Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
9/12/02
Contacts:
Paul Wray, ISU Extension Forestry, (515) 294-1168, phw@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, ISU Extension Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu
Trees Can Be Beautiful and Profitable
ALLEMAN, Iowa -- At this year's Farm Progress Show, the Iowa State University forestry display will focus on trees as crops, products and the beauty native trees bring to the state's landscapes.
Developments in wood processing have created a market for wood of fast-growing trees, according to Paul Wray, ISU Extension forester. A new product that will be on display is a door developed by JELD-WEN's Dubuque, Iowa plant and Iowa State University researchers. The door's skin is made entirely from what many consider wood waste products: sawdust and wood chips. The chipped products are broken down to cellulose and put back together in a useful and beautiful product, Wray said.
Trees stop soil erosion and clean the water when planted in riparian buffers on corn and soybean cropland. Visitors will see how fast growing trees planted in buffers pull excess nitrogen and phosphates out of the soil.
"After several years those trees need to be replaced with new trees. That's where a large feature of this year's display, a portable sawmill, becomes important," Wray said. "Lower quality trees can be chipped and put back together into valuable products. The higher value trees can be cut into beautiful hardwood lumber for use as veneer or home furnishings."
Portable sawmill demonstrations are scheduled three times every day of the show.
For visitors looking for the right tree to beautify their yard or to produce lumber on their farm, there will be wood samples from 24 common Iowa trees. Information on the preferred habitat for each tree, along with the grade of wood and the products commonly produced will be included.
Whether you see trees for their beauty, or as a crop, there will be something for everyone at this year's show.
The ISU exhibit is located on the west end of the Farm Progress Show grounds.
-30-
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.