Center seeks to improve walnut production

Jim Jones' goal is 5,000 or more acres of cash crops that grow 60 feet tall.

It takes 65 years or so for a black walnut to grow into a prime timber log. Jones, director of the Center for Advancement of American Black Walnut, said he believes trees can produce economic crops long before they are turned into veneer or furniture.

The center, located in Stockton, began operating in the first half of 1999 as a not-for-profit advocacy and research organization.

"Our initial focus is on the variety trials in the major walnut-growing states," Jones said. "We are planting superior nut-bearing trees in 15 trials in several states some trial plots are already planted."

The native range of American (or eastern) black walnut is from eastern Kansas through Kentucky; from Oklahoma to Ohio. Nine states in that "Walnut Belt" produce 95 percent or more of the nuts from native wild trees.

"Superior nut-bearing walnut trees can yield annual crops worth $400 per acre or more," Jones said. "With the not-for-profit center, our emphasis is on nut production. To that end, we are testing superior varieties of trees and developing cultural practices."

Jones brings a wealth of forestry experience to his new task. For 25 years, he was director of forestry and land management for Hammons Products Company in Stockton, the world's largest processor of black walnuts.

In that time, he managed Sho-Neff Plantation, a 790-acre tract with 384 acres of black walnut trees, and supervised the planting of more than a million black walnut trees.

"We are evaluating several varieties at each location, including grafted trees," Jones added. "With good management, superior nut-bearing varieties should produce harvestable nut crops by the time trees are six or seven years old. Our goal is to put together the genetics and management systems to allow the production of 1,000 pounds of nuts per acre by the time trees are 15 years old."

Processors typically pay a premium for nuts from varieties with proven nut yield and quality.

For example, Hammons Products Company pays 1.5 cents per pound per nut-yield percentage. If a hand-cracked sample of the nuts yields 20 percent nutmeats, Hammons pays 30 cents per pound.

If the walnuts yield 30 percent nutmeats, the price is 45 cents per pound. At that price, trees that yield 1,000 pounds of walnuts per acre produce a gross income upwards of $450.

In variety trials, Jones also is evaluating several named, patented trees with superior nut-producing qualities. Among them are HPC-148, a variety developed by Hammons Products Company and STW-13, patented by Charles Sheppard of Springfield.

"We are looking for top quality and top nut production," Jones said. "And we are looking at the best combination of cultural practices that will let trees express their genetic potential."

Jones has enlisted several specialists in the center's work.

Felix Ponder, research and soil specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, is conducting fertility studies with black walnut trees. Gus Rutledge, formerly executive vice president of Hammons Products Company, is a member of the center's board of directors.

A major cosponsor is Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development in Republic.

"Our goal is to help rural families stay on the land," said Rita Mueller, coordinator of Southwest Missouri RC&D. "We believe this work does that. The variety trials and field days in walnut-growing states will serve as information hubs for growers and landowners."

"That's the primary goal of the center; to promote black walnuts as a renewable, sustainable and profitable resource," Jones said. "This enterprise will contribute to the long-term social and economic stability of families and communities."