The Rural Voice, 1999-01, Page 11Scrap Book
Sounds nuts but
farmers could
earn $3,000/acre
Researchers at the University
of Guelph are hoping to boost
Ontario's fledgling nut industry by
studying whether Japanese and
Chinese nuts could thrive in the
province.
There is a tremendous market
in North America for exotic nuts,
but most of the products are
imported, said Al McKeown, a
research scientist at University of
Guelph's Simcoe Research
Station. There's no reason the nuts
could not he grown in Southern
Ontario, he said.
University researchers are
evaluating different species of
Japanese heart nut and finding
ways to improve the establishment
of grafted Chinese chestnut hybrid
"Laycroka". They have planted
two acres with four-year-old trees
of several varieties of species and
are monitoring disease and pest
problems. The research is co-
sponsored by the Commercial Nut
Growers of Ontario.
Preliminary findings show that
heart nuts establish well in
southern Ontario's climate and
will produce a light crop after four
years, McKeown said. A
controlled evaluation for the
highest yielding of three varieties
is in its second year with results
expected in three years.
Studies on the grafted
chestnuts arc looking at the effects
of disease and pest control,
fertilizing and mulching. So far,
the trees are not prone to pests, but
a soil fumigation trial will
determine if they are problematic.
Nut trees are an ideal crop for
the climate around the Great
Lakes. If they can be grown
organically, growers could tap
into the North American market
and develop a viable export
market, McKeown said. From the
performance of sample trees it is
estimated Ontario farmers could
earn S3,000 annually per acre.0
— Source: University of Guelph
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