White Oak Genetics and Tree Improvement Project Needs Volunteers

The White Oak Genetics and Tree Improvement Project (WOGTIP) was developed in part to help state nurseries throughout the eastern US obtain acorns that would consistently produce high-quality, fast-growing seedlings for reforestation. Thanks to woodland owners and other volunteers throughout the eastern US (including in KY), WOGTIP was able to get samples of white oak from Minnesota south to Texas and all states east to the Atlantic Ocean. The acorns were planted at one of the KY Division of Forestry's nurseries and the seedlings from these acorns are now ready to be removed and sent to progeny tests in many different states. The progeny tests will be used to identify which parents produce the best offspring and these parents will be cloned to create grafted seed orchards to produce acorns that will produce genetically diverse, high quality seedlings for landowners. We need volunteers to help remove and sort the seedlings from the nursery beds at the Morgan County Nursery near West Liberty, KY any day(s) M-F, Feb 20-24 and Feb 27-Mar 3, 9 -4 p.m. You don't have to stay the entire day. We also need volunteers to help plant seedlings at the Kentucky progeny test site located at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond on Tuesday, March 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Again, you don't have to stay the entire day, but you must be at the gate at 8:30 a.m. so that we can get you into the Army Base. To learn more or sign up contact [email protected].