TreeLines

Take Extra Care with Later Planting

While we always encourage everyone to plant as early as possible when conditions are favorable, the reality is this year some pine seedlings may have to be planted in March and perhaps April because of weather and planter availability. You can still get your seedlings planted and expect to have good survival and growth if, and only if, you follow some essential guidelines. Planting later means it is even more critical to ensure you are utilizing proper seedling handling, storage, and planting techniques.

Bare root seedlings lifted and packed while still fully dormant can be stored in cold storage for four weeks or more without any significant loss in survivability or growth potential. It is better to pack and store them while fully dormant than after they have “broken bud” and started to grow. Once the seedlings have begun to grow again, storage time will be reduced significantly.

If you are waiting on tree planters to get your property planted or the weather to cooperate, there is still a little time to plant and expect good results. Just be especially vigilant to see that they are stored properly as and planted using best planting practices.

Announcing a New Seedling Order Revision Policy

ArborGen is pleased to announce an updated seedling order revision policy that is today the most generous in the industry.   Each year, our customers plan to harvest, site prepare and plant…but sometimes the unexpected happens.

Our new policy will allow customers until October 31 each year to reduce their seedling order at no cost.  For Virginia, we will extend this deadline until November 30, recognizing the later planting season that occurs there.  After these dates, the seedlings and their associated costs are the obligations of the customer.

We understand weather-driven events such as incomplete timber harvest or site prep can occur; consequently, we have updated our order revision policy that provides customers with the flexibility they need to manage these problems.

As your reforestation partner, ArborGen will provide the support you need every step of the way, including the purchasing and order management process.   Contact your Reforestation Advisor with any questions about next season’s planting needs and our updated policy.

What’s Happening:  Seed Stratification

ACTION ALERT: H-2B Grass Roots Alert

FRA has set up a link for you to contact your Representative and Senators regarding the release of supplemental H-2B visas. The prepared letter requests that your elected Congressional Members contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and urge him to release additional seasonal H-2B visas. The DHS was provided the authority to release additional H-2B visas in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, when U.S. workers did not take these jobs.

This week, the Department of Labor announced that the 33,000 H-2B visa cap for the second half of the Fiscal Year 2021 was reached on February 12, six-days sooner than in the Fiscal Year 2020. Demand for H-2B visas remains high as more than 96,000 were requested in the second half of the fiscal year.

Each year, H-2B workers plant nearly 1.6 billion seedlings on public and private forestlands. This represents 85 percent of the acres planted each year in the United States.

FRA asks that you take the time to reach out to your two Senators and Representative and encourage them to ask the Secretary of DHS to release all of the 64,716 authorized H-2B visas. You can do this by clicking here, or alternatively, you can reach your elected officials through the Congressional switchboard at (202) 225-3121. Once connected to the office, ask to speak to the staff person who handles immigration issues.

Click here for the previous edition of TreeLines.