2023 Joint Meeting: Forest Nursery Association of BC and Western Forestry and Conservation Nursery Association

Growing Pains: Scaling up the Reforestation Pipeline

Tuesday, September 19

8:45       Welcome and introductions – Diane Haase, USDA Forest Service, Portland, OR

Seed and Seedling Technology 

9:00        All That They’re Wrapped Up to Be? Successes, Setbacks, and Specific Uses of Ellepots – Nabil Khadduri, Washington Department of  Natural Resources, Webster Nursery, Olympia, WA

9:30       The Development of Ponderosa Pine Seedlings using Ellepots and Air Trays in Comparison to a Styroblock Container – Michael Gilgunn, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID

10:00     Break

10:30     Adapting a Process-Based Cold Hardiness Model to Conifers for Nursery Applications – Miro Stuke, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

11:00     Interim Cold Storage Effects on Root Growth Potential of Hot-Lifted Conifer Seedlings – Steven Kiiskila, Arbutus Grove Nursery, North Saanich, BC

11:30     Seedling Stocktypes Suitable for Hot-Dry Sites – Steve Grossnickle, NurseryToForest Solutions, North Saanich, BC

12:00     Lunch

1:00        Sense and Sensor Ability: Challenges and Opportunities of Sensor Controlled Irrigation in Nursery Production – Dalyn McCauley, Oregon State University, North Willamette Research and Extension Center, Aurora, OR

1:30        Seed Transfer 2.0: Reforestation in a Changing Climate – Greg O’Neill, BC Ministry of Forests, Kalamalka Forestry Centre, Vernon, BC

2:00        Panel – Seed Migration

• • • Greg O’Neill, BC Ministry of Forests, Vernon, BC
    • Carrie Pike, USDA Forest Service, West Lafayette, IN
    • Jeff DeBell, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA

2:45        Break

Integrated Pest Management

3:15       Sowing Healthy Conifer Seeds of our Future Forests – Nicholas Feau, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC

3:45        Keys to Managing Botrytis While Ramping Up Nursery Production – Gary Chastagner, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA

4:15        Progress on New Pesticide Registrations in British Columbia – Mario Lanthier, CropHealth Advising & Research, Kelowna, BC

4:45        End of first day

Wednesday, September 20

8:30        Load buses and depart Kennedy School

9:30        North Willamette Research and Extension Center

The North Willamette Research and Extension Center is an agricultural research facility operated by Oregon State University, focusing on addressing challenges and providing innovative solutions for the agricultural community in the North Willamette Valley region. At NWREC, nursery research is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of nursery operations, focusing on areas such as plant nutrition, irrigation, disease and pest management, and the development of best practices for nursery growers. Through collaborations with industry professionals and the dissemination of research findings, OSU supports the advancement of the nursery industry and provides valuable resources to help growers improve their production and management techniques.

12:00     Lunch (at NWREC)

1:00        Load buses

1:30        Weyerhaeuser Aurora Forest Nursery

The Weyerhaeuser Aurora Forest Nursery site was originally homesteaded in 1849 by the Irvin Family after coming across the country on the Oregon Trail. In the past, the site has been used for farm crops, holly, blueberries, dahlias, a slaughterhouse, and an Indian encampment. Weyerhaeuser purchased the property in in 1973 and began producing its first crop the following year. Since then, the nursery has uninterruptedly produced more than 500 million tree seedlings. The nursery expects to produce 14 million during the current season.

4:00        Load buses

4:30        Aurora Colony Vineyards and Winery

Aurora Colony Vineyards’ vines sit in a variety of sun exposures with the original 17 acres of vines facing east/west and the new 2022 vines facing north/south. The site’s soil was deposited by the glacial flow from the Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age. The soil is sandy with very little clay, making for excellent drainage. The original 17 acres of vineyards are dry farmed, meaning they use only nature to water the vines. The 2022 vines will receive additional irrigation for 1-2 years to help them establish and then will also be dry farmed.

6:00       Dinner (at the winery)

8:00        Load buses

8:30        Arrive back at Kennedy School

Thursday, September 21

Outplanting Practices

8:10       Seven Years of Vegetation Management Research: Lessons Learned – Max Wightman, Washington Department of  Natural Resources, Tumwater, WA

8:40      Survival and Performance of Drought-Conditioned Seedlings Outplanted in Severely Burned Areas – Anna Ross, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

9:00        Panel: Outplanting Challenges

• • • Florian Deisenhofer – Washington Department of Natural Resources, Vancouver, WA
    • Rich Schaefer – Alpha Services, LLC, Coeur d’Alene, ID
    • Meghan Thornton – Campbell Global, Junction City, OR

Innovative Strategies

9:45        Ninety Years of Scaling Reforestation Policy, Science, and Operations:  American Forest’s Role – Past, Present, and Future – Brian Morris, American Forests, Pacific Northwest

10:15     Break

10:45     Pathways and Challenges to the Reforestation Pipeline Across Oregon’s Public and Private Lands – John Walter, Oregon Department of Forestry, Salem, OR

11:15     Who, What, Where? Seedling Production Trends and Private Nursery Investments – Harry Guinness, New Leaf Climate, New York, NY

11:45     New Reforestation Directory and Marketplace to Address Supply-Chain Challenges – Catherine Schloegel, The Nature Conservancy, Boulder, CO

12:15     Meeting Adjourns