PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – ArborGen forestry experts are working with local Mississippi State University agricultural extension offices to answer questions about growing pine trees, particularly loblolly pine.

The event is open to everyone: commercial growers, pine enthusiasts or private landowners interested in planting pine trees.

Registration is currently open with no set number of spots, but the size and available space on the pine research plot in northern Lamar County may limit the number of participants, said agricultural consultant Ross Overstreet.

“There are both mass-pollinated and open-pollinated families,” Overstreet said. “Depending on what your goals are, that will determine which pine family you want to plant on your property.”

The (research) site is limited in size, so there is no hard limit for us, but at some point we may have to limit our registration.”

ArborGen forestry expert Dr. Paul Jeffreys said the Lamar County property is designed to demonstrate how different species of swamp pine perform under the same conditions, in the same environments and with the same treatments.

“You can tell the genetic differences between, say, family A and family B because they are planted in the same location, in the same soil conditions, and given the same treatment,” Jeffreys said. “So any difference in shape, height growth, diameter growth, disease occurrence or absence, and whether they are susceptible or resistant to disease is genetic.”

“There are no environmental impacts there.”

A $10 registration fee must be mailed to PO Box 191, Purvis, 39475. Checks should be made payable to the Forrest County/Lamar County Forestry Association.

Please respond by September 20 at (601) 794-3910.

Accepted participants will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 28, at the Rocky Branch Community Center in Sumrall.

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