The Rural Voice, 1990-12, Page 29planned (or planted) ahead. Six years
ago, they began a two -acre
experimental plot with 100 nut trees,
and since that time, have established
an additional 20 -acre plantation called
the Mill Creek Nut Grove.
Paul says he wanted a crop "that
wouldn't cut his throat," something
different from the beef and cattle in
his area, and a crop that would be
economically viable yet unusual.
The Bennetts have planted a
variety of nuts: Carpathian walnuts,
pecans, Korean pine nut, and 22
different types of filberts (or
"hazelberts," Barbara says). A
hazelnut/filbert hybrid has the
hardiness of the native hazelnut and
the nut size and production
characteristics of the European filbert.
The Bennetts have also established
their own nursery.
Paul says the ideal soil for nut
production would be light loam with
good drainage. "Pecans will put up
with a certain amount of flooding and
grow well in a river -bottom area.
Filberts do not like wet soil — clay
would be okay — but there's really a
nut tree for every type of soil."
Paul says there's an inexpensive
and a costly way to establish a nut
grove. "If you use seed, and use your
own labour, it would cost about $5 an
acre." It would be longer though
before full production would be
reached. "Or you can use three-year-
old grafted stock, buy $10 trees, get
someone to plant the trees, do
mulching and incorporate peat moss in
the soil, and it may cost $2,000 to
$3,000 an acre."
Markets will not be a problem. On
a personal level, Paul says he could
sell in the nearest town. "People are
already asking for nuts in the store."
(Paul owns and manages South Bruce
Feed and Supply in Kincardine.) Even
though the Bennetts are not in full
production yet, they are already
seeking markets with candy
companies and packaged nut
companies.
Does it sound too easy? Well,
there was the record low temperature
last December that killed off the lower
branches on the filberts ... squirrels
and bluejays are anxious to get their
fill ... it takes a long time to get
Hanging clusters of catkins from the
male flower of the heartnut. (Photo,
courtesy OMAF)
started ... but Paul Bennett says
there's a "real plus" at harvest time —
there's no tree climbing required.
Doug Campbell says the idea of
growing nuts commercially is
relatively new. A recent tour by the
Commercial Association of Nut
Growers of Ontario (CANGO) started
at Ridgetown College of Agricultural
Technology and went on to three
recently established nut orchards in
the Kent/Essex area. One was a 10 -
acre planting made this year in the
hope of adding 10 acres annually until
40 to 50 acres are established. The
almonds, along with sweet chestnut,
pecan, heartnut, Carpathian walnut,
and filbert/hazel are planted on an
upland sandy -loam. The second stop
featured a river -flat planting with a
medium-high water table; the third, a
multi -species nut grove on a high,
coarse, sand soil next to a high traffic
road — and future market potential.
"The tour was for new members trying
to establish new orchards, to show
them places that were planted the past
few years," says Campbell.
How you get established depends
on whether you do the labour yourself
or if you hire labour. "How pure and
simple, or how complex," Campbell
says.
"For instance, to begin a one -acre
grove generally would cost $1,750
(1989), or $3,650 if you hire labour.
Most new groves cost somewhere in
the middle."
"Compared to a vineyard, where
you need things like a trellis,
establishing a nut crop is cheaper.
Compared to planting a corn crop,
planting nuts is more expensive."
"There's a bottleneck, with any
kind of beginning, from planting to
first returns," says Campbell. "It's
kept many away."
Campbell says the best species are
sweet chestnut, hazelnut, and almonds,
from which you could expect a small
crop in the third and fourth years.
"The first production (of chestnuts)
would be a few nuts from each tree;
the third year produces 40 to 50
pounds per acre. A chestnut orchard
in full production (10 to 12 years)
should bring in 2,000 pounds of
chestnuts per year.
"At the supermarkets, Campbell
adds, chestnuts are about $3.99 a
pound — but you may not always
realize retail price. With a cottage -
industry approach, because nuts are
relatively rare and unique, farmers can
sell retail from their door. If you got
$3.00 a pound and had 2,000 pounds
to the acre, that's $6,000.
Eastern Canada munches on
approximately $20,000 worth of
imported nuts which could be
produced in southern Ontario. The
U.S. is importing even larger
quantities from Europe and Asia.
Campbell says it's a sellers'
market. "It would take roughly 2,000
nut -growing operations at 50 acres
apiece to supply the current nut
consumption in Canada at the present
time.
The Farrells, Ron and Dianne,
near Kincardine, hope to have 30 acres
of filberts planted by the end of 1991.
When the Stoney Island Conservation
Area, north of Kincardine, thinned out
their nut grove, the Farrells got 36 nut
DECEMBER 1990 25