% Organic, and is accompaniedby the USDA Certified Organiclogo.

“We have always guaranteed ourpecans to be free of pesticides, her-bicides and fungicides,” said DrewKimmell, MNPG managing partner.“The organic certification shows weare serious about offering a productthat is not only healthy, but also pro-tects the environment from unnecessary pollutants.”

The company, already known forpesticide-free native pecans,obtained organic certification fromthe Missouri Department of Agricul-ture Certified Organic program in2003, and offered organic Missourinative pecans to buyers for the firsttime at the May “All Things Organ-ic™” conference in Chicago, Ill.Sponsored by the Organic TradeAssociation (OTA), more than30,000 visitors attended the eventthat is exclusively focused on theorganic products market. According

to the OTA, the organic industryis booming - growing at a rate of20 percent annually - with U.S.retail sales of organic productsprojected to reach $20 billion by2005.

“Buyers from all over the worldsampled Missouri native pecans,with glowing comments on theirflavor,” said Diana Daniels,MNPG marketing and sales exec-utive. “The show producedimmediate orders from bakeries,food co-ops and retail stores.”

Aligning with Market TrendsWith its recent organic certifica-tion, MNPG is rapidly developinga new audience and higher valuefor Missouri native pecan pro-ducers. Kimmell personallyassisted all MNPG growerstoward achieving official organiccertification last year, after a

detailed 2003 market researchanalysis showed excellent potentialfor expansion into the profitableorganic market. All the certifiedorganic producers participating inthe company are located in VernonCounty where MNPG coordinatesthe processing and marketing of thepecans.

Now recognized by the AmericanHeart Association to provide a rangeof heart-healthy and cholesterol-lowering benefits, demand forpecans is rising as consumers take amore active approach to their health.Kimmell said there is an increasingneed for more organic pecan pro-duction to meet this demand. In aspring meeting, he told Universityof Missouri Center for Agroforestry(UMCA) staff that 2,000 cases ofpackaged organic pecans hadalready been ordered, with addition-al large orders being developed.More than three-fourths of the 2003crop has already been sold.

“The markets are certainly there,”Kimmel said. “We're exploring sev-eral options because the profitpotential for certified organic nuts iscontinually rising.”

Exploring new marketsMNPG conventional pecans can bepurchased in more than 240 retailstores in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa,South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska,Illinois, Wisconsin and California. The company is investigating a buy-ers' club for consumers who use organic nuts frequently, and directselling to consumers via the Internetand specialty magazines, especiallyin the vegetarian and healthy livingsegments. Retail specialty grocers,health food stores and confectionar-ies are additional profitable markets,

Market Opportunities

Pecan growers seek “sweet spot” in organic market (cont. from page 1)

MNPG LLC partners, from left: MaxSenkevech, Drew Kimmell, Joe Wilson,Kevin Hines, and Wayne Harth.

(cont. next page)

3

not just for shelled nutmeats, but for“Sinful Delight,” a chocolate,caramel and pecan product thegrowers' recently introduced. Main-stream grocers are another largemarket, as most are continuallyincreasing their supply of certifiedorganic products to keep up withconsumer demand.

Kimmell said Midwestern growersmay have a unique niche marketopportunity, in that there are noother certified, branded organicpecan products available and fewtraditional growers working activelyin the organic market. This quickly-growing market potential couldallow MNPG to greatly increase itspurchase of organicpecans each year. Theorganization plans tofocus on gaining retaildistribution in the west,northwest, northern andnortheast markets wheresouthern pecans are notfavored. MNPG is devel-oping grower programs,including managementand training, for produc-ers of organic nuts.

“The challenge is to iden-tify and grow directly forthe consumer who recognizes thevalue of a certified organic product,” said Joe Wilson, MNPGpartner. “We're already selling toKansas City-area restaurants, butpredominately conventional pecansat this time.”

One market barrier Kimmell andWilson identified is the expense ofroadside billboards directing travel-ers to opportunities to purchasevalue added products from localfarmers. Yearly expenses for a road-side billboard can be thousands ofdollars. Another challenge lies inmaking a clear distinction to con-

sumers that MNPG is offering “certified organic” pecans, whichrequires an investment of time andfinancial resources to complete therigorous organic certificationprocess. The ingredient sector of thebaking and snack food industry mayoffer an additional new market fororganic pecan oils, and MNPGgrowers are identifying bakingindustry trade magazines for possi-ble advertising outlets.

“We feel direct marketing and sell-ing to consumers are our most prof-itable options,” Kimmell said. “Thiseffort can be supplemented by thecandy and snack industry, especiallyas we remain the only branded

organic pecan producer.”

Wilson is confident that the distinctflavor and quality of the growers'pecans will continue to open doorsin several markets. “We believe the'Missouri flavor' will introduce anew image for our pecan taste,” hesaid. “Processing and removing theshell of our smaller native pecanprovides a more convenient productfor the purchaser, great for snacks orcooking.”

Working CollaborativelyUMCA has worked within thestate’s native pecan industry for

many years, and is hoping to collaborate actively with MNPG toimprove the organic pecan marketthrough enhanced pest control,effective management of nativepecan stands and market research.The Center is currently working toconnect with nutrition and dieteticsprofessionals for possible jointresearch and grant activities evaluat-ing the health benefits of locally-grown nuts in patients' diets. To helpincrease consumer awareness anddemand for nuts, the Center is offer-ing nutritional information aboutpecans, black walnuts and chestnutsthrough its new publication series,“NUTrition and Your Health.” Inter-estingly, the 2003 MNPG market

study showed that health andnutrition is the number onemotivator for consumers inpurchasing an organic prod-uct over a non-organic prod-uct, followed closely bytaste - creating an excellentmarketing niche for MNPGorganic pecans.

“Missouri landowners havea history of harvestingnative nuts, growing a busi-ness on the premise that thenuts are sweeter and bettertasting,” said Michael Gold,

UMCA associate director. “Nowthese landowners are in a position toestablish a strong presence in theorganic produce market, bringing ahost of benefits for family farms andthe state's natural environment.”

Missouri Northern Pecan Growers,LLC, was founded in 2000 bysouthwest Missouri pecan growersto distinguish the native Missouripecan from the Southern pecan andcreate a new market for Missouripecan products. For more informa-tion, visit www.mopecans.com.

2003 Market Research: Ann Wilkinson

Linda Matlock, MNPG employee, helps a customer select apackage of fresh Missouri native pecans at the growers’ retailstore in Nevada, Mo.

Pecan growers (cont. from page 2)

Community Forestry

4

New threats from pests (cont. from page 1)

The spread of this insect hasbeen attributed to the movementof infected nursery stock andfirewood logs. So far, emeraldash borer has only been found ongreen, white and black ash trees.The adults emerge from mid-May to late June and are a brightmetallic emeraldgreen (hence theirname). Their length isabout half the diame-ter of a penny. Aftermating, the femaleslay their eggs in barkcrevices.

Larvae then feed inthe phloem and outersapwood, producingS-shaped galleriesthat eventually girdleand kill branches andentire trees. The lar-vae overwinter and thecycle begins anew thefollowing spring.

Infestations of EABcan be difficult to detect untilcanopy dieback begins. Manytrees appear to lose about 30 to50 percent of their canopy in oneyear and the tree is often killedwithin 2-3 years of initial attack.Evidence of infestation includeD-shaped exit holes on branchesand trunk; vertical splits in thebark resulting from the tree pro-ducing callus in response to thegalleries formed by the feedinglarvae; heavy woodpecker activi-ty as they feed on the larvae; anda profusion of bole and rootsprouts. Systemic insecticidetreatments of imidacloprid may

or may not save infected trees,depending upon how long thetree has been under attack. Theonly proven control method iseradication of all ash treesgreater than one inch in diametersurrounding the infected tree.

Sudden Oak Death Sudden oak death, or SOD, burston to the national scene thisspring when it was reported thattwo California nurseries that shipwoody ornamental plants all overthe United States had becomeinfected with the fungus respon-sible for the disease.

Missouri was among the statesreceiving infected stock, but wewere lucky. The suspect plantswere traced and tested, and theresults were negative. However,several southeastern states were

not so fortunate. Statewide pre-vention efforts are currentlyunderway at the MissouriDepartment of Agriculture, andon a national level, through theUSDA to monitor the disease.Recent regulations requireapproximately 1,500 California

nurseries to beinspected andcertified free ofthe pathogenbefore nurseryplants can beshipped.

The diseasewas first report-ed in 1995 incentral coastal California.Since then, tensof thousands oftanoaks, coastlive oaks andCaliforniablack oakshave beenkilled by the

fungus, Phytophthora ramorum.At least 59 additional plants havebeen affected, including manycommon ornamental species.Laboratory tests have shown thatthe fungus can attack many oaks,and Missouri's northern red andpin oaks are highly susceptible.

Once infected, oaks display a listof symptoms, including cankerson the stem. Infected trees maysurvive for a couple of years, butonce crown dieback begins, leavesturn from green to pale yellow

(cont. next page)

Left: Emerald ash borer larvae create S-shaped galleries that eventually girdle andkill branches and entire trees. Right: Trunk sprouts, or suckers, are a commonresponse to emerald ash borer injury. These abundant sprouts may indicatethe presense of the insect.

Trees face potential threats (cont. from page 4)

by Ken HuntUMCA Post-Doctoral Fellow

Aside from the atmosphere of friendly competition, par-ticipants at the Native Pecan Nut Contest in Januaryenjoyed an opportunity to discuss pest control, fertiliza-tion, grafting and regional marketing of pecans.

Bill Jackson, manager, AGRIServices of Brunswick,LLC, sponsored the nativepecan contest with assistancefrom the Missouri NutgrowersAssociation. The event, held atthe Chariton County Court-house in Keytesville, Mo., drewseveral local producers: Terryand Rick Smith of Harvey'sPecans; Tim Rice of Corn CribFarms; Bob Magruder of Dal-ton, Mo.; Harry Porter of Salis-bury, Mo.; Bob and Joe Kuss-man; Robert Crowder; GeraldKruse; and Paul and Michael Manson of King HillFarms.

Bill Reid, research scientist and extension horticulturist,

Kansas State University, and Ken Hunt, UMCA post-doctoral fellow, judged twenty native entries. Paul Man-son earned first place with “Kuntz Tree,” offering a nutweight of 4.28 grams and 51.47 percent kernel. Secondand third place were awarded to Joe and Shelly Kuss-man, with a nut weight of 5.30 grams and 45.43 percentkernel for second place, and third place for a nut

weight of 4.90 grams and 45.20percent kernel. In addition, JoeKussman brought an outstandingsample of Pawnee for exhibit.

Branding the “Brunswick Pecans”name and enhancing the regionalidentity for native pecans wereincluded in topics of discussion.Incorporating agritourism withpecan sales and developing moreidentifiable roadside signage forattracting visitors are topics area

producers hope to explore further.

According to Hunt, this promotion of native Missouripecans is one goal of coordinating a nut contest.“Native Missouri pecans have a higher oil content thanmore southern pecans, (cont. page 11)

Native Pecan Nut Contest generates ideas; friendly competition

to brown within a few weeks. Black or reddish oozeoften bleeds from the cankers. Patches of blackened tis-sue are often found under the bark, and laboratory testsare needed to confirm the pathogen's presence.

There are several SOD look-alikes in the landscape.Oaks defoliated early in the growing season by insectsor other pathogens may appear dead, but leaves usual-ly reflush later in the season. Canker rots, slime flux,leaf scorch, root diseases, freeze damage, herbicideinjury and other ailments may cause symptoms similarto SOD. The disease can also be confused with oakwilt, oak decline, and red oak borer damage; all preva-lent pest problems in Missouri. As with EAB, to datethere are no proven control measures for sudden oakdeath. If you suspect a tree is infected with the disease,contact your local Missouri Department of Conserva-tion forester or extension specialist.

For more information on emerald ash borer or suddenoak death, contact Hank Stelzer at (573) 882-4444; oremail stelzerh@missouri.edu. Information is also avail-able at the USDA Animal and Plant Health InspectionService web site at www.aphis.usda.gov.

Bill Reid, research and extension horticulturalist,judges native pecan nut entries..

Beneath thebark, distinctlines surroundthe sudden oakdeath fungus.

Community Forestry

5

6

Millions of acres of Missouri bottomland forestshave been cleared for agricultural production, cre-

ating some of the state's most productive farmland.However, this practice has resulted in a dramaticdecrease in the acreage of this diverse land type. Only20 percent of the bottomland forests that once existedin the United States remain today, and in Missouri, only1.5 million acres remain. Many of these bottomlandforested areas are prone to periodic flooding and maybe considered only marginal for agricultural production- but through agroforestry practices and sound timbermanagement, these areas can still be very productivefor landowners and can maintain valuable wildlife habi-tats.

In keeping with its mission to promote research onagroforestry practices that improve the production andprotection of agricultural and forest lands, one of theCenter's research initiatives is to investigate methodsfor establishing oak and other hardwood tree species infloodplains. The reestablishment of oak in these areasprovides several benefits to landowners, includingdiversifying native forests; combining timber, acornproduction and the management of wildlife habitat forrecreational operations; and restoring waterfowl habi-tats using integrated agroforestry practices. In addition,bottomland forests intercept pollutants from bothground and surface water and protect streambanks fromerosion while offering invaluable protection againstflood damage to levees. Last year, UMCA scientistsparticipated in a project team including the U.S. ForestService and the University of Missouri Department of

Forestry in a study to evaluate regeneration methods forestablishing oaks in floodplains. Several key findingsemerged from this study that continue to be valuable toland and forest owners:

Based on this research, the Center for Agroforestry andits collaborators hosted a spring workshop detailing thecurrent state of our knowledge on restoring hard mastspecies to major river floodplains. The workshop wassupported through the Missouri Department of Conser-vation (MDC) Forest Land Enhancement Programfunds. In addition to presentations by experts andresearchers, the day concluded with a tour of the MDCPlowboy Bend Conservation Area in Moniteau County,Mo., where there is a large scale UMCA research effortlooking at RPM® seedlings for oak regeneration in bot-tomlands. *

Doug Wallace, USDA Natural Resources ConservationService state forester, presented an overview of bottom-land hardwood management. Wallace cited severalimportant benefits of restoring bottomland forests,including maintaining habitat for whitetailed deer, wildturkey and threatened bird species including the baldeagle. Soil quality is another beneficial landscapeattribute of bottomland forests.

“Bottomland forests grow on some of Missouri's mostproductive soils,” said Wallace. “These sites typicallyhave greater volume growth, (cont. next page)

Bottomland hardwood forests: restoration and management

Bottomland forests can be very productive for landownersand maintain important wildlife habitats.

- Oak can be established in former bottomland cropfields by planting large container grown oak seedlingswith a cover crop of redtop grass, producing a 98 per-cent survival rate after 4 years.

- Rabbit damage, a major cause of regeneration fail-ure, was greatly reduced in the redtop fields as thewildlife habitat became more open to rabbit predators(raptors).

- Acorn production in large container seedlings ofswamp white oak that were only 18 to 24 months old isphenomenal compared to production in natural oakstands, which often do not produce acorn crops for 20to 30 years. This is a major benefit to landowners whoare seeking acorn production for wildlife purposes, andit is important in providing a local seed source thatmakes possible natural regeneration of oak in thefuture.

Forest Management

7

higher site indexes,and shorter rota-tion cycles than many upland forestsites.”

Wallace said a management plan forthe treatment of a forested propertyis one of the most important toolsavailable to a landowner. Manage-ment prescriptions should be specif-ic, based on physical site informa-tion and current stand information(inventories). Site informationshould include soil survey data, landelevation and topographical features,including tree species and the landfeature associated with each species.Plant and animal species inventoriesshould also be conducted to enablelandowners to develop activities thatwill encourage and support thesespecies.

Dan Dey, USDA Forest Serviceresearch scientist and a primaryUMCA research collaborator for theoak reestablishment studies,explained some objectives ofspecies selection for bottomlandforests. Species can be selected forfive distinct land managementobjectives: timber production; nutproduction; wildlife habitat; agro-forestry; and levee protection.

For timber production, black walnutand oak can be managed for highvalue specialty products, includingveneer and saw logs. Recreationalhunting and lease hunting may beprofitable objectives for managingtimber for wildlife production,including whitetailed deer andwaterfowl hunting. When plantingfor bottomland forest restoration, itis important to match a species siteneeds and flood tolerance capacityto the conditions of the planting site.Species that are highly flood toler-ant include swamp white oak andburr oak. Pin oak and pecan aremoderately flood tolerant, while

black walnut is nottolerant to flooding.Species suitable forbottomland plant-ings in agroforestrypractices includeswamp white oak,bur oak, pin oak andshell bark hickory.In the southeasternregion (bootheel) of Missouri, willowoak, nuttall oak,cherrybark oak andovercup oak may beeffective.

In bottomland hard-wood plantings, it isoften recommended that the initialnumber of seedlings planted bemuch greater than the future densitydesired (often expressed as trees-per-acre). This helps ensure that inthe natural process of mortality,whether from rabbit, deer, or period-ic flooding, enough trees survive tocreate a forest comprised of desir-able species. Given the dynamics ofbottomland environments, largerseedlings, like RPM®, can give adistinct advantage to the landownerdesiring oak and other hardwoodspecies in that setting. However, dueto the higher cost associated withRPM® seedlings and their manage-ment, it is not always feasible toplant seedlings beyond the numbernecessary for reaching your long-term goals.

Agroforestry practices provide thelandowner many beneficial optionsduring the growth and developmentof reforested bottomlands. The prac-tice of alley cropping involvesplanting widely spaced rows oftrees, then farming the resultingalleyways, allowing for maximumutilization of the land while the for-est is developing. The trees will also

benefit from the use of fertilizersapplied to the cropped area. Alandowner interested in developingwaterfowl habitat might create araised bed on which to establish thehard mast producing RPM®, oak orpecan trees, with the intention offlooding the cropped alleywaysbetween the raised tree beds. Thiscreates shallow water impound-ments that are excellent habitat formigratory waterfowl. In both ofthese scenarios, the planting config-uration utilizes a much more openplanting of trees and does notrequire as many seedlings per acreas other reforestation efforts.

Dan Dey (far right), U.S. Forest Service, talks withlandowners at the bottomland reforestation workshop.Dey is researching the benefits and methods of reestab-lishing oaks in floodplains.

Additional information on bottomlandhardwood forest restoration, includ-ing species for agroforestry plant-ings and economics, will be avail-able in the fall 2004 issue of Green Horizons. Doug Wallace can bereached at (573) 876-0908; or emaildoug.wallace@mo.usda.gov. DanDey can be reached at (573) 875-5341, ext. 225; or by email atddey@fs.fed.us

*RPM, or Root Production Method, is apatented process that involves the airpruning of roots throughout the growthof the seedling. For more information,visit www.fknursery.com

Photo: Jason Jenkins

Forest ManagementBottomland hardwood forest restoration (cont. from page 6)

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Department of Agriculture Circles Globe toIncrease Demand for Missouri Forest Products

by Rachel McCoyUMCA Information Specialist

The Missouri Department of Agri-culture (MDA) is working diligentlyto establish Missouri as a name syn-onymous with top-quality lumberproduction around the globe.Through participation in internation-al conventions, hosting internationalguests on Missouri lumber tours andcoordinating sales with exporters,the MDA hopes markets for lumberwill continue to expand.

Recently, MDA teams worked toexpand this effort by sponsoring aMissouri booth at the ShanghaiInternational Building and Con-struction Fair in May, a show thatattracts buyers of both hardwoodsand softwoods and more than30,000 attendees.

“This trade show is well attended byhardwood lumber buyers and is anexcellent opportunity to meet anumber of customers in one place,”said John Hensley, MDA crops andtimber team member. “China is notonly a big customer, but one of thefastest growing markets.”

The MDA operates a trade office inTaipei, Taiwan and also makes useof the Department of EconomicDevelopment's trade offices inJapan, Korea, Mexico, and Europe.The Taipei office conducts activitiessuch as exhibiting at trade shows,arranging sales missions forexporters and organizing buyers’missions for customers who want tovisit Missouri.

Hensley said the presence generatedby Missouri companies amonginternational buyers can be

powerful. He reports that followingparticipation in recent activities inthe Mexican market, one Missouriforest products company has export-ed more than $55,000 of hardwoodlumber. “Mexico represents a par-ticularly good opportunity for Mis-souri's hardwood exporters, sincewe are well-positioned to serve cus-tomers in that market,” he said.

Though U.S.hardwood exports toMexico have declined overall sincetheir peak in 1999, Missouri forestproducts companies are geographi-cally well situated to serve this market.

In response to growing Asian furni-ture industries, the MDA Taiwanoffice is also pursuing those marketsfor U.S. lumber. Vietnam's furnituresector has experienced particularlyrapid growth, and staff from the Tai-wan office recently traveled to

Vietnam to meet with furnituremanufacturers and increase the mar-ket for U.S. hardwoods. Severalpotential Vietnamese customers pro-vided the staff with product specifi-cations during the trip. In Septemberof 2003, the Taiwan office recruitedbuyers from Taiwan and Vietnam totravel to Missouri to meet withhardwood lumber suppliers. As a

result of the buyers' mis-sion, more than $67,000 inexport sales have beenreported. Next year, Mis-souri's Taiwan Trade Officeplans to exhibit at furnitureindustry shows in bothVietnam and southernChina.

Mark Hitt, leader of theMDA crops and timberteam, said establishing apresence at internationalevents helps generate mar-kets for products Missouriproducers are positioned toexplore. Korean log buyers,for example, recognize redcedar for its natural pestresistant properties. “As wework to develop supply-dri-ven markets for lumber, weexpect to see greater export

opportunities arise,” said Hitt.

In addition to the MDA's office inTaipei, the Department of EconomicDevelopment operates trade officesin Japan, Korea, Mexico, and GreatBritain to assist forest productsexporters.

For more information, contact JohnHensley, MDA, at (573) 751-5613;or visit www.mda.state.mo.us.

Canada $414 MillionChina(PRC) $109 MillionSpain $ 94 MillionItaly $ 89 MillionHong Kong $ 71 MillionMexico $ 70 MillionUnited Kingdom(Britain) $ 65 MillionJapan $ 49 MillionPortugal $ 25 MillionTaiwan $ 24.7 MillionSince 1999, hardwood lumber exports to Canadahave grown approximately 18 percent, and exportsto China have grown 265 percent. Hardwood lum-ber exports to Vietnam, ranked number 22 amongexport markets, have grown 1,120 percent duringthe past five years. Although the growth rate ofCanadian exports ranks lower than other markets,Canada remains the number one export customer,accounting for 32 percent of U.S.hardwood lumberexports.

Note: For purposes of collecting data, the USDA treats HongKong and China as separate markets. Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service BICO reports, based on data from the U.S.

Market Opportunities

Top Ten Export Markets For U.S.Hardwood Lumber

9

While no farmer expects life tobe easy, Robert and Cheryl

Karr had no idea it would be thishard. Last year a tornado destroyedtheir house, garage, twobarns, and almost everytree on their property.Now, a year later, theirbrand-new house sitsproudly in its yard, whichis freshly seeded and cov-ered with straw. Cattlegraze contentedly in thepasture. And thanks to agrant from the MissouriDepartment of Agriculture,90 young trees form a newwindbreak to replacecedars destroyed by thestorm.

“We try to manage ourfarm as good stewards,”Robert says. “A good steward takescare of everything - you have toconserve the soil, keep the treeshealthy, take good care of the ani-mals. You have to watch over thewhole complex thing.”

The Karrs run about 50 red Anguscows on their own 100 acres and anadditional 20 acres they rent from aneighbor. They survived the tornadoby standing in a closet. The storm

ripped off the roof of their house,but the walls remained standing.They emerged to find their farm inshambles.

“We used to have 28 huge oak trees,just here in the yard," says Cheryl.”

Their scrapbook shows photographsof the trees completely uprooted. Adump truck hauled the stumps awayfour at a time. Other trees weredamaged, too. Cedar trees along theKarr's northwest corner of their first40 acres once provided a windbreakin the winter and shade in the sum-mer. The storm destroyed the trees,

and only their stumps remain.Skip Mourglia, a forester with theNatural Resources ConservationService, urged Karr to apply for agrant from the Missouri Depart-ment of Agriculture. The grant,part of a program called MissouriSustainable Agriculture Demon-stration Awards, provides fundsfor farmers to test, evaluate, andadopt sustainable agriculturalpractices on their own farms. In2004, the University of Missouri

Center for Agroforestry sponsoredthree of the grants to focus attentionon sustainable agriculture projectsthat involve agroforestry, or the inte-

gration of trees and shrubsinto agriculture systems.

Karr applied for the grant andreceived funding to purchasecedar and pine seedlings.Along with his son andgranddaughters, he plantedabout 90 trees in an L-shapedwindbreak earlier this spring.The windbreak should pro-vide protection for his cattlein all seasons.

“We get a strong north windhere on this prairie. Thosecattle sure will appreciateit,” Robert says, looking outover the young trees. “It

might take a couple of years, butthey'll use it.”

Grant helps landowner replace tornado-damagedtrees with cedar and pine windbreak

Landowner Spotlight

Robert Karr received a grant to establish a low maintenance,quick growing windbreak after his farm was destroyed by atornado in 2003. UMCA sponsored three of the MDASustainable Agriculture Demonstration awards to feature agroforestry projects.

This article is part of a Missouri Department of Agriculture(MDA) series called “Small Farms, Big Ideas” that showcasesMissouri producers who are trying innovative and sustainableprojects on their farms. The grant that assisted the Karr’s inestablishing their windbreak is part of the MDA’s Missouri Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Awards program. In2004, UMCA sponsored three of the program’s grants to focus

on sustainable projects that involve agroforestry.

For Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Awards program information, contactJoan Benjamin, MDA, at (573) 522-8616; or email at jamin@mda.mo.gov. Tocontact story author Lori Compas: call (608) 238-1654; or email lori@hartcreek.com.Visit www.mda.mo.gov to access additional “Small Farms,Big Ideas” stories.

The Sustainable Agriculture Demon-stration Awards program is spon-sored by the Missouri Department ofAgriculture with support from theCommunity Food Systems and Sus-tainable Agriculture Program of theUniversity of Missouri and LincolnUniversity. For more information,visit agebb.missouri.edu/sustain/ or call (573) 522-8616.

10

by Julie RhoadsUMCA Events Coordinator

The Missouri Tree Farm Confer-ence, held on Feb. 28 in LakeOzark, Mo., brought 130 landown-ers and professionals together tolearn about topics including FLEPplans, tree identification, forestmanagement plans, wildlife and tim-ber marketing. Winners of the TreeFarm Program Awards were alsoannounced.

Regional Tree Farmers of the Yearincluded Marc and Mary Robertson,Liberty, Mo; Malinmor Hunt Club,Eolia, Mo; Stanley Wendleton,Boonville, Mo; and Richard andEsther Myers, Protem, Mo.

The recipient of the John P.Slusher Award was DwightBensend of Chillicothe, Mo.This award is given for dis-tinguished service to the TreeFarm Program on a sustainedbasis. The State Tree Farmerof the Year Award wasearned by the ShannondaleTree Farm ofSalem, Mo.

Prior to the con-ference, a groupof 50 tree farm-ers and forestryprofessionalsgathered at a pri-vate farm nearEldon, Mo., fora Best Manage-ment PracticesWorkshop onwatershed man-agement led byJason Jenson, aMissouri Depart-ment of Conser-vation Resource

Forester from Piedmont. Partici-pants learned how to keep sedimentand other contaminants out of theirwaterways, and techniques for pre-venting erosion along stream banks,access roads and log landings ontheir properties.

Next year's conference will be heldon February 25-26 in Columbia,Mo., at the Stoney Creek Inn. A touron the 25th will be held at the Uni-versity of Missouri Horticulture andAgroforestry Research Center locat-ed near New Franklin, Mo. Forinformation about the 2005 confer-ence, contact Glenda Fry at the Mis-souri Forest Products Association,(573) 634-3252 or emailglenda@moforest.org.

Tree Farm Conference honors timbermanagement efforts

Top: Landowners gather for a pre-conference best man-agement practices workshop. Above, from left: GarySmith, MDC forester; John Keesey, consulting forester;Jeff Fulk, winner of the 2003 Tree Farmer of the YearAward; Bob Krepps, MDC state forester. Photo credit:Missouri Forest Products Association

2nd Annual

Missouri Chestnut

Roast

Saturday, October 16, 200411 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Horticulture and AgroforestryResearch Center, New Franklin, Mo.

Guided tours of the 660-acre Horti-culture and Agroforestry ResearchCenter featuring diverse agroforestrypractices

Educational booths from Missourivalue-added agriculture vendors andUniversity agricultural and environ-mental research programs

Showcase for Missouri's outstandingagricultural products, includingwines; jams and jellies; pecan, wal-nut and chestnut products; locally-produced honey; cheeses & meats

Children's Tent, farm display, familyactivities and music

Hourly informational presentation onthe farm's Hickman House, a his-toric 1819 Georgian cottage and oneof the oldest brick homes still stand-ing in the state

Demonstrations of new research onprofitable specialty products pro-duced through agroforestry, includ-ing pine straw and chestnuts

Free fresh-roasted chestnuts, anemerging value-added crop for Mis-souri, and samples and displays ofMissouri pecans and black walnutsset amidst the beautiful MissouriRiver Hills

Free admission! All activities undertents for comfort, rain or shine!

For maps and information, visitwww.centerforagroforestry.org or call (573) 882-3234.

Photo: Jim Curley

Green Horizons Editorial board: Hank Stelzer, Co-Editor, Green Horizons,

MU Forestry Extension(573) 882-4444

Rachel McCoy, Co-Editor, Green Horizons, MU Center for Agroforestry(573) 882-9866

Gene Garrett, Director, MU Center for Agroforestry and Director, MU School of Natural Resources(573) 882-3647

Scott Brundage, President, Missouri Consulting Foresters Association andMissouri Chapter of the Walnut Council(573) 443-3977

Brian Brookshire, MDC Forest Stewardship Program, (573) 522-4115, ext. 3304

Cory Ridenhour, Executive Director, Missouri Forest Products Association(573) 634-3253

Clell Solomon, Missouri Christmas Tree Producers Association (660) 273-2368

Larry Harper, Past President, Missouri Nut Growers Association (573) 442-5326

Fred Crouse, ChairmanMissouri Tree Farm Committee(573) 634-3252

11

The Back Page

We welcome your thoughts!Send newsletter material, questions or comments to:

Rachel McCoy203 ABNR

University of MissouriColumbia, MO 65211

Phone: (573) 882-9866Email: mccoyr@missouri.edu

Editorial Contributors Riparian BufferWorkshop

October 14, 2004 Horticulture and

Agroforestry Research Center

New Franklin, Mo.(Rain or shine)

For more information, or toregister, contact Julie Rhoadsat (573) 882-3234, or email atrhoadsj@missouri.edu

Missouri Chapter Walnut Council

and are therefore better flavored,” he said. “Basedupon the producers’ discussions, we’re on the righttrack for encouraging greater consumer demand forthese nuts.”

Hunt said the identification and preservation ofexceptional native pecan germplasm is another goalof seedling contests, and he acquires scionwood ofnative trees from local contests for the repository atthe University of Missouri Horticulture and Agro-forestry Research Center in New Franklin, Mo.

Participants will gain basic knowledge of forest andwildlife management and learn how to begin improvingtheir woodlands. -- whether they are interested inwildlife, wood products or aesthetic beauty.

This short course will help you develop a plan thatmeets your personal wood-land objectives. Short courseparticipants and local naturalresource professionals willbecome a team demonstrat-ing the benefits of good landstewardship. As more indi-viduals become involved,you and your neighbors willsee improvements in the

area's natural resources, measured by an increase in asustainable flow of value-added forest products,improved wildlife habitat, more abundant and higherquality wildlife species, and improved water quality inthe managed landscape.

For more information about having a short course inyour county, contact your local University of MissouriExtension office; or Hank Stelzer, extension forester, at(573) 882-4444 or by email at stelzerh@missouri.edu.

Native Pecan Seedling Contest(cont. from page 5)

MU Extension specialists Hank Stelzer and BobPierce are developing a Woodland Wildlife ShortCourse that is scheduled for release in November.The DVD-based short course will be deliveredthrough county MU Extension offices with the helpof natural resource professionals in the local area.Four indoor sessions will culminate with a capstone“walk in the woods” field day.

Woodland Wildlife Short Course

Calendar of Upcoming Events

University of Missouri-Columbia203 ABNR BuildingColumbia, MO 65211

NON-PROFITU.S. Postage

PAIDUniversity of Missouri

July 25-28, 2004: Walnut Council Annual Meeting and 6th Walnut Research Symposium, Purdue University, Holiday Inn Select -City Centre, Lafayette, Ind. Meeting includes sessions on genetic diversification, timber improvement, nut production and agroforestry,propagation and use of hardwoods in riparian buffers. Visit www.walnutcouncil.org for more information.

Aug 12-22, 2004: Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, Mo. Visit www.mostatefair.com for directions, schedule and admission information.

Aug. 15-18, 2004: Northern Nut Growers Assn. and North American Fruit Explorers (NNGA and NAFEX) Joint Meeting,Ramada Inn, Columbia, Mo. This meeting includes technical sessions and workshops; research center and farm tours; and guest speaker Dr.Chiranjit Parmar from the Himalayan Mountain region. For more information, visit www.nafex.org; or contact Jerry Lehman at (812) 298-8733. Sept 13-15, 2004: 10th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference, St. Louis, Mo. Organized by Missouri's Soil and Water Conserva-tion Districts, workshops will cover agricultural initiatives including alternative agriculture and sustainable farming, as well as health andlegal issues for women. Registration is $75. For hotel rates or more information, call (314) 453-9555, ext.3.

Oct. 14, 2004: Riparian Buffer Workshop, Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) New Franklin, Mo. Contact JulieRhoads to register, or for more information, at (573) 882-3234 or rhoadsj@missouri.edu

Oct 16, 2004: Second Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, Mo. Freeadmission; event open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.centerforagroforestry.org for more information.

Nov. 5-6, 2004: Central Region Woodland Conference, National Arbor Foundation's Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City, Neb.. Avariety of talks by field practitioners will assist the woodland owner in managing his or her property. Early registration fee is $35 if paidbefore October 29, 2004; late fee is $40. For more information, contact Hank Stelzer at 573-882-4444 or Julie Rhoads at 573-882-3234.

December 3-4, 2004: UMCA Specialty Mushroom Production and Marketing Workshop, Ramada Inn, Columbia, Mo., and Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, Mo. Registration is $59. For more information, contact Julie Rhoads at (573)882-3234, or email at rhoadsj@missouri.edu.