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The State Forest Nursery
Our purpose at the State Forest Nursery is to provide low cost plant materials to landowners for timber production, wildlife habitat, erosion control and aesthetics. By providing a consistent supply of quality nursery stock to support forestry, wildlife and conservation programs in Iowa, planters of state nursery stock are assured trees and shrubs that are hardy for Iowa conditions. Hardwood tree seedlings are grown from locally collected seed that assures adaptability. Annually, we purchase $50,000 to $100,000 worth of seed from Iowa Collectors. By providing a reliable source of suitable planting stock in large quantities, the State Forest Nursery makes it possible to plant millions of trees and shrubs each year. The State Forest Nursery at Ames was established during the Civilian Conservation Corps days in the late 1930s. The Montrose Unit was established in cooperation with the Department of Corrections in 1982. Nursery production is about 3 to 5 million plants per year. Because some species grow until they are 3 years old or more, it means that we have about 12,000,000 seedlings growing at any specific time. There is a long history of cooperative research projects with Iowa State University. The State Forest Nursery is self supporting. Receipts from sale of plant materials covers cost of operations.  The
State Forest Nursery, located on 98 acres of land on the south edge
of Ames, Iowa, and 72 acres of land at Montrose, Iowa, annually grows,
processes and distributes about 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 trees and shrubs
that are planted for forestry, wildlife, erosion control and beautification.
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Why Plant Trees?
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