If you grow tree crops, you’re betting on a future you won’t fully see. You might spend years planting, pruning, and protecting young trees before they hit their middle age, all while hearing that the climate in 2050 may look nothing like the climate you grew up with. It’s natural to wonder: “Am I pouring … Read more
Hicans represent an intriguing option for agroforestry practitioners seeking to expand nut production into regions where traditional pecans struggle. These naturally occurring hybrids between hickories and pecans combine the cold hardiness and adaptability of hickories with the thinner-shelled nuts more typical of pecans. While less well-known than their parent species, hicans offer unique advantages for … Read more
For many small landowners interested in agroforestry, chestnuts are one of the most attractive tree crops available. They produce a high-value food crop, grow quickly compared to most nut trees, and provide a powerful wildlife draw. Among the chestnut options available in the United States today, the Dunstan chestnut is probably the most widely marketed … Read more
In researching some of the chestnut cultivars in the UMCA “Descriptions of Chestnut Cultivars for Nut Production in the Eastern and Midwestern United States”, I saw that someone named ‘E.A. Riehl’ was listed in these. Imagine my surprise that his farm was in Godfrey, Illinois, just up the bluff from Piasa Harbor. Our family had … Read more