Traditional tree breeding relies on scoring trees based on their observed physical characteristics, or phenotypes, along with their pedigree information to determine the breeding values for these trees.
READ MOREResearch into other species received a shot in the arm recently with the Minister of Science, the Hon Steven Joyce, announcing $5 million of Government funding support over a seven year period for a new research programme aimed at species other than radiata pine.
READ MORELand is one of the cornerstones of wealth generation in both New Zealand and Australia. The flexibility to change land use in response to market signals has been historically important in both countries.
READ MOREThe downturn in the export log market gained momentum in May with NZ$ at-wharf-gate prices plunging $12-$17/JAS m³ for unpruned grades and pruned dropping on average $10. Domestic pruned was strongly sought after and had an average price gain of $4/tonne.
READ MOREIn February SCION, in collaboration with Wood Matters, invited a wide range of people to share their expectations concerning log prices for the future.
READ MORELast week Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew confirmed details of the revised Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS), administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
READ MOREThe NZU price has fallen back over the last month from over $6.00 to currently trade at around $5.30 per NZU.
READ MOREWith the imminent start to the planting season, we are working hard to get the seedlings as robust and sturdy as possible prior to delivery to planting sites all over New Zealand.
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All forest owners who are harvesting trees are now paying the forest grower levy - 27 cents per tonne on all trees harvested and sold to a processing plant or exported as logs.
READ MORELast summer the family and I (Wood Matters Ed) at last took on the Timber Trail after hearing many people "rave" about it. This is one of mountain bike trails in the Rail Trails NZ series. Located mostly in the Pureora Forest Park just north-west of Lake Taupo, this 85km mountain bike trail is rated grade 3 for the first 40km and grade 2 for the last 45km.
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We live in this world at a time of fast moving technology and political change. Two years ago who would have predicted the restrictions on dairy exports to Russia and the flow-on impacts to milk solid payouts to NZ dairy farmers? Russia is a major competitor to NZ for log supply into China.
READ MOREThe log market diverged considerably in April as the domestic market continued its strong run and the export market softened with the Chinese New Year hang-over. Domestic pruned prices strengthened, export pruned and domestic unpruned prices flat-lined and export unpruned log prices plunged $10-$17.
READ MOREWood lovers now have scientific evidence to support what they already knew. Exposure to wood in your environment has tangible health and well-being benefits.
READ MOREDuring my ten year plus involvement in the New Zealand forest nursery sector and association with Australian forest nursery growers, I have observed a slow progression of Australian forest nurseries from bare-root to containerised tree stock production. Why isn't New Zealand following the Australian's and the rest of the world's lead into containerised production, or are we just starting to?
READ MOREOne of the most successful commercial methods of genetic improvement is controlled pollination. This involves taking pollen from a known "father" cone and using it to pollinate a known "mother" cone. This produces control-pollinated (CP) seed.
READ MOREIn April 2015 the Ministry for the Environment released the New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Net Position Report for 1990-2013.
READ MORESawmills in Canterbury are struggling to procure enough logs to maintain full production. Wood products markets are buoyant with the Christchurch rebuild and the strong housing market in Auckland.
READ MOREThe Kaharoa Kokako Trust's focus for 2015 is a survey of adult kokako in their protected area.
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