During the past two years the demand for the Wattle rust clones, SP 644 and AF1, has surpassed our production capacity, so it is important that growers plan early and place their orders as soon as possible. Growers who have planted the clones have only delivered positive feedback. As with all clones it is critical that only good sites are chosen to plant clones.
With the constraints on production it will be necessary to implement a first come first serve system on all orders. Added to that we will prioritize orders for wattle clones if the grower has placed his entire forestry seedling requirements with Sunshine Seedlings.
Global consumption of timber products will grow substantially from current levels, with both developed and developing countries increasing consumption at the same time. This expected increase in demand for timber will coincide with long term forecasts of decreasing supply levels, which will influence global timber prices, and in turn, benefit timber farmers.
Focus Points:
We would like to share a few things we have noticed during the planting season when meeting with farmers:
- Customers need to place orders to ensure that plants are in prime condition for planting.
- Good plant quality is the basis for tree planting success. It is not worth a farmer’s effort to prepare an area, transport plants to the field, transplant and maintain trees unless they are of good quality.
- A poor-quality tree will always be a poor-quality tree even if planted on a well-prepared good site. In the field, each poor-quality tree wastes space and resources leading to low site productivity. High quality trees have a higher survival rate and faster growth in the fi eld than poor quality trees.
- Â Orders placed need to be taken within a month of the order date otherwise quality maybe compromised.
- Ensure that the nursery knows the size of the seedling you are needing before the planting season starts. Each customer has a different need depending on whether they are planting manually or by machine.
- DO NOT put the plants you receive under the biggest, and most shady tree in the garden. The nursery grows these plants under ± 20% shade (hail net / plastic / both), and the plants are hardened off to survive under full light conditions. By holding them under a big tree, you are reversing this phenomenon, and softening them off and plants will turn yellow.
- Ensure that seedlings are watered before planting and then again, a few times during the day. The seedlings need to go into the ground wet regardless of how you are planting or the weather conditions.
- Avoid planting wattle in December and January we have generally seen higher mortality in field for the last few years during this period.
- We believe that there is an upturn in the forestry industry, and the future looks very positive. We look forward to growing with you into the future.
Contact:
The Sunshine Team
Contact: Erich Jacobs – 076 260 1306
Sunshine Seedling Services