Green Horizons

Volume 3, Number 3
Summer 1998

Missouri forest notes

New directory

The 1998 directory of the Missouri Consulting Forester's Association now is available by writing to the association at: 611 East Capitol, Suite 1, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or call: 57-634-3252.

It's size not age

We've often heard that black walnut trees usually begin producing nuts between the ages of 12 and 15 years. That may be true, but age has little to do with it. It's size that counts. A walnut tree begins bearing when its trunk diameter reaches 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Under good growing conditions, that usually falls within the 12- to 15-year range, but not always. If you are going for nuts, the trick is to get your trees as big as possible in the shortest time. Two best methods are to plant on the best site and use herbicides. Of course, some trees never will bear nuts.

Timber crop insurance

IGF Insurance Company introduces TIMBERPLUS, a new insurance plan designed to protect owners of standing timber from the losses associated with wind, ice and fire. Owners of northern hardwoods, southern pine, black walnut, Christmas trees and many other species will be protected against loss due to specific natural hazards. This low-cost crop insurance product recognizes timber as an agribusiness commodity crop with the same perils and risks as traditional agricultural commodity crops. The plan has been approved for sale in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. IGF Insurance Company is owned by the Symons International Group, Inc. and offers a wide variety of agricultural risk-management insurance products. Contact: Eric Pugh at (515) 276-2766.

Who uses the wood?

After the tree is cut and the log is cut into lumber, who uses the wood and for what products? The Missouri Forest Industries Directory of Secondary Wood Processors will tell you by name, address and phone number who those folks are. This directory was compiled in 1995 by the Missouri Department of Conservation and is available through that agency. From barrel staves, to pencil blanks, to hammer handles you can locate wood users in any county in Missouri. Write Missouri Department of Conservation, Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call (573) 751-4115.

Trees in sustainable ag grants

At least two Missouri Tree Farms are involved in state sustainable ag grants for research and demonstrations. The first is on the Jim and Florence Wilson farm at Nevada, Mo. where several grasses and legumes are being tested for best pecan orchard floor cover with grazing. The second is at HarperHill Farms at Butler, Mo. where ginseng and goldenseal will be planted as companion crops in the shade of black walnut trees. Both plants require up to 80 percent shade to produce.

25 years of tree farming

At the recent Tree Farm/Stewardship Days, six Missouri Tree Farms were recognized with Silver Certificate Awards for participating for 25 years. The farms included: Boy Scouts of America of Columbia, Mo. for a farm owned in Randolph County; Leland B. Womack of Rolla, Mo. for a farm owned in Phelps County; Thomas P. Vogt, Jr., Fenton, Mo. for a farm in Madison County; Edith Lyne, Bakersfield, Calif. for a farm in Crawford County; St. Louis Council of Boy Scouts of America for a farm in St. Francois County and Howard Blevins, St. Louis, Mo. for a farm in Crawford County.

Black walnut Top 10

Long-time black walnut nut growers Earl Williams of Windsor, Mo. and Bill Lane of Fair Play, Mo. were asked to list their favorite varieties in rank order. There was much agreement on the varieties, but the ranking often differed. Combining the two lists with a weighted index produces what might be called Missouri's "Top 10" list of black walnuts. The first three listed varieties also are the three varieties officially recommended by the Missouri Nut Growers Assn. The Top 10 list includes: 1. Sparrow; 2. Emma-K; 3. Kwik-Krop; 4. Sparks 127; 5. Football; 6. Thomas; 7. Surprise; 8. Sauber; 9. Tom Boy; 10. Brown Nugget (Mintle).

Who needs luck?

In the last three years, competitive grants totaling $13,770 from the American Forest Foundation have been awarded to the Missouri State Tree Farm Committee. The grants are intended to promote statewide awareness of the Missouri Tree Farm Program. With this money the Committee has been able to:

The Missouri Tree Farm Committee hopes that with these activities and promotional items, the Tree Farm Program can reach new landowners, new supporters and help spread the word about good forest management throughout the state. With this tremendous track record, the only regret the Committee has is not buying a lottery ticket for the last $190 million Powerball jackpot. - Doug Wallace

Leaving a bad taste

Lots of complaints have been voiced this winter about wildlife damage to tree plantations. One particular problem most often heard is rodent damage to newly planted trees. One western Missouri Tree Farmer reports losing 50 of the 60 nursery-grown seedlings he planted last fall. He asks if there is any remedy.

Excellent reports have come in on a new repellent that protects trees from deer damage. The product is Nortech Tree Guard and has virtually eliminated deer browsing, but not buck rubbing. The compound contains Bitrex which is reputed to be the most bitter substance in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Will it work on rodents and other animals? We have no reports, but the product is being tested by the University of Missouri Agroforestry Center in its walnut grazing trials this summer. It may allow agroforesters to plant trees and graze the plantations immediately.

The product is available from Nortech Forest Technologies, Inc., 7600 West 27th St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426. Phone: (612) 922-2520 or FAX (612) 922-3865.

Pulse of the public

The Conservation Monitor was a telephone survey of 855 Missouri adults first conducted in 1994 by the Gallup Organization for the Missouri Department of Conservation and repeated in 1995 and 1996. Results from the three surveys revealed high satisfaction among Missourians with the care given their fish, forests, wildlife and natural environment. In 1994, 78 percent agreed with the statement: "Missouri is making good progress in protecting its wild animal and plant species." Nearly all approved of hunting for food (88 percent). Over two-thirds (69 percent) agreed with the statement: "Trapping is okay as long as it is regulated." A bare majority (53 percent), however, approved of "cutting trees in Missouri to make lumber, furniture and other wood products," with 78 percent agreeing that: "The amount of forested land in Missouri is shrinking." In fact, it is expanding!