[MassChestnutOrchards] FW: matacf minutes aug. 2009

[Fred Hebard]

I don't think Kendra was suggesting not selecting in both orchards.   
If trees in one orchard were inoculated a lot sooner than in the  
other, and adequate selections were  obtained from the first orchard,  
and produced sufficient progeny to finish a line, one probably  
wouldn't gather nuts from selections in the second orchard.  They  
would still be left to act as father trees in the second orchard.  It  
would be foolhardy, under this scenario, to not go ahead and use the  
available nuts; one never knows for sure what next year's harvest  
will bring.

Fred

Frederick V. Hebard, PhD
Staff Pathologist, Meadowview Research Farms
American Chestnut Foundation
14005 Glenbrook Ave.
Meadowview, VA 24361

Email: Fred at acf.org
Web: http://www.acffarms.org
Phone: (276) 944-4631
Fax: (276) 944-0934


On Aug 21, 2009, at 9:27 PM, johnviolin7 at aol.com wrote:

> Kendra,
>
> It is unclear to me why we would not try to select the best of the  
> BC's
> at both duplicate orchards of which there are many pairs. I would like
> to know why such an arrangement would not actually cut down on
> inbreeding by adding greater diversity.
>
>   For example, two of my Lincoln lines are replicated at Hawley. Why
> shouldn't some of our F2 nuts from these Chelmsford and Topsfield  
> lines
> come from crosses in both places involving these lines? The  
> alternative
> would be for Lincoln to wait two years for Hawley to catch up. I  
> really
> don't see the point.
>
> I will get the pollination data to you as soon as possible. I am aware
> of the need to, but stressed for time, as I have been putting in at
> least 15 hours of orchard work a week all summer and often more. If I
> were being paid for my work I'd be rich!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kendra Gurney <kendra at acf.org>
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Sent: Fri, Aug 21, 2009 10:09 am
> Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] FW: matacf minutes aug. 2009
>
>
>
>
> Hi All –
>
>
>
> I read through the mins and looks like there were a few questions for
> me.  I plan to make the Oct 3rd meeting, but will try to respond
> briefly here.
>
>
>
> Selections and Rogueing –
>
>
>
> Selections are made in a couple steps.  A first round of canker  
> ratings
> in the fall after inoculation should ide
> ntify about ½ the trees that
> don’t have the resistance we are looking for.  These can be rogued  
> out,
> and now that I’m better trained on selections I should be able to get
> that data to you more quickly.  Then the following summer (ideally
> before trees flower) we rate cankers again.  Of those that rate the
> best for resistance, we then look at morphological traits and choose
> the most resistant and American-looking trees in each line.  We will
> probably keep the best two or three trees from a line in the orchard
> and let them cross.  Everything else will get rogued at this  
> point.  My
> understanding is that after the first year or so canker expansion is
> more closely tied to environment than genetic resistance, so we  
> want to
> get these ratings done in the first full year and then trust the data.
> My one concern for how this will play out in the MA orchards is  
> that it
> seems there are lines duplicated in more than one location.  This will
> make things a little trickier, but I’ll work with Fred and Sara to  
> come
> up with a good approach.
>
>
>
> Data –
>
>
>
> Yvonne and John – please send me your pollination data.  I attached  
> the
> form I use, so please fill it in while the details are fairly fresh  
> and
> send it my way.  I should have the tree codes, so don’t worry if you
> don’t have that, but pollen used a
> nd all the bagging and pollination
> info would be great.
>
>
>
> And yes, we need to get all the orchard data into the “standard”
> format.  I’m happy to help folks with this, and have been plugging  
> away
> at some of it myself.  We can talk more about this is October, but I
> would be thrilled to see more updated data, especially for the
> orchards.  (Wow – that makes me sound really boring!)
>
>
>
> Orchard Maintenance –
>
>
>
> I’m always happy to help organize orchard work days.  You just need to
> let me know if you need help that a work crew would be good for,  
> and we
> can organize something.  August and September are the best times for
> general maintenance, as I’m usually pretty flat-out from planting
> through pollinating.  But please feel free to ask anytime.   I think
> there was a suggestion for an intern next summer, and realistically if
> there is a lot of maintenance and upkeep that needs to be done around
> the state, this would be a good plan.
>
>
>
> Annual Meeting –
>
>
>
> I have the 15th on the calendar and plan to be there.  Let me know if
> there is anything I can help with or you would like me to present.  I
> visited the SKLT orchard while I was at ISA last month (great job with
> the Arbor Fair!) and tentatively planned with Rudi Hempe to give a  
> talk
> to t
> he local groups involved with that orchard sometime in November.
> Please keep me posted as the plans for the Annual Meeting firm up,  
> as I
> would like to plan with Rudi around this date.
>
>
>
> Best to all –
>
>
>
> Kendra
>
>
>
>
>
> Kendra Gurney
> The American Chestnut Foundation®
>
> New England Regional Science Coordinator
> USFS Northern Research Station
> 705 Spear Street
> South Burlington, VT 05403
> Tel: 802.951.6771 x1350 Fax: 802.951.6368
>
> Cell: 802.999.8706
> Kendra at acf.org or kgurney at uvm.edu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org
> [mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of
> Yvonne Federowicz
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 6:00 PM
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Subject: [MassChestnutOrchards] FW: matacf minutes aug. 2009
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ***************************
> *
> *    MATACF Morning Growers Meeting  8/2/2009  Brian Clark's  
> Farmhouse,
> Ashfield, MA
> *
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ***************************
>
> Present:  Rufin Van Bossuyt, Charlotte Zampini, Mike Novack, Brian
> Clark, Rich Hoffman, Bruce Spencer, Jaime Donalds, John Emery, Brad
> Smith, Mike Meixsell, Guy Shephard, Lois & Denis Melican
> Ruth Anderson, Mr. Anderson
>
> F1s  are doing well in various place
> Some have gone to SKLT, Glocester, Yvon
> ne's yard temporarily
>
> Controls went to SK.  Rufin planted short Nanking line at Dartmouth.
> Dartmouth is having trouble
> Riverbend may have gravel underneath, having trouble in areas
> Exeter line went there.
> Doing well, dug holes.
>
> Westerly still needs seedlings planted
>
> Pollinations:
> YF did Exeter & E Greenwich Nanking, Exeter & Glocester -Clapper
> John Emery did several also
>
> Brain Clark did a great job on the large Conway tree
>
> There is still an issue on how we can get the nuts ˆ Board meeting
> issue on money expenditures
>
> Charlotte has agrifos/Pentrabark mix.  Mix it just before use, wet  
> bark
> completely.  Becomes systemic.
>
> Inoculations done in June ˆ did 200-250 trees ˆ had two four-person
> crews, that part worked well.  Was a big job though.
> Pre-chosen trees ˆ that was important.  (flagging) with labels
> Borer & marker, inoculator, taper, and recorder
> Put two sets of holes in a few trees.  That would make for a bigger
> task though.
> We moved fast, was fairly tiring.
>
> Rufin:  early Medway ones are gettings much larger.  All the moisture
> has enabled many to put on 2-4 feet of growth, with no fertilizer.
>
> We would like more feedback from Kendra  about what we are judging on
> before we rogue things out.
>
> John Emery:  EP inoculation sites are about 10% smaller than the
> other...  Could have been condition of the inoculant.  Diameter of
> colony s
> houldn't matter.
>
> They do a snapshot approach on judging inoculation sites.
>
> Jamie & Charlotte:  Orchard reports needed by September 15th.  Easier
> in the autumn to measure.
> National would like the data for the annual meeting but Charlotte  
> needs
> to compile them.
>
> We aren't all in National's standardized format yet...
>
> Stirling has no orchard manager at the moment.  Two people is better.
>
> All F1s distributed this year were Upton x Fitzburg ˆ KJ1.
>
> Under 10 feet ˆ measure height
> Over 10 feet ˆ estimate and caliper
>
> SK/MG orchard doing well
> Glocester needs its pump ordered
>
> Westerly ˆ additional irrigation equipment delivered yesterday
> Brian Pistolese ˆ 1991 TACF
>
> Might need calcium ˆ Mike N.
> Soil test very important
> Yvonne will ask the Master Gardeners
> Scrubby white oaks there are also fairly short
>
> Rufin:  orchard maintenance
> lots of effort has gone into pollinating and planting
> difficult when people have moved
>
> Conway and Stirling were left without managers for a while
> Lancaster also
> Stockbridge
> Craig Moffit has back problems
>
> Lots goes into pollinating and getting orchard established
> Mike M. isn't that a function of orchard location?
>
> Roving crew could help
>
> Can we get Kendra involved with the roving orchard maintenance?
>
> CT, VT, NH have been utilizing Kendra's time a lot
>
> Getting crews out to do maintenance is harder
>
> Making sure that each orchard h
> as a monitor/manager
> A lot of the work doesn't take much time
>
> Can Kendra help organize a work day?  Bring out food etc.
> An intern next year could be good.
>
> Next year pollinations:
> One for John Emery's in Nankin
> Possibly another for SK?
>
> Others?
>
> May do one or two more if we have good partners
> Yvonne: suggested that new orchards be vetted partly on their
> availability of people to help rather than just land.
>
> Jamie:  we need people to look at what we have, it's difficult
>
> Letting people know when you have help important
>
> Can we assign Stockbridge to Kendra? Jamie will talk to Kendra about
> Stockbridge
>
> Kathy: Vincent Hebert Arboretum interested ˆ lots of foresters
> available but need to know what to do
>
> Organic mulches for Stockbridge
> Yvonne will get name of organic fertilizer she used on blueberries
>
> Mike N.: our „development‰ is different from many nonprofits ˆ it's
> person -time
>
> Trustees of Reservations contact ˆ can they adopt an orchard?
>
> Lois:  We should make a simple document to organize all the summer
> tasks and share it
>
>
> Next summer is lots of inoculations: Elder Hostel?  Earthwatch?
>
>
> Charlotte and Lois will work on the Earthwatch.
> Trustees of Reservations ˆ how can we move that along? Guy is involved
> in his local TR group.
> We haven't heard back from the Mount Gracie person.
> Anne Myers had contacted TR but nothing devel
> oped ˆ they are active
> inareas slightly different from us.
>
> Guy will try to make some contacts and get back to Jamie.
>
> Deer repellants tbd.
>
> Seed Orchard
> DCR has been pro-seed orchard ˆ Lois and Denis.
> A MOU is underway but still in the works
> This is about the large seed orchard at Moore State Park.
> They would send us a MOU
> Denis: chestnut chocolate ice cream was made... it went over very well
> with the DCR personnel
> Ben & Jerry's should have a chestnut ice cream flavor...
> Denis has promised us all some at our annual meeting...
>
>
> Mt.Gracie might be willing to do an easement for a long-term seed
> orchard
> also Mike Novack has volunteered land
> Charlotte: excellent fields near Wachusett Reservoir
> Large open fields
> DCR land also
>
> Existing orchards can be reused as a single „block‰ for seed orchards
>
> Seed orchard maintenance will be different
> Once selected, they just get to grow
> Initially will be very close together
>
> Need water access or truck
> Water buffalo not big enough for DCR spot?
>
> There is a well in the field nearby
>
> Mike Novack's area has plenty of water available ˆ stream that never
> dries, several springs
>
> Need soil testing done on area ˆ Bruce Spencer
> soil structure too
>
> Lois and Denis will get a comprehensive soil test done
>
> John Emery:  should we plow/treat in advance?
>
> John Meiklejohn did plowing and it helped a lot
>
>
> Nex
> t year we could be doing crosses for the seed orchard, then plant in
> 2011
> Do some test plantings, soil testings, irrigation, etc. next spring -
>
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ***************************
> *
> *      Afternoon Board Meeting   1:25pm Brian Clark's Farmhouse,
> Ashfield, MA
> *
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ***************************
>
> Board Members Present: Jamie Donalds, John Emery, Brad Smith,  Mike
> Meixsell, Guy Shepard, Lois Melican, Denis Melican, Kathy Desjardin,
> Yvonne Federowicz, Rufin Van Bossuyt, Charlotte Zampini, Mike Novak,
> Rich Hoffman, Brian Clark, John Mirick
>
> Guests present: Ruth Anderson, David Anderson, Barbara Clark Graves,
> Susan Clark, Penny Novack, Phil Ewnip(sp?) curator of birds and  
> mammals
> at San Diego Natural History Museum, Nelson Cawkins an original MATACF
> charter member, Bruce Cawkins his son, Judy Hoffman
>
> Brian Clark says farm has been in family since grandfather bought  
> it in
> 1886
>  Original farmhouse was up the hill
> In the 1920s they added a second floor
> Was dairy and apples, now just apples
>
> Chestnut orchard is up road,Hawley orchard is on another piece of  
> their
> land.  They have about 70 acres of apple trees -
> Tens of thousands of trees
>
> Trees have gone in over several decades
> Apples are the commercial crop.  Whole Foods and Trader Joe's main
> markets.
> They use IPM
>
> * Treasurer'
> s Update Mike
>
> No funds restricted right now
>
> Normally this time of year we'd be negative ˆ shows that we haven't
> spent as much on orchard supplies this year.
>
> Rich Hoffman: he never gets notified if his donations to our chapter
> thru National actually get to us.  Mike N. does get that.  No one has
> asked him to verify that independently that we have the money in the
> accountˆ he will. Organizations should periodically verify this by  
> more
> than just Mike.
>
>
> * Jamie:  we will ask Mike N. to bring in a bank statement to verify.
>
> Also members can send Mike note via email and he can verify that we
> received the donation directly to chapter
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
> *  Motion: approve Treasurer's Report: Mike M., seconded Brad.
>  approved unanimously.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
>
> * Secretary’s Report:
> Kathy: Membership is 337 members.  Contacts: reports of possible  
> mother
> trees, forwards to Charlotte and Rufin.
>
> At the ISA Fair we had a “Learning Box” from National, it was very  
> nice
>
> Kathy renewed our mailing permit.
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
> * Motion to Approve minutes from last time ˆ Brad, seconded Jamie.
>  Approved unanimously.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
>
> Our membership is down slightly.
> It fluctuates a bit.  Economy is bad.
>
> Kathy receDonations over $250 in a year require a special letter from
> the donee.  kathy will ask National how this works.  We need at least
> 1/3 of our support to come from the general public.
>
> Executive Committee ˆ how does this work?
>
> Jamie ˆ usually officers plus one at large.
>
> Jamie will use the Committee:Mike Novack suggests $1000 as the limit.
>
> Executive Committee is 4 officers plus past presidents.
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
> * Motion: A phone bridge will be usable for Executive Committee Votes;
> * expenditures will not exceed $1000.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
>
> Board of Directors should be notified when we decide to spend any  
> money
> this way by the next Quarterly Board Meeting via Email and then a
> report at the meeting.
>  Mike Novack. seconded by Rufin. Approved unanimously
>
> Tower Hill event:  25 year anniversary honoring John ?.  Brad: let's
> give a plaque from Guy with an inscription
>
> NC Newsletter has an article about a scientist who worked with Dr.
> Graves, in Berkshires.
>
> Jamie and Brad will work on covering the Tower Hill event.
>
> The ongoing saga of the weedwhacker...
>
> Guy will donate a good steel weedwhacker to the chapter.
>
> Everyone thanked Guy.
>
> Chapter reimbursement for Jamie's travel.
>
> **************************************************************
> ***********
> ****
> * Motion: cover Jamie's autumn meeting National TACF travel not to
> exceed $400.  Guy.
> * Seconded: John Mirick. Approved unanimously
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
>
>
> We should plan for this to be in the budget and not approve it on a
> case-by-case basis ˆ John Mirick.
>
> Mike N. - we will be getting into a period of significant fluctuation.
> John M. - usually in nonprofits budget is approved in advance,
> Executive Committee can then go ahead and spend it as long as it does
> not exceed  this.
>
> Annual Meeting ˆ Location and Speaker
>
> Asian Longhorn Beetle? Guy volunteered to find us a speaker.  Rufin:
>  oaks and beech are not preferred ALB hosts.
> Federal people have mentioned chestnut but they could be meaning horse
> chestnut.
>
> New National CEO could come ˆ Rufin? Perhaps next year after he  
> settles
> in more
> Lois ˆ Collin Novick is a very good ALB person from near Worcester. He
> is very interested in chestnut.
> National Grid facility in Worcester a possibility. Guy will look into
> the spot.  Brad ˆ we could also connect with other beetle groups.
>  Clint Neal also is with USDA ˆ came to speak on ALB.
>
> Newcomer sessions at Annual Meeting ˆ how elaborate should it be?
> The Learning Box works well for that.
>
> Brad wouldn't mind making up an introductory slide show and bring
> people up to speed quickly,
> early on.
>
> 15 minutes before the meeting starts, Brad will hold this.   
> Opportunity
> for questions.
> Also a section: where we need help.
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
> * Annual Meeting Date:  Tentative is November 15th if this works for
> the venue.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ****
>
> Kendra:  not present.
>
> Rhode Island: SKLT: John Mirick to get them a modified Germplasm
> agreement?  Yvonne has the basic one.
>
> Westerly needs assistance (see morning minutes)
> Has new orchard manager, Brian Pistolese.  Will be getting soil tests,
> etc.
> Seed Orchard Development
> John Mirick & John Meiklejohn.  Very difficult to bind municipalities.
>  Private land can be difficult to obtain 30-year commitment on.  MOUs
> get something into municipalities but still can't bind the public.
> Easement agreements for existing orchards.
> Deeded easement vs. deed.  Landowners might want a charitable donation
> and deed property over.  They would get fair market value deduction.
>  Deeded easement gives lower tax deduction,. (John Mirick)
>
> Would want access to water and a few other similar things.  Particular
> situations would differ.
> John Mirick: at end of 30 years, what do we want with the trees and
> land?  Logs?
> Land donations: we might be stuck with taxes to pay
> John Mirick:  getting a financial aid to people donating use of lands
> is good
>
> In20a perfect world, what would we want from landowners?
>
> What is the minimum we can accept?
>
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ********************************
> Everyone:  email John Mirick & Meiklejohn answers to those questions.
> They will put together a report for the next meeting.
> ********************************************************************** 
> ***
> ********************************
> Lois & Denis will forward anything from DCR to Jamie.
>
> An electrician friend of D&L have put in solar-powered deer fencing.
> Brian: solar fencing has been very reliable for them, more so than
> regular
> Leo Miller ˆ Friend of Melicans
>
> Rufin: Norcross Foundation has donated to the CT chapter, perhaps we
> can get something from them as well
>
> Mike N: materials need to last 30 years
> Jamie: try to get donations
>
> Trustees of Reservations
> Rufin:  Trustees were interested in having a seed orchard in Munson  
> but
> smallish, better for demo orchard.  however they do have a field that
> is overgrown, needs work on invasives. Not sure about irrigation.
>
> Mike N.: Demonstration orchards vs. 4-blocks sizes ˆ less than 100 by
> 100 feet ˆ can be put in.
>
> Rufin will look into site again ˆ would need to be investigated for
> next summer.  Josh from Trustees of Reservations
>
> Charlotte ˆ orchard report
> John Emery and Yvonne did pollinations
> We will have several inoculations to do next summer
>
> „Trees in the Ur
> ban Landscape‰ - Lois ˆ would like Chestnut Foundation
> to do presentation ˆ Elm tree is part of it, can chestnuts be part of
> this?
>
> That is 2 days before our annual meeting.
>
> Who can take the day off work...
> Lois will find out the time.
>
> ISA (International Society ... Arboriculture) Meeting:
>
> We put together a table with display, talked to many people. Rufin,
> Kathy, Yvonne, Guy  - canopy, Learning Box from National helped  
> quite a
> bit.  Lots of spontaneous conversations. Tree Climbing competitions.
>  Tour de Trees
> Different groups donated a great deal of money for research and
> scholarships.
>
> Hazelnuts also will have to be crossbred to make resistant European
> hazelnuts to an American disease.  Rutgers and Oregon State have a
> breeding program.
>
>
> Spring National Board Meeting:  proposal to have regional
> representative on Board instead of States.  Possibility of valid  
> points
> with „greenness‰ of some Presidents going in.  Jamie wanted continued
> Chapter representation but not necessarily Presidents.
>
> Mike N.:  might be best to let Chapters decide.  Might want President
> or might want other.
>
> Some people thought Board was too large and too green.  Some Chapters
> elect a President for one year.
> Susan Cormier had suggested that President can appoint someone to
> represent chapter to National meeting.
>
> ISA has 37 chapters.  Each chapter elects a Presiden
> t and a delegate to
> National.
>
> Rufin:  make terms at least three years on National representation
>
> Some people are „at-large‰ members
>
> Bennington Office being closed at end of year.  Asheville is new  
> place.
>  Unknown if Daphne to continue.
>
> Orchard Signs finally all done!  Paid for, etc.
>
> Elections:  Is Frank Howard still on the Board?
> Yvonne will email who is going to be over their term limits, who is up
> for elections etc.
> Would Dave Anderson like to be a Board member?
> Lives in Lancaster.  Jamie will give him a call.
>
> Denis: fall fundraiser at Moore State Park.  What if it raised funds
> for MATACF?  Seed Orchard?  Mid-October?   Get a resistant chestnut  
> for
> Governor of MA to plant next spring?  media event.
>
> Denis & Lois did an excellent paper on chestnut for their class at the
> Landscape Institute, passed them out.
>
> Might grow into a harvest festival with chestnuts in a few decades
>
> Please email Denis and Lois if you would like to work on this
>
>
> Autumn Meeting:  Let's shorten the growers meeting
>
> 1 hour for the autumn grower's meeting
>
> Start at 1 pm -> 4pm
>
> October 3rd 1pm-4pm
>
> Possibly Riverbend
>
> TACF President is offering Legacy Trees ˆ 25 seedlings
>
> Adjourned 4:22
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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