AgEBB-MU CAFNR Extension

Green Horizons

Volume 20, Number 1
January 2016

Changes in markets and the priorities of Missouri landowners have prompted the local chapter of the Walnut Council to begin a makeover of how to improve assistance to our members. Responding to the growing demand for white oak and other valuable hardwoods, our Missouri chapter now offers landowners information on how to manage their woodlands effectively. Chartered in 1970 to encourage planting, growth and management of black walnut, this non-profit organization is evolving. "We're not just about black walnut anymore", says Scott Brundage, certified forester and past president of the national Walnut Council. The local chapter provides technical information to its members and organizes at least two field days every year where experts demonstrate how to care for and manage trees. The chapter is ramping up its outreach to encourage landowners to plan now for greater reward and enjoyment of their woodlands.

Missouri is the center of the native range for growing black walnut (Juglans nigra), and the state has the largest population of walnut with an estimated 57 million trees five inches and larger in diameter. The National Woodland Owner Survey also tells us there are 212,000 people in Missouri owning 10 or more acres of woodlands. Only a percentage of those landowners have black walnut growing on their land, and fewer and fewer of them actually live on their farms. The Survey indicates that people care about managing their trees properly and passing healthy woodland operations along as a family legacy. Selling timber is not a priority for everyone. The goal of our family's forest is to grow the largest quantity of high quality trees in the shortest amount of time. But, I also enjoy the beauty and scenery, including expanding wildlife habitat, and going to the woods for family gatherings and hunting. For some, selling timber becomes a means of generating needed dollars for paying medical expenses, funding a college education or paying down indebtedness. Knowing what your goals are is a first step towards becoming more actively involved in the management of your woodlands.

As a member of the Walnut Council, I've avoided mistakes and improved my woodlands by talking to professional foresters, reading scientific research and listening to the personal experiences of other landowners like me. You can receive more dollars for your timber if your trees are actively managed. Timber production may not be your primary goal, but regardless of your objectives, a woodland management plan is a "must-have" document. We know from the Survey that only 7% of Missouri woodland landowners have forest management plans! Walnut Council helps connect landowners to experts who can help you write and implement management plans. Most of our members own parcels of forest totaling 40 to 400 acres, but we also work with weekenders with smaller hobby farms. A "landowner-centered" organization, we offer hands-on management field days and workshops all around Missouri. During field days, you would find us standing in the woods discussing the control of less than desirable species or pruning a crop tree during a timber stand improvement (TSI) demonstration.

The Missouri Chapter Walnut Council "Action Plan" identifies tasks to move us closer to attaining our new mission: "We encourage the management of privately owned forest resources in Missouri". This begins by reaching out to woodland landowners, land managers and consultants, both private and government technical specialists, and the forest products industry. We are examining the content of our past field days and workshops thinking about important topics we may have overlooked that could better meet the needs of our clients. Our chapter website will be upgraded and a new membership brochure is on the horizon listing assistance available through the chapter. We hope to soon offer discounts with major nurseries and possibly incentives from consulting foresters for their technical services.

Walnut Council members include landowners, foresters, forest products industry representatives, university faculty, university extension staff, state and federal agency foresters, soil scientists, business owners, and wildlife management experts. A new chapter member, retired biochemist Michael Williams, stated, "Walnut Council is a living how-to book of forestry in Missouri." Our members and contacts know about tree planting, weed control, pruning, herbicides, timber contracts, timber prices, dealing with loggers, timber taxes, managing for wildlife, insects, woody invasive species and tree diseases including white oak decline, emerald ash borer (EAB) and new threats like Thousand Canker Disease (TCD) of black walnut. We also discuss and demonstrate the equipment needed for timber stand improvement and safety practices. We publish a quarterly newsletter and frequent technical articles with access to out-of-state experts through our national organization.

Want to know more? You can email us at: mowalnutcouncil@gmail.com, call 417-658-8475, or follow us at: http://www.walnutcouncil.org/state-chapters/missouri.html. Our spring meeting with field tours is tentatively scheduled for April 1-2, 2016. Join us in the field to learn more about how to manage the woodlands that we all love!

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