Shiitake Mushroom Market Research - Producer Survey
(PDF)

2006 Annual Report (PDF)

Black Walnut for Nut Production (PDF)
(added Spring 2007):
Eastern black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) produce high-value, hardwood products and distinctively flavored, edible nuts. The potential for producing two valuable products from the same tree has captured the imagination of tree planters for years. While black walnut trees can be grown for timber and/or nut production, the focus of this guide is toward planting, managing and harvesting top-quality black walnut nuts for sales at the retail or wholesale level from an orchard practice, similar to pecan and other nut trees. This guide is a collaborative effort of the nut tree research cluster at the Center for Agroforestry and the nut research program of Kansas State University and represents a decade of research on growing black walnut trees in an orchard practice for nut production.

Focus Groups for Potential Chestnut Growers
(updated Spring 2007):
As an effort to expand the chestnut industry, the Center for Agroforestry hosted focus group meetings in January and February in Pleasant Hill and Mt. Vernon, Mo.  The attendees were identified before the meeting as potential chestnut producers.  The meetings were held to gauge interest in producing chestnuts and to provide growing and marketing information to the participants in an effort to establish a base of chestnut growers in Missouri. The Center has conducted research with chestnuts for the past 10 years, and is now in a position to offer cultivar and marketing information to potential growers. Read the report here.

Growing Chinese Chestnuts In Missouri
(updated Fall 2006):
Learn the basics of establishing and managing a Chinese chestnut orchard. Topics include site and water requirements, updated cultivar selections, methods for establishing orchards, updated fertilization information, harvesting and storage information. New sections include highlights from the Center's nationwide chestnut market analysis, a listing of value-added products that can be made with chestnuts and a list of retail nurseries offering recommended cultivars. A section explaining the annual Missouri Chestnut Roast event is also included.

Propagating Pecan and Black Walnut
(updated Fall 2006):
Pecan and black walnut are among the most intensively managed native tree species in the Midwest. By learning and applying the basics of nut tree propagation, landowners can increase the value and productivity of the nut production portion of an agroforestry practice. Updated in 2006 with the arrowhead grafting method, this publication explains with text and photos how to apply this technique, along with the three-flap and bark graft methods.

UMCA Publications Catalog and Order Form: See a photo and brief synopsis of all the Center's publications. Includes order form and instructions for downloading/printing free publications, or ordering direct from University of Missouri Extension or the Center for Agroforestry.

Chestnut Market Analysis Producers’ Perspective:
The University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) is conducting research to identify and describe the chestnut product market value chain. Through detailed market research and by organizing events that increase consumer awareness towards chestnuts, UMCA’s goal is to broaden market opportunities for all individuals and businesses in the chestnut marketplace. In 2004, UMCA conducted a nationwide survey of individuals and businesses active in the U.S. chestnut market (nurseries, producers and sellers). The focus of this report is to describe the market from the producers’ perspective.

2005 Research Highlights (PDF)