Containerized Longleaf Pine Production Project

This award was to assist VDOF in achieving its goal to produce containerized longleaf pine seedlings in largescale quantities to meet the needs of restoring the critically important longleaf pine ecosystem which nearly became extinct in Virginia. VDOF has established a native Virginia seed orchard and this seed source, coupled with a large-scale containerized seedling operation, will meet the needs of landowners for the restoration of this diminished species. Longleaf pine seedling planting requires containerized stock to be successful with acceptable rates of survival. The specific objectives of this project are: (1) - Grow longleaf pine containerized seedlings at VDOF's Garland Gray Forestry Center in large quantities, up to 500,000 seedlings annually, for planting to restore this diminished species ecosystem, and (2) - Provide technology transfer to agricultural producers, landowners, and others, both for sharing containerized operation production information and to promote longleaf pine restoration.