Summary: The N.C. Forest Service’s annual tree seedling sale is set to start July 5. Around 16 million seedlings are produced each year through the NCFS Nursery Program, enough to plant around 30,000 acres. If you are interested in purchasing these genetically improved tree seedlings, you should plan to order early. Varieties include conifers and hardwoods, loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf and white pines as well as other species.
Today’s Topic with Southern Farm Network’s Mike Davis
Talking Points:
- It’s that time of year again when the N.C. Forest Service’s Nursery Program starts taking orders for conifers, hardwoods and genetically improved tree seedlings grown through its program.
- Sales officially begin July 5, so I’m giving interested landowners a heads up that the sale is coming.
- The Nursery Program produces around 16 million seedlings, which is enough to plant roughly 30,000 acres of land each year.
- Conifers and hardwoods are available for sale in units as small as 10 and as high as 100. Bulk orders can also be placed by the hundreds and thousands.
- Genetically improved stock for loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf and white pines are also available.
- These seedlings offer better volume growth, tree form, disease resistance, straightness and other characteristics of quality wood products and healthy woodlands.
- Seedlings of certain tree species sell out fast, so deciding what you may need now will help when you place your order.
- With so much talk about climate change and environmental sustainability these days, planting trees provides the potential for tremendous environmental benefits.
- In fact, a report released in 2022 by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality noted that forests, natural lands, and agricultural lands sequestered an estimated 26% of total gross greenhouse gas emissions in 2018.
- That is important information to share particularly as we continue to see significant development taking place in our state.
- Whenever farmland or forestland is cleared for development, that affects our ability to sequester carbon.
- So, continuing to plant trees is important environmentally and starting with healthy seedlings helps ensure superior trees.
- There are three ways to order:
- They can be ordered online at buynctrees.com
- They can be ordered by phone at 1-888-628-7337.
- Or, they can be ordered using a form in the FY23-24 Nursery Seedling Catalog. That user-friendly online catalog can be found on our homepage at ncagr.gov.
- The catalog provides information about the types of tree species available. The description includes information about ideal planting locations, plus whether the species benefits wildlife, restores forest habitats or is marketable timber.
- Seedling distribution take place January through March, depending on the weather conditions.
- Seedlings can be shipped to one of 13 distribution centers across the state for a small fee or via UPS for a charge.
- Orders can also be picked up at the Forest Service’s Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or at the Linville River Nursery near Crossnore.
- Forest Service county rangers can also provide information on planting trees or answer questions regarding the seedlings.