In reforestation, knowing what you want from a 25-year investment is the starting point for deciding what to plant. Understanding the differences between Mass Control Pollinated (MCP®) and Open Pollinated (OP) Loblolly pine seedlings is critical to ensure you get exactly what you want and, more importantly, what the timber market wants – or will want.
There has been a lot of news on the closing of pulp mills in the Southeast, but new sawmills and investments in existing facilities are still being announced. What’s a landowner to do? Is there a way to be prepared for ANY market?
Many great tools are available to landowners and forestry consultants now that help “see” the trees before you even plant them. Although MCP has been around for years, we now have mature stands that demonstrate the value we describe. Photos, videos, and onsite visits with Reforestation Advisors can give an accurate picture of the quality of advanced genetics.
The NC State Performance Rating System, a tried and true, respected classification of tree performance and verified third-party data support confirms that your decisions are right. ArborGen’s own internal breeding program and proprietary Seedling Calculator add another layer of knowledge to your decision-making. All of this information is available for landowners and forestry consultants alike.
Photo and Video Documentation: ArborGen has gathered a vast library of photos and videos.
These visuals highlight the physical contrasts and provide insight into growth and performance characteristics.
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NCSU PRS™ System: PRS™ – Tree Improvement Program
This system ranks the performance of the different families available on the market. ArborGen is a full member of the NCSU Tree Improvement Cooperative and will provides these PRS™ performance scores to landowners and foresters who want to be informed about genetics.
Additionally, ArborGen has its own internal breeding program which provides OP and MCP seedlings that exceed the performance of what is available as a full member of the NCSU Cooperative.
Not all full members have their own internal breeding programs. ArborGen’s MCP 2.0 is a byproduct of our breeding program and is excelling beyond what is available through the NCSU Cooperative breeding program.
Quantitative Tools: The Seedling Revenue Calculator.
This powerful tool runs growth and yield simulations based on actual market data that shows the financial outcomes of different seedling decisions based on specific physiographic regions.
You can watch a demonstration video of the tool below, and your Reforestation Advisors are available to do a personal demonstration to show how an investment in MCP would perform for you vs OP Loblolly pine seedlings.
