Don’t miss the December issue of the NCSU Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology program newsletter.
In this Issue –
Read the complete issue (pdf)
Christmas tree research and extension programs at North Carolina State University cover all aspects of production and marketing and are collaboratively conducted across several departments in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Natural Resources (CNR).
Have you selected the perfect Christmas tree yet? Did you know that when you purchase a tree you are making a difference to North Carolina’s and the nation’s economy? According to the News & Observer…
“Farm income from Christmas trees totaled $85 million last year, though analysts say prices have been trending down for several years due to competition from fakes. Real-tree dealers face heavy competition from artificial trees, which coupled with the down economy has put pressure on lower prices, said John Frampton, forestry professor at N.C. State University. But the industry expects the same slow uptick that much of the economy is seeing.”
William Clark trims the trunk of a fraser fir tree Nov. 26. “I’ve been working at the market for 20 years,” Clark said, “we come down here from Ashe county for three weeks a year and we try to sell 1,500 trees.” Photo by NCSU Student media
Christmas trees may be a whimsical addition to holiday decorations, but the Christmas tree industry is a serious business. Lining the highways of western North Carolina are more than 25,000 acres of Christmas tree farms, full of rows of firs that are ready to be harvested, shipped off and sold Thanksgiving weekend and after for the holidays.
“The North Carolina Department of Agriculture reports that last year there were over $85 million in Christmas tree receipts,” said Jennifer Greene, the executive director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association.
North Carolina is second in the nation for Christmas tree production, behind only Oregon, mainly due to the state’s monopoly on what is considered by many to be the perfect species of Christmas tree — the Fraser fir, indigenous to the state. About 5 million are harvested each year.”
And no one knows this better than NC State University’s Christmas Tree Research and Extension program!
Read the complete article in technicianonline.com.
Dean Mary Watzin, new dean of the NCSU College of Natural Resources
What once was home to deer antlers and moose heads is now scattered with boxes and a “Happy Boss Day” card propped up on a desk-side table. Mary Watzin, the new dean of the College of Natural Resources, started to unpack and settle in on Oct. 15. Once a man-cave, Watzin’s new office is now filled with welcome wishes and women’s laughter.
After 22 years at the University of Vermont, three of which she served as the dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Watzin said she is excited to start a new chapter in her life.
“As the recruiter started to talk to me about what was happening at N.C. State,” Watzin said, “it looked like a university on the move … something I might want to be a part of.”
Looking forward to the things she hopes to accomplish, Watzin said she is ready to jump into the world of the College of Natural Resources.
“There are a lot of things I hope to accomplish,” Watzin said. “First, I’d like to start by getting to know my colleagues. This college has some really great faculty and staff all of which are poised to do really great things. We just need to spend a little time figuring out where we want to go and we’ll be off.”
Watzin said she is eager to meet the students and ready to get the word out on campus about the environment.
“One of the things that’s really rewarding is that we get to hear all the great ideas that come from students and how you look at the world,” Watzin said.
“Solving environmental problems and the wise sustainable use of our natural resources is absolutely critical to what your lives are going to be like as you go out into the world. It’s finding that balance whether you’re an engineer, English major, or a natural resource major. Everybody needs to understand how the world works and how people fit into the equation.”
Excerpted from the Technician Online.
Read the complete article by Kaitlin Montgomery
2011 Jones Cup Winners – NC State University
Photo by Montana Pritchard/The PGA of America
The NC State College of Natural Resources is excited to see our Professional Golf Management students off to Port Lucie, Florida on November 13-14, 2012 to defend their Jones Cup Championship title. The team is composed of the academic program’s top golfers who will compete with the top golfers from all 20 PGA Golf Management programs nationwide.
Read the complete feature article on the PGA Website.
Learn more about the PGM program at NC State University.
