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Seed programs

Schroeder Seed Orchard

The J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard is one of the primary sources of seed for regrowing Oregon's forests. Forest landowners must plant new trees after harvesting to ensure that forests continue to provide valuable economic, environmental and social benefits.

The seed orchard focuses on developing seed that will flourish into healthy forests by tailoring seed production to soil type and growing region. The orchard is part of a collaborative network of partners including:

  • Oregon State Forests
  • Oregon State University
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Industrial forest landowners
  • Oregon Seed Bank

Seed is made available to cooperators to promote conservation and forest production. Among the unique seed sources produced at the seed orchard are the Willamette Valley strain of Ponderosa pine, deer resistant western red cedar, and genetically improved western hemlock and Douglas-Fir adapted to planting across many regions of Oregon.

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Oregon Seed Bank

The Oregon Seed Bank ensures that high quality forest tree seed is available for planting across Oregon.

The Oregon Seed Bank obtains seed from the most highly regarded and advanced disease resistant sources and tree improvement programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Seed Bank sells seed of a variety species and seed zones to nurseries in Oregon. These nurseries then produce well-adapted forest tree seedling that are available for sale to family forestland owners and other customers.

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​Seed orders can be submitted directly to the J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard. Please complete and return the following forms with each order:

The Oregon Seed Bank require nursery purchasers to:

  • ​Provide family forest landowners with ample opportunity to purchase the seedlings produced from Seed Bank sources
  • Reserve seedlings for family forest landowners until December 1 of the year immediately preceding lifting
  • Release surplus Seed Bank seedlings to other landowners only after December 1
  • Ensure that anyone purchasing seedlings, including forestry contractors and consultants, understands these restrictions>
  • Sign an agreement indicating their intention to comply with all the above referenced Seed Bank conditions (Please note: Seed orders cannot be released until ODF receives a signed copy of the purchase agreement.)
​Completed seed orders received on or before November 15th will be given priority. All completed orders received after that date will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If the seed requested by November 15th exceeds the availability, seed will be split in equal parts among buyers with the minimum amount of seed per buyer not being:

  • Less than 1.0 lb for Douglas-fir, grand fir, incense cedar, noble fir, and western white pine
  • 2.0 lbs for ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine; and sugar pine
  • 0.1 lbs Sitka spruce, western hemlock, western red alder, and Port Orford cedar

In cases where these minimums cannot be met, seed will be divided according to a lottery system. Forest tree seed is not particularly forgiving of poor handling. Particular quality information we provide, such as germination rate, cut test, or X-ray results, does not warrant specific results once the seed is no longer in our care. We promise to take every precaution to deliver your order in good condition. Liability is limited to the value of your order.​

About

The Oregon Seed Bank is made possible in part with funding provided by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific NW Region, State & Private Cooperative Forestry.

Contact

Oregon Seed Bank Program
Don Kaczmarek, Forest Geneticist
503-930-3685
Email

JE Schroeder Seed Orchard
3700 Mahoney Road NE
St. Paul, OR 97137
503-930-6574
Email