ECA, inC. NEWS

Quarterly Publication of Exotic Conifer Association, Inc. Fall 2019 — Vol. 3: No. 2 Collaborative Fir Germplasm Evaluation (CoFirGE) Project Exotic Conifer Association Annual Field Day — August 8, 2019 - Lehighton, PA Rick Bates, Penn State University — Glenn & Jay Bustard, Bustard’s Christmas Trees grower associations in five production regions of the United States and Denmark. During the fall in 2010, cones were col- lected from 20 trees along an elevation gradient in three stands of Turkish fir and two stands of Trojan fir in the country of Turkey. CoFirGE Goal: To cooperate in obtaining seeds and evaluating seedlings of Turkish and Trojan fir species for use as Christmas trees across production regions of the United States and Denmark. The seeds from these collections were sown in 2011 and seedlings were planted in a series of 10 regional CoFirGE test plantings in 2013 across the United States. Each planting con- tains approximately 3,000 trees that includes progeny from 55 Rick Bates and Jay Bustard evaluating CoFirGE Project Trees Turkish firs (3 provenances) and 34 Trojan firs (2 provenances) from Turkey and seedlings from proven Christmas tree sources of balsam, Fraser, grand, Korean, noble, Nordmann (3 prove- nances and 2 Danish seed orchards) and white fir. Two smaller planting are located in Carbon County, PA at the farms of Paul Shealer and Chris Botek – these planting do not include the check species and Akyazi sources of Turkish fir. Below is a summary of information about the Lehighton, PA test planting site and the data that has been collected. Lehighton CoFirGE Planting Site Information Bustard’s Christmas Trees, Carbon County, PA • Planting date: May 14, 2013 ECA members analyzing CoFirGE Research • Stock type: Greenhouse plugs, av. 6-8” Collaborative Fir Germplasm Evaluation (CoFirGE) Project • Mean annual precip: 47 in. / Elevation: Approx. 950 ft. The Christmas tree industry relies heavily on relatively few • USDA Hardiness Zone: 6a (-5 to -10 F) / Minimum species, even as production costs for these species rise due to in- temp. 2013-18: -3 F creasing pest problems. There is interest and mounting pressure • Slope: Southeast facing, approx. 0-5% to evaluate and introduce new and potentially profitable species. Mediterranean Abies species, including Turkish and • Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.6 Trojan fir, are emerging nationally as popular alternatives to tra- • General soil characteristics: Well-drained stony loam; ditional regional species due to their disease resistance, popular- above av. OM ity in the marketplace and attractive foliage characteristics. The • Frost frequency: Low; 3 severe frosts over past 34 yrs.; increased use of these exotic species is limited by the availability moderate frost Spring 2019 of proven high quality seed sources, questions about their re- Bud Break gional adaptability and concerns about their postharvest needle retention. Bud break was evaluated variously at all test sites. Once bud break had started, the following 0 to 6 rating scale was used to In 2010, under the leadership of Dr. John Frampton at North assess the degree of bud break and shoot elongation on each Carolina State University, the Collaborative Fir Germplasm tree: Evaluation (CoFirGE) Project was organized as a collaboration of university research and extension faculty and Christmas tree cont on pg 3 ECA News - Fall 2019 — pg 2 EXOTIC CONIFER SECRETARY’S NOTES by PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by ASSOCIATIONECA News - Fall 2019 — pg 2 Matt Mongin Mike Laine ECA News - Fall 2019 — pg 2 SECRETARY’SSo here we are in Mid-September NOTES bywith HelloPRESIDENT’S everyone, hope allMESSAGE are doing well. by 3006EXOTICECA NewsBlue -Green Fall CONIFER 2019 Drive — pg 2 EXOTIC CONIFER SECRETARY’SMattSummer Mongin daytime temperatures NOTES in by the PRESIDENT’SMikeWhile everyone Laine living MESSAGE in the central and by EXOTICASSOCIATIONBeaverbrook, CONIFEROH 45431 high 80s and low 90s. Will Fall be late? southern US is baking in the heat and SoMatt here Monginwe are in Mid-September with Mike Laine [email protected] MattMaybe aMongin good thing for Mid-West farm- MikedryingHello everyone, out,Laine we are hope flooding all are out doing and well. hav- ASSOCIATION3006 Blue Green Drive SoSummer here we daytime are in Mid-Septembertemperatures in withthe While everyone living in the central and 937-671-5443 Soers here who we planted are in late. Mid-September with Helloing snow everyone, flurries. hope We all had are a doingnice summer well. Beaverbrook,3006 Blue Green OH Drive 45431 Summerhigh 80s anddaytime low 90s.temperatures Will Fall bein thelate? southern US is baking in the heat and 3006 Blue Green Drive SummerThanks for daytime all who temperatures attended and in enjoyed the Whilehere once everyone it warmed living up in aroundthe central the 4th.and [email protected], OH 45431 highMaybe 80s a andgood low thing 90s. for Will Mid-West Fall be late?farm- drying out, we are flooding out and hav- Beaverbrook,Beavercreek, OHOH 4543145431 highGlenn 80s and and Jay low Bustard's 90s. Will hospitality Fall be late? at southernsouthern USUS isis bakingbaking inin thethe heatheat andand The purpose of the Exotic Conifer Asso- Maybeers who a planted good thing late. for Mid-West farm- ingFrom snow what flurries. I here theWe meetinghad a nice went summer very [email protected]@gmail.com937-671-5443 Maybetheir exotic a good tree thing farm for in Mid-WestLehighton, farm- PA. drying out, we are flooding out and hav- ciation and this newsletter is to gather in- ersThanks who forplanted all who late. attended and enjoyed herewell. once I want it warmedto thank up Matt around for taking the 4th. my 937-671-5443 ersWe whohad perfectplanted weather late. and a great pro- inging snowsnow flurries.flurries. WeWe hadhad aa nicenice summersummer 937-671-5443formation from growers about their ThanksGlenn and for Jayall whoBustard's attended hospitality and enjoyed at place. My mother is coming along very The purpose of the Exotic Conifer Asso- Thanksgram. Special for all whoThank attended you to andDr. Rickyenjoyed hereFrom once what it Iwarmed here the up meeting around went the 4th.very experiences growing exotic conifers. It is Glenntheir exotic and Jay tree Bustard's farm in Lehighton,hospitality atPA. well and has been cleared to drive so she Theciation purpose and this of thenewsletter Exotic Coniferis to gather Asso- in- GlennBates who and sharedJay Bustard's the great hospitality story of atTurk- Fromwell. Iwhat want I tohere thank the meetingMatt for wenttaking very my Theessential purpose ECA of members the Exotic participate. Conifer Asso- We theirWe had exotic perfect tree weather farm in andLehighton, a great PA.pro- Fromis happy. what I here the meeting went very ciationformation and from this newslettergrowers about is to theirgather in- theirish and exotic Trojan tree fir farm research. in Lehighton, We saw PA.suc- well.place. I Mywant mother to thank is coming Matt for along taking very my ciationask growers and this of exotic newsletter conifers is to from gather all in- Wegram. had Special perfect Thank weather you and to aDr. great Ricky pro- well.Thanks I want for all to thethank kind Matt words for duringtaking myour formationexperiences from growing growers exotic about conifers. their It is Wecessful had production perfect weather there and and a the great pro- place.well and My has mother been clearedis coming to drivealong so very she formationover the country from growers and Canada about to their contact gram.Bates who Special shared Thank the greatyou to story Dr. Rickyof Turk- place.family’s My hectic mother summer. is coming I want along to con-very essential ECA members participate. We gram.likelihood Special of good Thank production you to Dr. perform- Ricky wellis happy. and has been cleared to drive so she experiencestheirexperiences Regional growinggrowing Directors exoticexotic with conifers.conifers. news from ItIt isis ish and Trojan fir research. We saw suc- well and has been cleared to drive so she Batesance elsewherewho shared in thethe greatmid-west story for of theseTurk- gratulate Larry Snyder on winning the theiressentialask growers farms. ECA E-mailof members exotic your conifers participate. experiences, from allWe isThanksis happy.happy. for all the kind words during our essential ECA members participate. We species.ishcessful and production Trojan fir research. there and We the saw suc- NCTA Christmas tree competition and askover growers the country of exotic and conifersCanada tofrom contact all ish and Trojan fir research. We saw suc- family’s hectic summer. I want to con- askgood growers or bad, of to exotic your regionalconifers fromdirector, all cessfullikelihood production of good productionthere and the perform- Thankslooking forforward all the to kind seeing words it on during television our overtheir theRegional country Directors and Canada with newsto contact from cessfulThanks production also to Larry there Downey and the for school- gratulate Larry Snyder on winning the overand sharethe country with all and ECA Canada members. to contact likelihoodance elsewhere of good in the production mid-west perform- for these family’swhenfamily’s they hectichectic have summer.summer. it on display. II wantwant It to tois con-quitecon- their Regionalfarms. E-mail Directors your withexperiences, news from likelihooding all of us of in good the fineproduction art of pruning perform- ex- their Regional Directors with news from ancespecies. elsewhere in the mid-west for these angratulateNCTA honor. Christmas Larry Snyder tree competitionon winning the and good or bad, to your regional director, anceotic firselsewhere from Korean in the mid-westto Med firs for to these gratulate Larry Snyder on winning the theirtheir farms.farms. E-mailE-mail youryour experiences,experiences, NCTAlooking Christmas forward to tree seeing competition it on television and species.hybrids.species.Thanks also This to will Larry be Downeyan essential for skillschool- as NCTAWe are Christmascurrently looking tree competition for a place and to goodgoodand share oror bad,bad, with toto allyouryour ECA regionalregional members. director,director, ing all of us in the fine art of pruning ex- lookingwhen they forward have it to on seeing display. it on It television is quite REGIONAL DIRECTORS Thankswe begin also to includeto Larry these Downey firs infor our school- pro- lookinghold our forward meeting to next seeing summer it on television or fall. I and share with all ECA members. otic firs from Korean to Med firs to whenan honor. they have it on display. It is quite and share with all ECA members. ingductioning allall ofof systems. usus inin thethe finefine artart ofof pruningpruning ex-ex- whenhad suggested they have to it Matt on display. that we It go is upquite into Eastern Canada - Larry Downey hybrids. This will be an essential skill as Wean honor. are currently looking for a place to oticECA firs has from a new Korean set of toDirectors Med firs elected to by anthe honor. New England area (Vermont, New [email protected] DIRECTORS we begin to include these firs in our pro- hold our meeting next summer or fall. I hybrids.the members This forwill the be nextan essential two years. skill as WeHampshire, are currently or Maine.) looking It for has a beenplace ato few REGIONAL DIRECTORS duction systems. had suggested to Matt that we go up into REGIONALNortheastEastern Canada - Jeff DIRECTORS Taylor- Larry Downey weThey begin are: to include these firs in our pro- holdyears our since meeting we were next there. summer We may or fall. want I the New England area (Vermont, New [email protected]@sympatico.ca Canada - Larry Downey ductionECA has systems. Johna new Curtis set of Directors elected by hadto possibly suggested combine to Matt it thatwith we a state go up meet- into Eastern Canada - Larry Downey the members for the next two years. Hampshire, or Maine.) It has been a few [email protected] ECA has aLarry new Downeyset of Directors elected by theing.the New New We haveEnglandEngland time areaarea and (Vermont,(Vermont, we are open NewNew to [email protected] - DarrylJeff Taylor Bowersox They are: years since we were there. We may want thethe membersmembersMike forfor Laine thethe nextnext twotwo years.years. Hampshire,suggestions. or I thinkMaine.) a farm It has near been Bob a fewGi- to possibly combine it with a state meet- [email protected]@aol.com - Jeff Taylor They are:MattJohn CurtisMongin yearsrardinyears sincesince would wewe be werewere nice there.there. so that WeWe we maymay could wantwant see Larry Downey toing. possibly We have combine time and it withwe are a state open meet- to [email protected]@aol.com JohnSherryJohn CurtisCurtis Peele tohim possibly again. combine it with a state meet- Mid-SouthSoutheast - -Darryl Art Landrigan Bowersox Mike Laine ing.suggestions. We have Itime think and a farm we are near open Bob to Gi- Larry DowneySnyder ing.One Wething have I wanted time and to sharewe are with open every- to [email protected]@ptd.net - Darryl Bowersox Matt Mongin suggestions.rardin would Ibe think nice a so farm that near we could Bob Gi- see All are availableMike Laine to address your questions suggestions.one is what we I think are doing a farm in nearMinnesota Bob Gi- to [email protected] Sherry Peele rardinhim again. would be nice so that we could see [email protected] - Randy - Art Landrigan Caster and concernsMatt andMongin look forward to emails rardinpromote would the exoticbe nice species so that at we our could Min- see SherryLarry Snyder Peele Onehim again.thing I wanted to share with every- [email protected]@citlink.net - Art Landrigan and calls Sherryas we all Peele seek to advance the himnesota again. State Fair. We are in a building All are availableLarry Snyder to address your questions one is what we are doing in Minnesota to [email protected] goals of theLarry ECA. Snyder Shortly after our an- Onealong thing with I other wanted ag toproducts share with on display. every- [email protected] Midwest - Randy - MikeCaster Laine and concerns and look forward to emails promote the exotic species at our Min- Allnual are meeting available the to Directors address your elected questions team oneWe hadis what over we 50 are trees doing on displayin Minnesota this year. to [email protected]@gmail.com - Randy Caster and calls as we all seek to advance the nesota State Fair. We are in a building Midwest - Randy Caster andleadersand concernsconcerns for the andand two-year looklook forwardforward term. They toto emailsemails are: promoteAlong with the our exotic native species balsam at our and Min- pine [email protected] goals of the ECA. Shortly after our an- along with other ag products on display. [email protected] - TomMidwest Leege - Mike Laine andand callscalls asMikeas wewe Laine-allall seekseek President toto advanceadvance thethe nesotaspecies State we have Fair. now We hadare innumerous a building ex- goalsnual meeting of the ECA. the Directors Shortly after elected our team an- We had over 50 trees on display this year. [email protected]@gmaill.com Midwest - Mike Laine goals of theSherry ECA. Peele Shortly - Secretary after our an- alongoticalong trees withwith on otherother display. agag productsproducts onon display.display. Upper Midwest - Mike Laine nualleaders meeting for the the two-year Directors term. elected They team are: WeAlong had with over our 50 nativetrees on balsam display and this pine year. [email protected] nual meetingMatt the Mongin Directors - Treasurer. elected team WeThis had year over we 50had trees Korean, on display Veitch this and year. [email protected] - Tom OFFICERS Leege leaders forMike the Laine-two-year President term. They are: Alongspecies with we have our nativenow had balsam numerous and pine ex- leaders forCynthia the two-year Curtis term. - Editor They at are:Desk AlongSiberian with fir ourand nativeMeyer balsam Spruce. and We pine added MikeSherry Laine- Peele President- Secretary speciesotic trees we on have display. now had numerous ex- [email protected] - Tom Leege Cynthia solicitsMike Laine- any news President and photos that speciesa separate we competitionhave now had last numerous year where ex- we Mike Laine, Pres. SherryMatt Mongin Peele - -Secretary Treasurer. otic trees on display. [email protected]@gmail.com Minnesota OFFICERS Nursery relate to exoticsSherry forPeele inclusion - Secretary in the ECA otichaveThis trees yeara people’s onwe display.had choice Korean, award. Veitch Everyday and MattCynthia Mongin Curtis - Treasurer.- Editor at Desk Siberian fir and Meyer Spruce. We added News. 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Nursery CynthiaYour Directors solicits areany seeking news and a location photos thatand acrowneda separateseparate as competitioncompetition Grand Champion. lastlast yearyear We wherewhere in- wewe relateNews. toSend exotics articles for inclusionof interest in as the word ECA we allow people to vote on a selected NorthernSpring218-476-2162 Valley Minnesota Tree Farm Nursery relatehost for to theexotics 2020 for annual inclusion meeting. in the We ECA haveclude a trees people’s that choice are sheared award. very Everyday loose to Northern Minnesota Nursery News.documents Send andarticles photos of interest as jpgs. as word group of trees including the tree that was 218-476-2162937- 429-1717 News.typically Send meet articles in the of Summer interest oras wordFall and wevery allow tight. people to vote on a selected 218-476-2162Matt Mongin Sec. Tres. documentsYour Directors and are photos seeking as jpgs. a location and crowned as Grand Champion. We in- documentsare thinking and of returningphotos as tojpgs. New Eng- groupgroup ofof treestrees includingincluding thethe treetree thatthat waswas MattEDITORSpring Mongin Valley AT DESK TreeSec. Tres.Farm Yourhost forDirectors the 2020 are annual seeking meeting. a location We and cludePeople trees are giventhat are an sheared“I voted” very sticker loose to to MattSherry Mongin Peele, Sec. Tres. Yourland. Directors Any suggestions? are seeking a location and crownedcrowned asas GrandGrand Champion.Champion. WeWe in-in- 937- 429-1717 hosttypically for the meet 2020 in theannual Summer meeting. or Fall We and verywear tight.around the fair and has brought a SpringCarolinaCynthia Valley Curtis Wreath Tree Co.Farm hostEnjoy for the the rest 2020 of theannual Newsletter meeting. and We be cludeclude treestrees thatthat areare shearedsheared veryvery looseloose toto typicallyare thinking meet of in returning the Summer to New or FallEng- and lot of interest to our display. This year’s 937-919-437-6546 429-1717 typicallysure and meetget those in the transplant Summer ordersor Fall sentand veryPeoplevery tight.tight. are given an “I voted” sticker to [email protected] AT DESK areland. thinking Any suggestions? of returning to New Eng- Grand Champion was a Cook Balsam. arein soon thinking if you of haven't returning done to soNew already. Eng- Peoplewear around are given the anfair “I and voted” has stickerbrought to a 908-387-1225EDITOR AT DESK land.Enjoy Anythe restsuggestions? of the Newsletter and be PeopleThe People’s are given Choice an “I was voted” a White sticker Pine. to EDITORCynthia Curtis AT DESK land.Have aAny great suggestions? season! wearlot of around interest the to ourfair display.and has broughtThis year’s a Enjoysure and the get rest those of the transplant Newsletter orders and besent wear around the fair and has brought a [email protected] Curtis Enjoy the rest of the Newsletter and be lotGrand of interest Champion to our was display. a Cook This Balsam. year’s Cynthia Curtis in soon if you haven't done so already. lot of interest to our display. This year’s suresure andand getget thosethose transplanttransplant ordersorders sentsent The People’s Choice was a White Pine. [email protected]@gmail.com Grand Champion was a Cook Balsam. ininHave soonsoon a great ifif youyou season! haven'thaven't donedone soso already.already. 908-387-1225 The People’s Choice was a White Pine. Have a great season! ECA News - Fall 2019 — pg 3 CoFirGE Project cont from pg 1 sible to identify and select individual portant attributes that are used to iden- 0 = no bud break trees that have delayed bud break. tify top performing trees. Among the 1 = Bud Swell - No needles • On average, after 4 growing seasons Turkish and Trojan fir sources, the Trojan ‘Kaz’ source appears very promising. 2 = Bud Burst (Needles emerging) the Balsam, Grand, Trojan (Kazdagi), Ko- rean and Turkish (Karabuk) firs were the While not as fast growing as Trojan ‘Kaz’, 3 = Needles emerging less than 1" tallest trees. the Trojan ‘Ҫan’ appears to have excellent needle retention characteristics, and the 4 = Elongating shoot 1-2" with soft needles • Noble, Nordmann, Fraser and Con- Turkish ‘Kar’ had acceptable growth rate 5 = Elongating shoot > 2" with soft needles color were the shortest trees. and excellent structure/form. One of the 6 = Shoot fully elongated • Tree-to-tree variation in growth rate goals of the CoFirGE project is to identify • The Trojan fir consistently had the within given sources of trees indicates individual top performing trees that can highest ratings (broke buds earliest), fol- that even within families/sources that be used to establish grafted clonal Turkish lowed by balsam, white fir, and Turkish tend to be slow growing, it should be pos- and/or Trojan fir seed orchards. Of the fir. sible to identify and select individual three sources of Turkish fir and two • Trojan firs broke bud about 10 to 14 trees that have faster growth rates. sources of Trojan fir included in CoFirGE days before the noble and Fraser fir, in WA. Postharvest Needle Retention* trial, the Trojan fir, especially the ‘Kaz’ • Bud break ratings were not correlated Needle retention is an important attrib- source tended to produce a higher per- with elevation of the mother trees. ute of high-quality Christmas trees. To centage of top performing trees. To date, the ‘Aky’ and ‘Kar’ sources of Turkish fir • The tree-to-tree variation in bud examine variation in needle retention among the trees in the CoFirGE plot, a have produced a higher percentage of top break within given sources of trees indi- performing trees than the ‘Bolu’ source. cates that even with provenances that two-year old branch was harvested from tend to break bud early, it should be pos- most all of the trees in the planting on Pennsylvania Summary and Perspective October 17-18, 2017. Branches were dis- • Growth rate & quality: Generally played dry and the loss of the 2016 and CoFirGE Goal - To cooperate in obtaining slow growing, however top families fast 2017 needles was rated using the follow- seeds and evaluating seedlings of Turkish enough and with good enough form to ing 0 to 7 scale: 0 = none, 1=< 1%, 2=1- and Trojan fir species for use as Christ- be competitive 5%, 3=6-15%, 4=16-33%, 5=34-66%, mas trees across production regions of • Pests: Not advisable w/o fencing in 6=67-90%, 7=91-100%. the United States and Denmark. areas with deer pressure; expect problems • Balsam and the ‘Uss’ Nordmann firs Interest in Turkish & Trojan Fir w/ elongate hemlock scale (Cryptomeria had the highest needle loss ratings. About scale) ´ Disease resistance 70% of the branches from these trees • Frost: Best Trojan families will re- w shed needles. Phytophthora root rot quire low frost sites; variable trait - late wAnnosus root rot • Trees with lowest needle loss ratings & breaking selections possible highest percentage of trees with no nee- wCurrent Season Needle Necrosis • Adaptability: Minimal winter damage dle loss, included Korean, Grand, Fraser, w at test site; very drought and heat tolerant Others? Noble, and two sources of Trojan Fir. ´ once established Resistance / tolerance to other pests Noble fir was the only species that did not • Management: Require a higher level wSpider mites shed needles. of management to obtain a saleable tree w Balsam woolly adelgid • Although up to 50% of Fraser fir vs standard species (leader issues) w shed needles, the maximum loss rating of Others ? • Future in PA?: Top Trojan & Turkish the Fraser, Korean and Grand Fir was <3. ´ Climate change insurance families have solid potential – but to what ´ Increase product diversity • Overall, the Trojan fir sources had extent & how long will it take? much lower needle loss ratings and a Next Steps Concerns higher percentage of trees with no loss ´ Slow initial growth than the Turkish Fir. • Establish grafted clonal seed orchards representing the top Trojan and Turkish ´ Susceptibility to deer damage • The tree-to-tree variation in needle fir trees within families. ´ Questions re: regional adaptability loss within given sources of trees indi- cates that even within families/sources • Continue needle retention evalua- ´ Susceptible to late spring freezes that tend to shed needles, it should be tions focusing on the top tree selections. ´ Postharvest needle retention possible to identify and select individual • Continue to develop and improve ´ Availability of proven high quality trees that have excellent needle retention. cultural management and pest manage- seed Identification of Top Performing Sources ment expertise. ´ Limited genetic information on seed and Individual Trees sources Height growth, structure, bud break date, ´ Lack of evergreen smell and postharvest needle retention are im- ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 4 Summer Meet: NCTA-PA-ECA Contest Winners, CoFirGE Project Trees, Tours, More For more that six years some of us, perhaps many, have been Christmas Tree Magazine has faithfully covered the research watching the news coming from the CoFirGE trials around the plan, seed collection, processing, plug and transplant produc- country. What are we learning? Did the trees survive, thrive? tion and planting of these trees, together with selected natives, Can we see them? in four of the primary Christmas tree production regions in the Your wait is over, the trees are growing well and now we can country. References to these articles are included below for visit one of the evaluation sites this summer at Lehighton, those desiring a refresher. Pennsylvania with the Exotic Conifer Association. To under- CoFirGE is a costly, long-term effort likely spanning 15 to 20 stand why this is a ‘big deal’ for growers read on. Or, for those years. Hats off to John Frampton (North Carolina State Univer- already on board, skip to the last paragraph for details on this sity). Gary Chastagner (Washington State University), and Chal meeting and registration information. Save the date: August 8, Landgren (Oregon State University) who laid out the research 2019. Also, plan on staying for the weekend and attending the plan, collected the seed and supervised the initial plantings. NCTA-PA summer meeting. Also, many thanks to the several team associates and coopera- CoFirGE (Collaborative Fir Germplasm Evaluation) is a long- tors particularly Bert Cregg (Michigan State University) Rick term evaluation of several selections of Turkish fir and Trojan Bates (Pennsylvania State University) and (University of Con- fir collected in Turkey in 2011. The collections were made by a necticut) who are, together with many helping hands, keeping senior group of Christmas tree researchers to help find trees for the research moving forward. As an aside, this is one of several the future that can overcome problems being encountered with projects receiving funding from the Christmas Tree Promotion native conifers being grown and cultivated for Christmas trees. Board that, years from now, some of us will be very happy that cont on pg 5

(Left) NCTA’s Grand Champ Prize Winning Douglas fir grown in PA by Larry and Joanne Snyder. The Snyders deliver a Christmas tree to the White House amid great media excitement. It is annual tradition that has been going on since 1966. (Right) People’s Choice, the White Pine, in the foreground. ed. note: My experience with Peoples Choice contest at NJ Fair for several years, the people al- ways pick a tightly sheared Pine or Douglas fir. (Always wonder how to decorate a tree like that.) ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 5 theSummer Christmas Meet: NCTA-PA-ECA tree check-off cont from program pg 4 was started. business meeting, diner and a social at a nearby restaurant start- Over the last twenty years or more, an increasing number of na- ing at 4:30 pm. tive conifers being grown for Christmas trees have succumbed Join the ECA and receive invitations to see and walk among the to soil-borne and other diseases as well as cultural problems. CofirGE trees and hear directly from the experts. Being a ECA Years ago, European growers began to collect seed from member introduces you to advances in Christmas tree produc- Mediterranean firs and grow them with great commercial suc- tion and you learn what new species are right to grow in your cess. Early trials of these trees in America showed mixed results climate. with those in milder climates more encouraging particularly be- cause of their resistance to root disease. CoFirGE was initiated to learn if selected Mediterranean firs such as Turkish and Trojan could be successfully grown in the primary Christmas tree production regions of the U.S. For growers in the West, Oregon, and Washington State, the answer is yes as more and more growers turn to these trees and finding ready buyers at premium prices. So to growers in the East in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are having success with Mediterranean firs. For these growers, CoFirGE offers the prospect of additional varieties and production strategies. For New England, Michigan and the North Carolina moun- tain region, CoFirGE may have important answers. The Win- ter 2019 issue of the Great Lakes Christmas Tree Journal provides an excellent research update on the two CoFirGE project sites in MI. Bert Cregg, Dana Ellison, Paul Bloese and Jill O’Donnell report surprisingly good survival of Turkish and Trojan fir selections. Deer browsing, winter burn and spring frost damage are issues with these trees. Still, at least at one site, one variety of Turkish fir and one variety of Trojan fir grew as tall as native Fraser and Balsam planted at the same time. From a guy who watched Turkish fir grow three feet in six years in OH that is very encouraging. Dr. Cregg and his team continue to observe and assess these plantings. Watch this publication for updates. The Exotic Conifer Association members and saw the CoFirGE project site and multiple exotic conifer plantings at the Bustards Christmas Tree Farm near Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Our hosts are Glen and Jay Bustard, long time Christmas tree growers and leaders in Pennsylvania and National Christmas Tree Associations. The Bustards were early adopters of exotic conifers and have mature plantings of Ko- rean, Turkish, Vetch, Balsam, Corkbark and various hybrid crosses. They offered one of their farms as one of the eastern U. S. sites for the CofirGE project and have since been watching over these trees like mother hens. Dr. Rick Bates (Pennsylva- nia State University) has worked with the CofirGE team since the onset and will takes us through the details at the Lehigh- ton site as well as discuss the status at other sites. He and the Bustards will an- swer your questions as you walk among the trees, take pictures and see for your- self. The entire day started at 9:00 is dedi- cated to exotics. We wrapped it up with a CoFirGE project site and exotic fir plantings . Bustards Christmas Tree Farm. Jay and Glen Bustard. ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 6 Exotic Conifers: Mediterranean Firs Look Promising by Matt Mongin On August 7th the Exotic Conifer Association met for our 2019 Again, there is sufficient tree-to-tree variation to suggest future Summer meeting in Lehighton, Pennsylvania to view and dis- selection and tree improvement could improve the growth rate cuss Mediterranean firs and other exotic conifers at the farm of of these species at this and other sites. As it is now, most of Glenn and Jay Bustard. There were two main events, evaluating these trees would be market ready in 7-8 years. the CoFirGE trial of Turkish and Trojan firs and touring the Work conducted by Dr. Gary Chastagner, in 2017 indicates that Bustard’s exotic conifer production farm. We also had lunch needle retention of Trojan fir is excellent and Turkish is very and dinner together and a business meeting. With great good. Dr. Bates, the Bustards and other CoFirGE cooperators weather and a big crowd, this was pretty close to heaven. and researchers are identifying the best trees from the study for CoFirGE (Cooperative Fir Germplasm Evaluation) Research plot propagation and future study. Dr. Ricky Bates, Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University There is much more we can learn from the CoFirGE project but led us through this 3,000-tree trial of Turkish, and Trojan fir for now: growing happily in Eastern Pennsylvania near the Pocono • The Turkish and Trojan selections are somewhat slow grow- mountains. Pic # The goal of CoFirGE is to evaluate the suit- ing however the best families grow fast enough and have good ability of these species for Christmas tree use at several sites in enough form to be competitive with native firs for Christmas the U. S. Seed for this trial was collected in Turkey in 2010 by trees; Dr. John Frampton and friends, raised as plugs and then in 2013 • You best fence in your fields if you plant these firs because planted on 10 test sites. Glenn and Jay Bustard were the Penn- deer like them; sylvania cooperators. They choose their Lehighton farm for its • Early bud break of Trojan will make spring frost an issue for good drainage and previous success with exotics. In addition to some sites; Turkish and Trojan fir, several more common Abies species were also planted at the same time to provide known perspective in- • These trees are adaptable. Winter damage at this location cluding Balsam, Noble, White, Fraser, Grand, and Korean. was minimal. These firs are drought and heat tolerant; and, The Bustard’s Lehighton site has stony loam soil with a ph of 5.5 • Expect more management issues to get a saleable tree. Cor- – 6.6 and is in UADA hardiness zone of 6a. The Turkish and rect shearing, particularly leader management is important. Trojan plants were two cycle plugs averaging 6”-8”. Average pre- Continued work to select and improve Turkish and Trojan fir cipitation in Lehighton is 47”. Rainfall has been higher than av- for Christmas trees could benefit the industry providing more erage for the past three years. Indeed, 2” of rain fell on the diversity in the trees we can plant and sell. Additionally, these evening before the meeting and you would not know it save for species represent a solution for certain pest problems being en- the weather reports. There is excellent drainage at this site. Ele- countered with native firs, such as Phytopthora root rot. vation is about 950’ with a 5% southeasterly slope. There was a Bustard’s Exotics moderate Spring frost in 2019 but generally frost frequency is After lunch Jay and Glenn Bustard, with able assistance from low. We positively marveled at how well these trees grew in such Larry Downey and other ECA members, conducted a four-hour stony soil. tour of the exotic tree plantation. Dr. Bates presented data on survivability, bud break, growth Much time was invested in examining and pruning trees while rate, post-harvest needle retention, and best trees for this site. discussing the benefits and challenges of growing exotics. Read the full report on our the ECA website (www.exotic- In addition to Turkish, Trojan, and Korean, the Bustard’s grow sev- coniferassociation.com). Glen and Jay Bustard provided lots of eral beautiful hybrids developed by Larry Downey and others. insights on the study as well as management insights gained Key take-home messages are: over the last six years as well as comparisons with native firs. For example, survival of the two-cycle plug transplants was • Grow them – exotics offer a bright future and we now know quite good considering their small size. There were some losses enough experience to avoid the known problems; but most lived. Normally, Bustards plant 3- or 4-year trans- • Customers like them and are willing to pay premium prices plants on this site. They recommend that for these trees as well. for them; cont on pg 9 Trojan fir break bud early, just before Bal- sam while Turkish were later, about the same as Grand but before Fraser. As with other characteristics evaluated, there is significant tree-to-tree variation. This in- dicates some opportunities for future se- lection and improvement. Growth rate of the fastest individual Turkish and Trojan trees on this site were comparable to Bal- sam, Grand and Korean and better than Fraser, Nordman and Concolor.

Bustard’s CoFirGE Plot Soil Trench ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 7 PA Christmas Tree Goes To Washington How trees could save the climate The date is set for the White House team to visit 2019 NCTA Source ETH Zurich, July 4, 2019 Grand Champion Grower Larry Snyder’s at his Mahantongo https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190704191350.htm Valley Farms, in Schuylkill County, PA, to select the three trees Summary: that will headline the White House Christmas season. One acre is about Around 0.9 billion hectares 0.405 hectare and Larry Snyder, the winner of numerous awards for his Christmas of land worldwide would be One hectare contains trees over the years, including grand champion at the 2018 suitable for reforestation, Pennsylvania Farm Show, was speechless when his Douglas fir which could ultimately cap- about 2.47 acres. was named grand champion at the National Christmas Tree As- ture two thirds of human- sociation’s competition, held in conjunction with the Pennsylva- made carbon emissions. The Crowther Lab of ETH Zurich has nia Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Exotic Conifer published a study in the journal Science that shows this would Association’s summer meeting at Roba Family Farms. “This may be the most effective method to combat climate change. be the most shocked I’ve been in all my life,” Snyder said after the votes were announced. “I’m happy, and I’m sure my family The Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich investigates nature-based so- and the state association will be happy as well, to have another lutions to climate change. In their latest study the researchers Pennsylvania tree in the White House.” showed for the first time where in the world new trees could grow and how much carbon they would store. Study lead au- In September, officials from the White House — usually the thor and postdoc at the Crowther Lab Jean-François Bastin ex- chief usher and superintendent of grounds — will visit Snyder’s plains: "One aspect was of particular importance to us as we did farm near Pitman to select a tree. They will look for a tree with the calculations: we excluded cities or agricultural areas from the proper shape, color and height, along with the tree’s branch the total restoration potential as these areas are needed for arrangement for displaying ornaments. Branches that form in human life." layers with plenty of space in between for decorations are best. Reforest an area the size of the USA After that, the tree will be delivered to the White House on the Monday before Thanksgiving, where it will be prepared for a The researchers calculated that under the current climate condi- lavish ceremony days later. Snyder and his family will be front tions, Earth's land could support 4.4 billion hectares of contin- and center during the entire process, and they’ll also be highly uous tree cover. That is 1.6 billion more than the currently sought after by the media. existing 2.8 billion hectares. Of these 1.6 billion hectares, 0.9 billion hectares fulfill the criterion of not being used by hu- Since 1966, the winner of NCTA’s National Christmas Tree Con- mans. This means that there is currently an area of the size of test has presented a farm-grown Christmas Tree to the White the US available for tree restoration. Once mature, these new House for display in the Blue Room or other prominent loca- forests could store 205 billion tonnes of carbon: about two tions. The media coverage featuring the farm-grown Christmas thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon that has been released tree and Grand Champion grower is unequalled and beyond into the atmosphere as a result of human activity since the In- measure. The day the tree is selected is the beginning of the dustrial Revolution. media coverage which reaches its peak, the day the tree is deliv- ered to the White House. According to Prof. Thomas Crowther, co-author of the study and founder of the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich: "We all knew Larry is busy preparing his farm for these special visitors and that restoring forests could play a part in tackling climate the media that will attend the event and for the boom to his change, but we didn't really know how big the impact would be. business. “It might take a while because I really can’t believe it,” Our study shows clearly that forest restoration is the best cli- Snyder said. “It’s just an incredible feeling knowing that one of mate change solution available today. But we must act quickly, my trees will be in the White House this Christmas.” as new forests will take decades to mature and achieve their full potential as a source of natural carbon storage."Russia best suited for reforestation The study also shows which parts of the world are most suited to forest restoration. The greatest potential can be found in just six countries: Russia (151 million hectares); the US (103 million hectares); Canada (78.4 million hectares); Australia (58 million hectares); Brazil (49.7 million hectares); and China (40.2 mil- lion hectares).

Larry and Joanne Snyder with the Douglas fir that won Grand Champion in the NCTA’s- contest. The Snyders, who own Mahantongo Valley Farms near Pitman, is the 10th PA farm to deliver a Christmas tree to the White House since 1966. photo by Tom Venesky ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 8 STOCKHOLM'S INGENIOUS PLAN TO RECYCLE YARD WASTE by Feargus O’Sullivan Dec, 2016 republished City Labs https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2016/12/stockholm-throw-out-old-christmas-trees-biochar-environment/511196/ Discarded Christmas trees will be transformed into plant food, “In soil that was covered with gravel, Björn saw some really re- biofuel, and carbon sinks—but that’s just the beginning. markable growth.” Dahllöf told CityLab. “He realized that this is Does your heart bleed a little when you see an abandoned, bald- really what city trees need—a very aerated soil matrix that does ing Christmas tree wasting away on the curb? If so, your holiday not become compacted over time.” cheer might last a little longer knowing that a project taking It seems that the looseness of this soil was what improved root in Stockholm could make those withering pines truly use- growth. Vibration may cause gravel to shift under the train ful to the very end. tracks, but it doesn’t compact it, meaning that trees planted be- Instead of tossing trees into the shredder, the city is launching a neath it had far better aeration and more moisture. program this month to collect them and turn them into an en- Embrén and his colleagues started helping city trees with a new vironmental workhorse known as biochar. This charcoal prod- type of soil covering that proved effective in stimulating growth: uct can be mixed into soil to greatly improve its drainage and crushed bedrock on top of sand, clay, and peat. By making the nutrient levels, spurring vibrant growth for more plants. Mean- ground more porous, this substance also helped the ground ab- while, the heat created by the charcoal-making process will be sorb more stormwater, creating an urban soil management siphoned off and fed into the city’s district heating system. process that has already gained some renown as the so-called So far, so great. But while the idea of Christmas trees re-entering Stockholm Solution. the soil and helping new trees to flourish is delightful, it’s only Later on, they started trying out charcoal as a variant of this the tip of the iceberg here. mix, with dramatic results. Over the course of a two-week sum- That’s because Christmas trees are just among the first sources mer vacation, a patch of lawn strewn with the stuff by Embrén of green waste to be used in what could be one of the most am- grew at an almost alarming speed, to become a kind of whisper- bitious, potentially influential projects coined by a European ing Jurassic savannah. As Dahllöf explained to CityLab, this city thus far. By bringing together the parks department, the charcoal had an almost miraculous effect on the soil, acting “like city’s waste disposal service, energy providers, and urban gar- a coral reef.” deners, Stockholm’s biochar project will create a virtuous cycle “Just as the surroundings of a reef start to teem with life, so does so ingenious—and ultimately so simple—that it could provide a the soil around the charcoal. Valuable fungus, bacteria and mi- template for cities across the world. croorganisms start to flourish, creating a real concentration of It’s a plan whose genesis and workings deserve close attention. organisms that are useful for healthy soil,” he says. “The charcoal And arguably none of it would have happened quite the way it also functions like a sponge. It can hold nutrients, and hold mois- has if not for a Stockholm civil servant’s daily train commute. ture in the earth right up until the surrounding plants need it.” The story of how the plan developed starts around a decade ago. The effectiveness of this process was great news for Stockholm’s Saving Urban Trees trees. But digging in peat, sand, and charcoal still meant the city was using finite and thus non-sustainable resources—a B+ solu- In the mid-2000s, Stockholm’s Tree Officer (yes, they have such tion at best. Stockholm managed to find a better way partly a thing) Björn Embrén found himself poring over a persistent thanks to an unusual quirk of its administration. Until recently, problem. Stockholm may be a well-run, attractive city for hu- both the parks and waste disposal services worked under one mans, but if you’re a tree, it sucks. Paving over ground with umbrella, in the city’s transit department. This meant that Em- non-porous surfaces such as concrete and asphalt has caused the brén and Dahllöf just happened to be working in offices a few city’s groundwater level to drop, while constant vibration from doors down from each other. traffic and construction has caused the soil to partly compact. This can leave tree roots starved of water and oxygen, a process Turning Waste Into Heat that is common in many urban areas. Certainly, if you wander While Embrén was worrying about urban trees, the city’s waste through Stockholm, the city by no means comes across as a leaf- department had its own problem, albeit one of a more obviously less desert. But many trees reach a certain modest size without First World variety. Dahllöf and his colleagues were exploring ever growing to their full potential. what they could do with green waste collected from the city’s Except in a few places, that is. Looking out of his train window gardens. This being Stockholm (named the first European Green one day, Embrén noticed that trees growing along the train Capital in 2010), they’d already come up with a pretty good, sus- tracks seemed to be doing a whole lot better. In fact they were tainable answer. The plant waste the city collected was shredded, flourishing, looking taller and lusher than elsewhere—but why? then sold as a biofuel that went into green energy production. According to Embrén’s colleague and collaborator on the proj- This was already a better solution than most cities manage. But ect Jonas Dahllöf, head of planning and development in the when Björn Embrén complained to Dahllöf about the difficulty city’s waste disposal department, the answer turned out to be of getting sustainably produced charcoal for soil improvement, the gravel lining the tracks. Dahllöf saw an opportunity to make the city’s green waste dis- cont on pg 10 ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 9 Exotic Conifers: Mediterranean Firs Look Promising cont from pg 6 • These trees are beautiful for the landscape as well as the living room; • Matching species and seed source to the planting site is important; • Deer like them and some pests, like soft scales, may be an issue at some sites; • There is still much to learn about the ideal planting site for some exotics; and, • Transplant availability is limited. We need to encour- age more nurseries to plant and offer exotics In future issues, we will highlight some of the Bustard’s exotics. My personal favorite is the Korean x Corkbark hybrid obtained from the Downey Nursery in Quebec, Canada. The Bustards have several hundred planted at Lehighton and the form, shape and foliage is stunning. Interesting to me was observing a dozen or so of these trees, all planted on the same day, that were Larry Downey demonstating shearing techniques half again taller and more mature than the rest. Indeed after 7-8 years in the field, these trees were 9 feet tall and stood well above Amazon Deforestation Soars the Frasers in the next row planted at the same time. Larry Downey said these trees, as with most hybrids, out-perform ei- by Liam Gilliver ther of the parents. He advised that also among the many Ko- read full article at rean-Corkbark that he is growing are others that show this https://www.plantbasednews.org above average growth rate. The Bustards have agreed to delay harvest of these trees to allow time for propagation. Watch this Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest soared by more than 60 space for more. percent in June compared to last year - equating to the size of If you are interested in these exotics or others, don’t go it alone. one and a half soccer fields being destroyed every single minute. Join the ECA and share in the growing experience with our According to data from Brazil's National Institute of Space Re- members. search (INPE), 769.1 square kilometers of rainforest were lost last month - an increase of 280.7 sq km from June 2018. 'Relaxed controls' The rise in deforestation has been linked to Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro - who has been accused of having 'relaxed con- trols on deforestation'. "Over the past six months, Bolsonaro and his environment min- ister have been devoting themselves to the dismantling of the Brazilian environmental governance and neutralizing regulatory bodies", Carlos Rittl, executive secretary of the environment NGO network Observatorio do Clima said to CNN.

Evaluating Trojan Fir for needle retention

Many thanks to Dr. Ricky Bates, Jay and Glenn Bustard, Matt Wright and our enthusiastic members Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 10 Biochar Recycle from pg 8 How trees can save the climate from pg 7 posal even more environmentally beneficial. The result was the Many current climate models are wrong in expecting climate biochar project, whose concept has been steadily refined be- change to increase global tree cover, the study warns. It finds tween becoming a finalist in the 2014 Bloomberg Mayor’s Chal- that there is likely to be an increase in the area of northern bo- lenge and the project’s actual launch of biochar production this real forests in re-gions such as Siberia, but tree cover there aver- month. Together with energy and waste disposal company ages only 30 to 40 percent. These gains would be out-weighed Stockholm Vatten, the departments have created a charcoal pro- by the losses suffered in dense tropical forests, which typically duction facility, one whose by-production of heat will also fuel have 90 to 100 percent tree cover. the centralized district heating facilities that provide warmth Look at Trees! and hot water to nearby homes. (These facilities account for A tool on the Crowther Lab website around 60 percent of Sweden’s energy needs.) (https://www.crowtherlab.com/maps-2/) enables users to look The production process works like this. Stockholm’s biochar is at any point on the globe, and find out how many trees could made by pyrolysis, the process of burning fuel in a nearly oxy- grow there and how much carbon they would store. It also of- gen-free environment. Heated up to 800 degrees Celsius (1,472 fers lists of for-est restoration organisations. The Crowther Lab Fahrenheit), half of the garden waste becomes carbon-rich, will also be present at this year's Scientifica (web-site available durable biochar, while the other half becomes a pyrolysis gas. In in German only: https://www.scientifica.ch/) to show the new order to keep the conversion process running, this gas itself is tool to visitors. also burned. In an ingenious twist, the heat from the burning The Crowther Lab uses nature as a solution to: 1) better allocate gas doesn’t go to waste: it’s used to boil water that is channelled resources -- identifying those re-gions which, if restored appro- into the local district-heating system. priately, could have the biggest climate impact; 2) set realistic Even during trials, the city saw spectacular results. The pilot goals -- with measurable targets to maximise the impact of plant burned 1,200 tons of green waste, trapping carbon equiva- restoration projects; and 3) monitor progress -- to evaluate lent to the annual emissions of 700 cars, Dahllöf says. whether targets are being achieved over time, and take correc- “And that's before you take into account the heat and hot water tive action if necessary. we created, which was enough to supply 80 apartments,” he says. “When we are at full capacity, we should be processing five times that amount of waste, which means we’ll be taking the equivalent of 3,500 cars away from the streets, emission wise, and supply heat and hot water for 400 apartments.” Stockholm hopes to close this circle by encouraging garden own- ers themselves to pick up bags of the resulting biochar and rein- troduce it into the soil in their gardens. Other final destinations include the city’s many public green areas—indeed, the demand for the charcoal is expected to far outstrip actual production. Stockholm’s current limits don’t necessarily have to be the world’s limits, however. Dahllöf notes that the city’s energy part- ner is interested in using the project as a prototype for district heating plants elsewhere. These plants could provide ultra-clean green power using the byproducts of agriculture or forestry—a major industry in Scandinavia—providing a char that could then be dug back into fields or forest floors to boost fertility. Already the concept has spread beyond Sweden and across the Atlantic. California officials have already been in touch with the Stockholm project and have bought the equipment necessary to make their own experiments. The state’s priorities are slightly different, though, Dahllöf says. In a region vulnerable to droughts, the Californians seem to be especially interested in biochar’s ability to lock slow-release moisture into the soil, re- ducing the need for irrigation. California’s different tack shows how the combined biochar and energy production process could prove influential far beyond the confines of the Swedish capital. Stockholm Biochar may be starting small by freeing the city sidewalks of sad-looking Christmas trees, but the possibilities are oh so much greater.

CorFirGE Project plots at Bustards from the ground and in the air ECA NEWS - Fall 2019 — pg 11 Exotic Conifer Planting Stock Downey Nursery Wahmhoff Farms Nursery 1860 Spring Road Gobles, MI 49055 A common question among exotic Cookshire-Eaton www.MItrees.com conifer growers: “Where do I get some?” QC, Canada, JOB 1MD [email protected] Some are easier to find than others like www.downeynursery.com 269-628-7324 Korean, Turkish, Nordman and Fralsam. [email protected] Others are more difficult if not very diffi- 819-566-0319 Wheeler’s Laura’s Lane Nursery cult to find. Plainfield, WI 54996 Kendra Franke www.lauraslanenursery.com The list below is of the nurseries we know 4653 Eddy Ridge Road [email protected] that carry one or more exotics in Marion, NY 14505 715-366-2477 seedlings or transplants. The list is mid- [email protected] west oriented. Let’s add to it some of the 315-926-5907 West Coast and Southern nurseries that are locally known but not on our radar, Needlefast Evergreens yet. Just send a note to Cynthia and we Ludington. MI 49431 Exotic Conifer Association will update the listing. www.needlefastevergreens.com Treasurer’s Report Nearly all of the listed nurseries will grow [email protected] what you want if they know what that is, 231-843-8524 September 30, 2019 can get viable seed and if the order is Membership: (as of September 30, 2019, Northern Minnesota Nursery large enough to be worth the effort. That see membership list) 12017 Eagle Road means collaboration with other growers Floodwood, MN 55736 40 2019 New Members or renewals to agree on a particular plant type and [email protected] seed source and getting enough interest 34 2017 or 2018 members 218-476-2162 that a nursery can put it into production 21 No renewal in three years -probably about 10,000 plants. Seems Northern Pines Nursery 95 all Members and interested like a lot but if 15-20 of us get together [email protected] and we agree on a two-year commitment 231-468-6018 you have it. This is particularly true of Lake City, Michigan Assets: (Prior year Savings, 2019 Mem- some of the newer hybrids. ECA wants to www.northernpines nursery.com berships, Summer Meeting Registrations) help so let us know your level of interest. • Incenta Federal Credit Union Peterson’s Riverview Nursery With Fall nearly at hand, you should have Allegan, MI 49010 • Savings Account $ 7,029.36 ordered your 2020 transplants by now as www.petersons-riverview.com the supplies may be limited. • Checking Account $ 1495.64 [email protected] • Total Assets $ 8,520.00 269-673-2440 Alpha Nurseries Inc. Liabilities: — No Outstanding Liabilities 3737 65th Street Pine Grove Nursery Holland, MI 49423 Clearfield, PA 16830 [email protected] www.pinegrovenursery.com 269-857-7804 [email protected] 814-765-2363 Badger Evergreen Nursery Allegan, MI 49010 Reliable Source Seeds & Transplants www.badgetrevergreen.com Morgantown, WV 26505 [email protected] [email protected] 269-673-2662 304-282-3470 Berkey’s Nursery Silvaseed Company Foresters 44251 Rogers Road P.O. Box 118 Spartansburg PA 16434 Roy. WA 98580 www.berkeysnursery.com [email protected] [email protected] 253-843-2246 814-654-7503 Van’s Pince Nursery Bosch’s Countryview Nursery West Olive, MI 49406 Allendale, Michigan 49401 www.vanspinesnursery.com www.boschssursery.com [email protected] [email protected] 616-399-1620 616-892-4090 Turkish Fir E C A , I N C . EXOTIC CONIFER ASSOCIATION, INC.

3006 Blue Green Drive Beavercreek OH 43431

Check out our website:

Exoticconiferassociation.com

Bustard’s Christmas Trees Christmas Bustard’s

Jay and Glenn Bustard Glenn and Jay

PA Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. Growers Tree Christmas PA

Exotic Conifer Association Conifer Exotic

Christmas Tree Promotion Board Promotion Tree Christmas

Growers Assoc. Assoc. Growers

Ulrik Nielsen – Danish Christmas Tree Tree Christmas Danish – Nielsen Ulrik pg. 11 pg. Report Treasures

Rich Cowles – CT Agric. Expt. Station Expt. Agric. CT – Cowles Rich

Exotic Conifer Planting Stock pg. 11 pg. Stock Planting Conifer Exotic TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rick Bates – Penn State Univ. Univ. State Penn – Bates Rick

pg. 10 pg.

Amazon Deforestation Deforestation Amazon CoFirGE Project pg. 1 Chal Landgren – Oregon State Univ. State Oregon – Landgren Chal

Stockholm, Recycle, Biochar pg. 8 pg. Biochar Recycle, Stockholm,

Gary Chastagner – Washington State Univ. State Pres.Washington Message– &Chastagner Sec.Gary Notes pg. 2 How tree could save the planet pg. 7 pg. planet the save could tree How

Bert Cregg – Michigan State Univ. State SummerMichigan – Meet,Cregg ContestBert Winners, Tour pg. 4 John Frampton – North Carolina State Univ. State Carolina North – Frampton John PA Tree Goes To Washinton pg. 7 pg. Washinton To Goes Tree PA

Thanks to CoFirGE Cooperators CoFirGE to Thanks

Exotic Conifers: Mediterranean Fir pg. 6 pg. ThanksFir to CoFirGEMediterranean CooperatorsConifers: Exotic Exotic Conifers: Mediterranean Fir pg. 6

Summer Meet, Contest Winners, Tour pg. 4 pg. John FramptonTour Winners, – NorthContest CarolinaMeet, StateSummer Univ. PA Tree Goes To Washinton pg. 7

Pres. Message & Sec. Notes pg. 2 pg. Bert CreggNotes – MichiganSec. & StateMessage Pres. Univ. How tree could save the planet pg. 7

pg. 1 pg. Gary Chastagner – WashingtonProject StateCoFirGE Univ. Stockholm, Recycle, Biochar pg. 8

Chal Landgren – OregonCONTENTS OF StateTABLE Univ. Amazon Deforestation pg. 10 Rick Bates – Penn State Univ. Rich Cowles – CT Agric. Expt. Station Exotic Conifer Planting Stock pg. 11 Ulrik Nielsen – Danish Christmas Tree Treasures Report pg. 11 Growers Assoc. Christmas Tree Promotion Board Exotic Conifer Association PA Christmas Tree Growers Assoc. Jay and Glenn Bustard

Bustard’s Christmas Trees

Beavercreek OH 43431 OH Beavercreek

3006 Blue Green Drive Green Blue 3006

. , I , A C E NC SSOCIATION ONIFER XOTIC INC. C N I , A C E