The past year was a breather for your Association. Behind the scenes effort continued on our major objectives including the seed orchard, insect and disease research and education, plantation growth and yield measurements, commercialization planning and development and investigation of carbon credit opportunities for planting ponderosa pine.
 Photo by Bob McNitt Plantation near Grande Ronde |
Late season scheduling issues required the 2007 summer tour to be postponed until 2008. Dan Kintigh is putting together a great tour in the Marcola area that will focus on the values of Valley ponderosa pine for riparian and urban use and methods of plantation establishment in difficult environments.
The WVPPCA display was presented at the Clackamas County Tree School and the Mixed Species symposium in Corvallis. Rick Fletcher made a presentation at the State Tree Farm annual tour. Several members helped with maintenance in the Ponderosa Pine Demonstration area at the Oregon Garden
The Pineguy is still contacted with questions about ponderosa pine. “How do I grow ponderosa pine from cones” is still common along with a new one “where can I get larger (5-6’) Valley ponderosa seedlings?”
 Photo by Rick Fletcher Plantation in Benton County |
The Executive Committee held three meetings. The 2006 Annual Report was published and 619 mailed to those on our contact list. The 2007 membership was 107 down some from previous years.
The Annual meeting was held February 27 in Albany. Over thirty attended the first ever afternoon event. The attendance indicates the afternoon format was received well. Howard Dew and Lon Rankin were reelected to three year terms. The afternoon program featured Scott Leavengood who discussed the considerations necessary to insure a successful commercialization effort for Willamette Valley ponderosa. Success includes determining the long range resource supply, knowing costs of production, understanding the wood properties as they relate to grading and product opportunities and the options for value added products. See work plan later in this report.
The meeting wrapped up with reports updating current activities – including carbon credit potential, gall rust resistance study, Dave Shaw’s disease study and the Oregon Garden Ponderosa Pine demonstration forest.
