TreeLines

June 2020 – 1st Edition

See the Forest Before the Seedlings

Genetic Demonstration Plantings

Pigeon Pond Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines June 2020 1St EditionProduct demonstrations are valuable tools for consumers and end-users in many industries.  Perhaps you have seen a product demonstration for electronics or machinery where you can physically see the finished product in person, push the buttons, or “kick the tires”.  When you test drive a car you can feel how the vehicle handles, you can try the seats and see how the dashboard is arranged.  This same idea is possible with your forest tree seedlings.  It’s hard to open a box of seedlings and “kick the tires” for future wood yield, disease resistance, and stem quality.  Genetic demonstrations, or “demos”, are a great opportunity for landowners and foresters to see the differences between genetic performance levels of families on different soil types.  They allow you to see the forest before the seedlings are selected, purchased, and planted on your own land.

If you plant small amounts of different families on your land, you then have to wait several years for the trees to grow before deciding which performs the best.  Not only that, but you’ve also had to invest the money to plant and manage them in the meantime. This is where ArborGen demonstration plots become very valuable to our customers.  We make the investment in the research, planting, and management for you. Genetic demonstrations of different families offer an opportunity for our customers to see how performance levels correspond to the actual trees in the field.  Some people are data-oriented and want to see the numbers supporting the genetics they select while others are more visual and prefer to see the differences in a field setting.

Each year ArborGen installs many acres of field trials on different sites to evaluate hundreds of families across the southeastern United States. These trials are designed to provide good statistical information to select the best performing families for your land.  The demos allow customers to view different families or varieties in larger plots such as in rows or blocks.  .  A landowner can compare families on the same site and envision how that family may grow on their own land, under their own management.   Documented performance scores can be compared to the trees in the field to help landowners connect the gain values to the appearance of the trees.  How much should I care about fusiform rust resistance compared to growth or stem straightness?  What does a family with 50% volume gain look like compared to one with 80% gain?   Demos are planted each year so that we have a progression of plantings at different ages across the southeastern US to allow people to see OP families or MCP® families, in a plantation setting before they make a decision to purchase.

Demonstration Planting Image Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines June 2020 1St Edition

 Typically a range of product performance levels is included so you can see the differences growth, disease resistance, and stem form.  We also include an unimproved seedlot, or checklot, for comparison to the commercial families.

All of this is done to help demonstrate the opportunities a landowner has to increase the value and performance of their forest plantation by selecting the right genetics.  A good demo helps you see the forest before the trees are purchased and planted.  Contact your Reforestation Advisor for more information on what our demo plots can show you.

Patrick Cumbie Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines June 2020 1St Edition

Article by Patrick Cumbie, Ph.D.,
Manager, Pine Development

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The Forestry Forum Image Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines June 2020 1St Edition
The Forestry Forum

The Forestry Forum is a place for those in the industry — including private landowners, forestry consultants, tree planters, academics, researchers, civil servants, and others — to share thoughts and ideas online for mutual benefit.

At ArborGen, we’ve built our reputation on two pillars: our forestry knowledge (the best scientific data and experienced staff) and customer service (being a true partner and acting with integrity).

This online forum expands on both fronts: to engage in ongoing conversations with you and your peers, to understand your current needs, to share advice, and to develop products and services which can benefit you and the future of forestry.

Performance in the Field

Best Log Quality Possible

Check out these 6-year old Varietals in Screven Co., Georgia. They are very uniform and straight with small, flat-angled branches.  They’ll make excellent logs or poles!

Explore the various seedling genetics options available for your specific goals, region, and land.

Varietals Arborgen Tree Seedlings Treelines June 2020 1St Edition

Did You Know?

In addition to helping you with your seedling genetics decisions, ArborGen Reforestation Advisors can also give you great silvicultural recommendations to maximize your success?

Need a trusted partner to guide the way?
Get in touch with a Reforestation Advisor to explore your options!

Austin Heine

Austin Heine

North Carolina and Virginia


910-660-3209

Greg Hay

Greg Hay

Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and Oklahoma


501-350-4217

Shannon Stewart

Shannon Stewart

Eastern Texas, Southern Louisiana

936-239-6189

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.d.

Paul Jeffreys, Ph.D.

Alabama & Mississippi

Manager Special Projects & Sustainability
205-712-9582

Drew Fasano

Drew Fasano

Reforestation Advisor
South Carolina
843-520-6865

Blake Sherry

Blake Sherry

Reforestation Advisor
Georgia and Florida

912-433-5407

Kylie Burdette

Kylie Burdette

U.S. Sales Manager

864-650-4454

Jason Watson

Jason Watson

Director, U.S. Sales

404-840-7489