Due to a late, cold spring, the start of the 2018 spring planting season may be delayed. As a result, some planting contractors are asking their clients if they can plant trees past the normal spring plant deadline in order to avoid a potential production and contractual crisis. The current Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) spring planting deadline of June 21 is not simply an administrative date, but is based on studies and field observations over the past 35 years. However, in order to avoid burdening the planting sector unnecessarily, FLNRORD realizes that this date may have to be extended under special circumstances. The real question is how late spring-plant, frozen-stored trees can be planted with minimal risk of establishment failure or reduction in growth. Read the full story here.
