Browsing by Author "Jackson, Jeffrey"
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Item Comparison of hybrid poplar wood breakeven prices as affected by current and improved genetics(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-05) Lazarus, William F; Nelson, Neil D; Jackson, Jeffrey; Berguson, William E; McMahon, Bernard G; Buchman, Daniel; Cai, MeijunThe impact of improved genetics from the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) hybrid poplar breeding program on breakeven hybrid poplar wood prices is discussed in this paper. After a review of previous economic analyses, the breakeven prices are presented that would cover costs other than land rent. Then, factors are provided for adjusting the price to reflect the land rental rate for a given location. The breakeven prices are presented both as stumpage and delivered to a mill. Breakeven delivered prices include the stumpage values plus conventional harvest and transportation costs to a hypothetical processing plant. Breakeven land rental rates are also provided at which poplar production would be profitable at recent aspen stumpage prices. The impact of improved genetics from the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) hybrid poplar breeding program on breakeven hybrid poplar wood prices is discussed in this paper. After a review of previous economic analyses, the breakeven prices are presented that would cover costs other than land rent. Then, factors are provided for adjusting the price to reflect the land rental rate for a given location. The breakeven prices are presented both as stumpage and delivered to a mill. Breakeven delivered prices include the stumpage values plus conventional harvest and transportation costs to a hypothetical processing plant. Breakeven land rental rates are also provided at which poplar production would be profitable at recent aspen stumpage prices. The analysis is based on a scenario where a biorefinery/bioproducts company owns and/or leases the land, controls the harvest and transportation of the wood, and delivers the wood to their own mill. The evaluation is based on two hybrid poplar annual growth increments: 3.6 dry tons and 5.4 dry tons per acre per year with a 9-, 10-, or 12-year rotation. 3.6 dry tons per acre per year is yield potential with current genotypes. 5.4 tons per acre per year is yield potential with new Gen 1.0 elite clones from our breeding. Stumpage prices without land cost included are lower than aspen stumpage prices for both unimproved and improved clones. Other things being equal, the improved genetics could be capitalized into a $36.37-per-acre increase in the financially permissible rental rate. Carbon credit markets could further improve returns on hybrid poplar plantations.Item Grower's Guide for Hybrid Poplar Plantations for Biomass Production(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2020-05) Buchman, Daniel; Jackson, Jeffrey; Berguson, William E; McMahon, Bernard G; Nelson, Neil D; DuPlissis, John; Host, George EThe goal of this Grower’s Guide is to provide practical advice for the establishment and maintenance of hybrid poplar plantations, plantings of trees in rows managed like an agronomic crop to produce fiber and biomass. Hybrid poplar are planted on several continents in a wide variety of applications: examples, in addition to biomass/wood production, include windbreaks, shelterbelts, phytoremediation, mine reclamation, and wastewater treatment. Advice for the establishment of hybrid poplar in these applications should come from other sources, as this guide is focused on growing hybrid poplar in plantation settings. Plantations could be owned by a private landowner or a corporation. Short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) show promise to fill specific niches in the world’s developing bioeconomy. These crops, such as eastern cottonwood, hybrid poplar, and hybrid willow, are receiving increasing interest as plantation crops to provide biomass for renewable energy such as combustion for combined heat and power – CHP, biofuels, bio-based chemicals, and bioproducts. Hybrid poplars have also been grown to produce wood for pulp and paper and oriented strand board (OSB) as well as veneer for plywood manufacturing. The selection of hybrid poplar, cottonwood, or willow depends on the region is which they will be grown and the end use.Item Intellectual Property in the NRRI Hybrid Poplar Program – Inventory, Commercialization Plan, and Progress Report(University of Minnesota Duluth, 2021-02) Nelson, Neil D; Berguson, William E; McMahon, Bernard G; Jackson, Jeffrey; Buchman, Daniel; DuPlissis, John; White, Timothy WIntellectual property in the NRRI hybrid poplar program was analyzed, and elite clones were prioritized for plant patent applications to the USPTO. Clones were selected in two hybrid categories, Populus deltoides x Populus nigra (D x N, DN) and Populus deltoides x Populus deltoides (D x D, DD). Positive traits attributed to these clones include fast and stable growth, broad adaptability (geo-robustness), disease resistance, good rooting ability, good vigor in stoolbeds (cutting orchards), and good performance in phytoremediation applications. Six Generation 1.0 improved clones were selected for possible patenting, four DN and two DD, out of 13,000 1st generation genotypes tested, a selection intensity of 0.0005 (0.05 %). Market size is discussed, a patent strategy is formulated, and a commercialization action plan and timeline compiled. We are working with University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization (TC) on a patenting and licensing evaluation. One improved DN clone has been selected for initial commercialization, a one-page marketing flyer on the clone has been designed, and selected private and public nurseries are being offered free cuttings of the selected clone for propagation testing as a prelude to potential licensing.Item Next-Gen Poplars Project: Extension Program Evaluation Report(2022) Jackson, Jeffrey; Du Plissis, John; Meyer, Nathan