We are finishing up a two week stretch of loblolly pine cone harvesting at two GenTreeXT LLC pine cone orchards, one in the Central Georgia Piedmont (pictures attached) and another in SE NC Coastal Plain. The weather has been very good here, with high mid-90's degree heat the first week but then followed by the first fall days of mid-40's and low 50 degree fahrenheit early morning temps during the latter part of the harvesting window. Hurricane Ian impacts on friends in Florida and the storm track near existing orchards has constantly been on my mind and has been an operational harvest consideration for planning this week, but all has progressed well, even in some elevated winds from the massive Hurricane Ian windfield.

This is a high cone crop yield year, which greatly increases the work effort, but insures the availability of elite open pollinated and control mass pollinated seedlings for another couple of operational loblolly pine planting years. I've really enjoyed the physical work, co-worker comradery, and incoming cool fall weather. It is a real blessing to enjoy your work and share joint tasks with hard working professionals.

This weekend, I am moving on to the Windy Ridge Longleaf cone orchard in S. Georgia for harvest of needed improved longleaf cones. Once that is complete, it is time for genetic progeny test layout and installation, orchard rouging, and orchard fertilization. All needing completed before early 2023 grafting season that is around the corner. The genetic improvement and seed cycle continues. Genetic tree improvement is an often assumed or overlooked system that very much underwrites sustainable forestry in the SEUS and around the forestry globe. It is certainly a fun and worthwhile effort to be involved with!