Brian J. Stanton

GreenWood Resources

June 29, 2005

Poplar in the Pacific Northwest: The Importance of Clonal

Development

GreenWood Resources• Resource management company focused on high-yield hardwood

plantations

• Founded in 1998

• Headquarters in Portland, Oregon

• Managing 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington

• Poplar breeding programs in PNW and LMRV

• Plans for international developments

North American Poplar Plantations

• 86,000 acres in the United States– 300 to 600 cubic feet per acre per year– Rotations of 8 to 12 years

• 35,000 acres in Canada– 150 to 250 cubic feet per acre per year– Rotations of 10 to 18 years

Main Pacific Northwest Commercial Plantations for the

Pulp and Paper Industry

• 1982 – James River-Lower Columbia River Fiber Farm – 11,000 acres

• 1991 – Boise Cascade’s Five Fiber Farms – 16,000 acres

• 1994 – Potlatch Boardman Poplar Farm – 17,000 acres• 1996 – MacMillan Bloedel Fiber Operation – 8,000

acres

Lessons from 20 Years of Poplar Culture

• Site selection is critical but plantation culture adaptable to marginal sites with appropriate technology

• Importance of improved genetics and need for clonal diversity to minimize risk of plantation failure due to evolving pathogens

• Critical role of exacting site preparation and weed management techniques

20 Years of Poplar Culture – A Legacy of Success

History: Plant Material Development

• Initial exploratory hybridization at the University of Washington

• Elite selections used to launch commercial plantations west of the Cascades (15-29, 24-305, 49-177) and east of the Cascades (50-197, 184-411, 311-93)

History: Plant Material Development

• Followed by proprietary breeding programs to achieve further gains and reduce risks (e.g. James River, Boise Cascade, Potlatch, MacMillan Bloedel)

• Focus mainly on components of yield for chip production

History of Plant Material Development: Yield

Improvement

• Propagation success

• Growth rate

• Pest resistance

• Wood specific gravity

• Adaptability to climate, weather, soils

Poplar Varietal Development:Hybridization

• Productivity of hybrids 150 to 175% of native cottonwood

• Major types are:– P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa (P. x generosa)– P. deltoides x P. nigra (P. x canadensis) – P. deltoides x P.maximowiczii

Poplar Varietal Development:Clonal Selection

• Appreciable variation found among seedling offspring within full sib hybrid families

• Variation screened using a multiple stage field evaluation process

1989 Hybrid Seedling Nursery

Seedling Selection for Late Season Leaf Retention

Select vs Standard. hybrids Improved growth (bdt/ac/yr): -

age 8

Variety 02-395 09-060 Variety 09-080 13-02020-88-183 6.64 6.19 181-92-3246 5.30 5.85

97-91-1315 6.59 5.81 156-92-2469 3.26 5.3486-90-289 6.49 5.58 172-92-2766 4.44 5.2469-90-81 5.75 4.51 20-88-183 5.56 5.0624-305 5.69 4.59 49-177 < 1.00 3.91

1996 Yield Trial 1997 Yield Trial

Today’s Challenges: Markets

Developing new, higher-value markets in light of continuing low hardwood pricing for pulp and paper.

Columbia Tree Farm

• New management style (lower stocking, longer rotation, pruning)

• New selection criteria (stem form, wood quality)

•Veneers, paneling, molding, cabinetry