DEMAND FOR SEEDLINGS NEVER ENDS
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has provided seedlings for conservation planting to Indiana landowners throughout this century and the demand for seedlings seems to never end. Tree planting is, in fact, one of Indiana's oldest and best-supported conservation and environmental efforts. Since their beginnings in 1903, DNR nurseries have distributed more than 2.5 billion seedlings to private and public landowners for conservation planting projects statewide.
Currently, the DNR operates two tree seedling nurseries. Jasper-Pulaski State Nursery in northern Indiana; located just north of Medaryville on Highway 421 and the Vallonia State Nursery in southern Indiana; located near Vallonia in Jackson county, serve landowners statewide.
Today, a visit to state DNR nurseries reveals a seedling production of 5.5 million. Impressive in size, these production facilities deal in large quantities of plant materials, growing more than 50 species of trees and shrubs. Tending such a variety of native, more so than the tree wild plants has been described as the "height of green thumbery" yet, it seems that enterprises based on simple concepts are often the most successful. The concept of growing trees and shrubs from seed is simple, obtaining the resources and funding to complete this huge task is very challenging. Approximately 150 people work in this enterprise at various levels which includes 6 managers, 1 tree improvement specialist, 3 full time clerical, 7 full-time laborers, 60 part-time laborers, 3 Department of Correction guards, and 75 Department of Correction non-violent offenders. One can see the Indiana Department of Corrections is a major contributor to the nursery program. The cooperation and assistance received from DOC is excellent and essential to the continued production of seedlings needed by Indiana landowners.
One may wonder why these landowners are, planting so many seedlings, and why would they invest in such a long-term process as establishing tree and shrub plantings. One idea which describes almost all landowners who plant trees is the long term nature of the enterprise they are starting. The economic returns from such an investment are delayed for many years and most likely post the life-time of the tree planter. However, the benefits to the quality of our soil, water, and air begin quickly as do the benefits to wildlife. Society reaps these benefits as much as or more so than the tree planter. Currently, more than 10,000 landowners contact the nurseries each year to obtain the seedlings. At the current time, the DNR nurseries are unable to supply seedlings to all of these customers because demand has exceeded supply for several years.
The following are examples of the many types of landowners who contact the nursery. One may be a farmer who has a two acre field judged too small for continued farming with today's modern machinery. The farmer picks up 300 read oak, 300 white oak, 100 black walnut, 300 ash and 100 silky dogwood for planting the field intending to provide children or grand children a valuable timber resource and a place for wildlife to thrive. Another customer may be an energy company picking up 100,000 seedlings of a mix of species to re-establish forest land mined to provide coal for electricity. The customer could also be a consulting forester who is picking up trees for a landowner enrolled in one of the many programs such as Conservation Reserve and Wetland Reserve programs that are available through the Farm Service Agency. Lastly, the customer may be a landowner picking up 100 white pine and 100 black chokeberry to establish a windbreak and wildlife habitat.
Indiana's reforestation effort has become an effective partnership between the nurseries, Indiana citizens, agencies and corporations. The nurseries provide the seedlings at cost, landowners provide the site and the planting, DNR foresters and biologists provide plans and recommendations, and county agricultural offices provide incentives through farm programs. It is a partnership that promises a greener tomorrow for Indiana.