Northeast Seed Management Association
The Northeast Seed Management Association works with industry partners to carry out first and second generation breeding programs for jack pine and black spruce, with the goal of providing improved seed for all the partners' planting efforts.
In addition to seed collections at first generation orchards, research is being carried out on flower induction and cone crop monitoring is done to aid in understanding cone production and the factors which limit cone and seed production. Second generation tests to further improve performance of improved seed are carried out in numerous sites throughout the region.
This association is innovative with technical challenges such as reaching the tops of tall jack pines in very dense stands, pollen application techniques, and access routes to selected trees.
In addition to the jack pine and black spruce tree improvement work, three genetic test sites are maintained for white pine first generation tests. Cone and seed collections are also made from plus trees in natural stands.
NESMA's outreach and technology transfer activities include well-planned employee training sessions and field manuals for their over 100 summer field staff, participating in community fairs and expositions, hosting student and community tours of seed orchard and pollen processing facilities, and visiting high schools with guest lectures.