One Day Conference: Growing Black Locust as a Timber Cash Crop

2016 07 31 17.47.24 2ggiqq2Join us for a special 1-day conference to explore the potential and methods for cultivating Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) profitably and successfully
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is an Appalachian native with many positive attributes that merit consideration for any tree planting project. Black Locust has very strong, highly decay-resistant lumber that is an excellent alternative to pressure treated lumber and posts. It is a nitrogen-fixing legume and the fragrant, attractive flowers, that appear in early June, are excellent bee fodder. One of the best reasons for considering Black Locust, is that it can be grown as a profitable timber cash crop throughout much of the Northeast!
It will be an invaluable networking and learning opportunity for those interested in growing Black Locust successfully and profitably.
Hosted by the USDA NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center with support from Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Cornell Small Farms Program

Date & location:
USDA NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center
3266 State Route 352; Big Flats, NY 14814

Friday, October 20th, 2017 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Registration starting at 9:30 am.

For full agenda and to register by Monday, October 16th please visit: https://goo.gl/forms/rAc030HqL3FH6lvw1

Cost is $20 (pay at the door) and includes a hot lunch and a Black Locust seedling grown from an improved seed orchard.
Please dress for the weather for an afternoon tour.
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For more information or any special accommodations, please contact Brett Chedzoy at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County by phone: (607) 535-7161 or email: bjc226@cornell.edu
 
 
 
 
 
Agenda
Morning Session: Black Locust as a Business (10:00 – noon)
Why Black Locust? An overview of its historical uses and attributes (Brett Chedzoy – Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County)
Uses in agroforestry systems (Steve Gabriel – Cornell Small Farms Program)
Lumber properties and markets (Karl Hallen – ESF)
Business models (Steve Sierigk – Hawk Meadow Farm; Harry Greene – Propagate Ventures)
Lunch from 12:00 – 1:00
Afternoon Session: Black Locust as a Tree Crop (1:00 – 3:00)
Varieties & Genetics (Carl Albers – CCE, retired)
Propagation (Akiva Silver – Twisted Tree Nursery)
IPM considerations (Mark Whitmore – Forest Entomologist, Cornell University Cooperative Extension)
BMP’s for establishment and management (Peter Smallidge – NYS Extension Forester)
Field Tour and Group Discussions (3:00 – 4:30)
Steiner Group plantation
Site prep and maintenance trials
Portable milling demo (to be confirmed)
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD)

Steve Gabriel

Steve is an Extension Specialist focused on specialty mushroom production and agroforestry. Throughout his career, Steve has taught thousands of people about the ways farming and forestry can be combined to both benefit the ecology and economies of small farms.  He is also a farmer, author, hiker, and musician.
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1 Comment

  1. Avatar of James W. (Bill) Fletcher III James W. (Bill) Fletcher III on January 7, 2023 at 3:44 pm

    i am interested in planting black locust for profit. can i get copy of conference materials? is it online?

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