Poplar in the Pacific Northwest: The Importance of Clonal Development

1. Poplar in the Pacific Northwest: The Importance of Clonal Development Brian J. Stanton GreenWood Resources June 29, 2005

2. GreenWood Resources • Resource management company focused on high-yield hardwood plantations • Founded in 1998 • Headquarters in Portland, Oregon • Managing 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington • Poplar breeding programs in PNW and LMRV • Plans for international developments

3. North American Poplar Plantations • 86,000 acres in the United States • 300 to 600 cubic feet per acre per year • Rotations of 8 to 12 years • 35,000 acres in Canada • 150 to 250 cubic feet per acre per year • Rotations of 10 to 18 years

4. Main Pacific Northwest Commercial Plantations for the Pulp and Paper Industry • 1982 – James River-Lower Columbia River Fiber Farm – 11,000 acres • 1991 – Boise Cascade’s Five Fiber Farms – 16,000 acres • 1994 – Potlatch Boardman Poplar Farm – 17,000 acres • 1996 – MacMillan Bloedel Fiber Operation – 8,000 acres

6. Lessons from 20 Years of Poplar Culture • Site selection is critical but plantation culture adaptable to marginal sites with appropriate technology • Importance of improved genetics and need for clonal diversity to minimize risk of plantation failure due to evolving pathogens • Critical role of exacting site preparation and weed management techniques

7. 20 Years of Poplar Culture – A Legacy of Success

8. History: Plant Material Development Initial exploratory hybridization at the University of Washington Elite selections used to launch commercial plantations west of the Cascades (15-29, 24-305, 49-177) and east of the Cascades (50-197, 184-411, 311-93)

9. History: Plant Material Development • Followed by proprietary breeding programs to achieve further gains and reduce risks (e.g. James River, Boise Cascade, Potlatch, MacMillan Bloedel) • Focus mainly on components of yield for chip production

10. History of Plant Material Development: Yield Improvement • Propagation success • Growth rate • Pest resistance • Wood specific gravity • Adaptability to climate, weather, soils

11. Poplar Varietal Development:Hybridization • Productivity of hybrids 150 to 175% of native cottonwood • Major types are: • P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa (P. x generosa) • P. deltoides x P. nigra (P. x canadensis) • P. deltoides x P.maximowiczii

14. Poplar Varietal Development:Clonal Selection • Appreciable variation found among seedling offspring within full sib hybrid families • Variation screened using a multiple stage field evaluation process

17. 1989 Hybrid Seedling Nursery Seedling Selection for Late Season Leaf Retention

19. Select vs Standard. hybrids Improved growth (bdt/ac/yr): - age 8

20. Today’s Challenges: Markets Developing new, higher-value markets in light of continuing low hardwood pricing for pulp and paper.

21. Columbia Tree Farm • New management style (lower stocking, longer rotation, pruning) • New selection criteria (stem form, wood quality) • Veneers, paneling, molding, cabinetry