| | One of the most needed and often asked for information packages is now available to farmers and landowners who are planting trees as a crop in agroforestry systems. The Hybrid Poplar Crop Manual for the Prairie Provinces is a web-based, comprehensive instruction guide for establishment and management of short rotation intensive culture (SRIC) hybrid poplar crops that are specifically designed for the prairies. The manual was compiled through the Saskatchewan Forest Centre’s (SFC) Forest Development Fund for 2005.
The manual provides ‘how-to’ tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about SRIC, specifically hybrid poplar, about how and where to grow them. There are 10 modules that cover subjects such as: requirements and selection, clone selection, crop density, site preparation, crop maintenance, diseases and pest, as well as a module on economic analysis.
Cees (‘Case’) van Oosten of SilviConsult Woody Crops Technology Inc. provided the leadership for this collaborative effort that saw contributions from several government and private sector agencies. Most notable were the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) along with Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. and the Poplar Council of Canada (PCC). Ten other agencies were involved in the project.
The manual is available on-line through a link on the SFC website and on the Poplar Council of Canada website. It can be printed or downloaded from both websites.
Another SFC Forest Development Fund project is the report Crop Density for Hybrid Poplar in the Prairie Provinces. This project ties crop densities and pruning regimes to a range of value added end products. It discusses tree spacing in context of maximizing crop value per acre. A multiple use strategy for trees grown in agroforestry systems allows for optimizing returns. Pruning low branches to produce clear lumber and high value veneer is a strategic management decision. The report is available on the SFC web site.
Contact:
Martine Bolinger (780) 980-4230
Robin Woodward (306) 765-2848 |
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