Chestnut workshop series covers entire 2011 growing season

Classes will take current and prospective growers and educators through season of growing, harvesting and marketing chestnuts.

Chinese chestnuts are a growing industry in Missouri, but there’s still a lot to be learned about both the trees and the market.

Researchers from the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri have pioneered growing Chinese chestnuts in Missouri and will teach others what they’ve learned through four workshops offered throughout 2011 at the MU Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin.

Current and prospective growers, extension agents and FFA instructors and students are invited to attend the 2011 workshops to learn more about the chestnut industry.

“A one-acre orchard of 50 well-managed grafted Chinese chestnut trees can gross between $4,000 and $7,000 wholesale and about $10,000 retail within 10-12 years and provide growers with supplemental income,” said Mike Gold, associate director of the center. “We feel this crop will be of interest to many growers and is part of the future of specialty crop farming in Missouri. Growing chestnuts is an excellent way to diversify your farm income.”

Gold recommends that participants sign up for all four sessions, which will take attendees through the entire growing season to learn about establishing and caring for trees, and harvesting, cleaning and marketing the nuts. The workshops will occur throughout the year, covering topics relevant to the time of the growing season.

Course dates and topics are as follows (all sessions are on Tuesdays):
- March 22: Site selection, planting, graft planning and pruning.
- May 3: Grafting.
- Aug. 16: Orchard maintenance, weed control, insect scouting, pest management and disease control.
- Sept. 13: Chestnut harvest, marketing and sales.

MU instructors include Gold; Ken Hunt, research scientist, forestry; Mark Coggeshall, research assistant professor of forestry; and Michele Warmund, professor of plant sciences. Outside experts and veteran growers will be brought in for individual courses when applicable.

Previous workshop series were supported by a Missouri Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant. Because that grant has ended, 2011 workshop fees will be $75 per session or $300 for the entire course. The fee includes educational materials and lunch.

Gold noted that about 60 landowners have gone through the workshop series in the past two years and post-workshop feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees rated the workshops on average as either “excellent” (90 percent) or “good” (10 percent) in surveys administered after the final meeting.

A minimum of 10 participants must sign up for each session for the workshops to be offered. The event confirmation date will be March 15, so sign up today, Gold said.

For workshop details, contact Gold at 573-884-1448 or to sign up, contact Julie Rhoads at 573-882-3234.

Learn more about the Center for Agroforestry and Chinese chestnuts visit their website.
(By Michele Hall, Senior Information Specialist, Center for Agroforestry)