Intermountain Forestry Cooperative A review of a successful seed orchard at Cherrylane March 28, 2017 Moscow, Idaho Abbie A. Acuff
My Background: Graduate of Washington State University, BS Forest Management Employed by USFS White River Ranger District during college Hired as Assistant Seedling Production Supervisor for Potlatch Greenhouse in 1990 Promoted to Seedling Production Supervisor in 1993 Potlatch Greenhouse closed January 2009 Promoted to Silviculturist in 2010 Current responsibilities include seed and seedling procurement and seed orchard management Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 2
Outline: Benefits Location Overview Species Management Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 3
Benefits of Cherrylane Seed Orchard Improved seed with high genetic gain Steady supply of seed Families cover Potlatch Ownership One cone collection site Sale of surplus seed Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 4
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Cherrylane Seed Orchard.. Why There?? Located close to Lewiston Easy access Flat Well drained soil Water Long growing season No off site pollen contamination (except for Ponderosa Pine) Minimal chance of conifer disease Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 6
Overview of Cherrylane Seed Orchard Approximately 40 acres, not all available for seed production Seven species present on site Western White Pine Douglas Fir Western Larch Western Red Cedar Lodgepole Pine Ponderosa Pine Grand Fir Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 7
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Western White Pine Orchard originally started as Western White Pine Seed Orchard Focused on different resistance than Bingham Seed Orchard WWP seed from CLSO was operationally sown and planted on Potlatch land from 1991 to 1995. CLSO plantings were only 10-20% of total WWP plantings during those years. Original WWP Orchard removed in 1999 Current WWP Block represents 3 of 4 mechanisms for resistance to WWP Blister Rust: Bark Reaction Short Shoot Needle Shed Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 9
Douglas fir A real life example of Tree Improvement in action 1979-1980, Parent tree selection 1980-1981, Seed collected from parents 1982-1984, Progeny tests planted 1989-1992, Grafted top 30% of parents into Cherrylane Seed Orchard 1997, First significant cone crop Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 10
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Douglas fir Continued.. Seven, overlapping elevation zones Elevation from 2,300 feet to 4,700 feet Cones collected and stored by Family Seed blended annually to cover sowing needs Seed production varies by year and zone, but ranges from 0 lbs to over 100 lbs Currently meeting all Potlatch needs for elevation zones Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 13
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3,500,000 Woods Run vs Cherrylane Seed Orchard Douglas Fir Seedlings 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 - Woods Run DF CLSO DF Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 18
Western Larch Four Western Larch blocks currently at CLSO Block 1, earliest block, was established in 1993 Two elevation bands, Low and High All Families collected and stored as one collection per year Seed yield is variable. Have tried several methods to stimulate flower production, but no home run Not currently meeting Potlatch seed needs Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 19
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Western Red Cedar Block 1 established in 2000 Block 2 established in 2013 Represents all elevation zones to 5,000 feet Cones are picked and stored as one seed-lot each year Supplying all of Potlatch s WRC seed needs Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 25
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Lodgepole Pine Established in 1996 4 elevation zones Small collections of seed have been blended and used for operational planting Not currently meeting Potlatch s annual seed needs Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 28
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Ponderosa Pine Established in 1997 Four elevation zones No significant cone crop to date Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 31
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Grand Fir Established in 2014 No grafts, all from seedlings Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 33
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Seed Orchard Management Potlatch practices intensive management of Cherrylane Seed Orchard for tree health and seed production. Including: Irrigation Fertilization Control of cone and seed insects Vegetation control Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 35
Seed Orchard Management continued Species composition of Orchard changes over time to meet management objectives For example: Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 36
80 % Seedlings Planted at 10 Year Intervals 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1978 1988 1998 2008 2017 Douglas Fir Ponderosa Pine Western White Pine Western Larch Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 37
Seed Orchard Management continued Seed Orchard Managers have to predict species specific seed needs based on current and future management plans New Seed Orchard blocks take 5-10 years to develop and start producing seed (if genetic material is available) Space is limited, so Orchard composition, over time will change. Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 38
% of Species Over Time 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1980 1990 2000 2010 2017 WWP DF WL Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 39
Seed Orchard Management continued Future direction for Cherrylane Seed Orchard: Continue management and seed production for: Douglas Fir Western Larch Western Red Cedar Monitor, evaluate and improve seed production in: Lodgepole Pine Ponderosa Pine Grand Fir Maintain Gene Bank and WWP Block Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 40
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Contact Information: Abbie A. Acuff Silviculturist Potlatch Corporation 208-791-4618 Abbie.Acuff@potlatchcorp.com Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 43
Whooooo has questions? Intermountain Forestry Cooperative, March 28, 2017 44