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Money does grow on trees — the new cash crop

You’ve probably heard about the slow process of growing trees as a cash crop, but is the Empress Splendor™ hardwood tree growing the fastest and greatest returns?

According to Wendy Burton, Founder and CEO of World Tree Technologies (WTT), Scottsdale, Arizona, it is indeed fact. The Empress Splendor™ grows to timber size in as little as seven years; it will grow 10’to 20’ the first year. The wood is strong, lightweight and prized by musical instrument makers, cabinet makers and used for windows, doors, spindles, crown molding and trim. The wood resists insects and won’t absorb moisture or rot and will regenerate from the stump after each harvest up to seven times.

Our parents and grandparents planted trees to enhance the beauty of their homes or to provide a windbreak for other crops. This is no longer the only reason to grow trees; new fast growing species now make it viable to plant trees as cash crops. The Empress Splendor™ is the best example. It is the fastest growing hardwood tree in the world.

Who are the people planting this tree? The Empress Splendor™ is getting a lot of press and inquiries these days from ranchers, crop farmers, dairy farmers, hobby farmers, retired farmers, and many other individuals who have started to delve into the world of hardwood tree cash cropping. Some of the reasons given are to use land that has poor soil quality that isn’t good for other crops. Because of the high nutrient factor of the Empress Splendor™ leaves, they go to fodder quickly and actually help replenish the soil. The trees themselves grow in the worst soil possible; a clay sandy loam, making this an ideal crop for unclaimed land. Another reason given is to diversify the crops to offset commodity fluctuations.

Are fast growing hardwood plantations really an option in the US? Burton doesn’t hesitate when she says “Yes, without a doubt.” The market for Empress Splendor™ is small but growing as more trees are planted; as the supply grows the market will grow as well. Most of the large plantations are in the Southeast close to the large timber processing facilities. But Wendy is adamant that small plantations are still a viable option with many farmers opting to purchase or rent mobile log processing units to harvest their timber which can then be open air dried without the use of a costly kiln.

Crop commodities fluctuate wildly from year to year, but you don’t have a choice whether to harvest your crop or not. But if you grow trees, you can let them grow if the price is down and harvest when it is up. You have control over this asset class.

According to Burton, by planting 300 trees per acre on a 12x12 foot grid, they will produce a minimum of 30,000 board feet of lumber after only seven years at an average price of $3 a board foot.
Because the Empress Splendor™ will regenerate from the stump up to 7 times after each harvest, a farmer in fact will not need to replant his fields for the next 50 years. If a farmer harvests the timber, mills it with his own equipment, the profit margin goes up from there. This could all be done in the winter months when they can’t be in the fields, and the trees will regenerate from the stumps to start the next crop.

When located near urban sprawl Empress Splendor™ trees can boost the value of land for new subdivisions. WTT feels these trees present a unique opportunity for growers in the new ‘Green World.’ Whether you are in agreement with Global Warming or not, no one can argue that we are cutting down more trees than we are planting.

The Empress Splendor™ is also being sought after for its natural properties to produce Biomass for cellulosic Ethanol. This is being done right now, on poor quality soil without competing with the food supply of our nation. Another reason is to diversify crops to offset commodity fluctuations, or to grow a crop that can be harvested and processed by the farmer. The trees then are planted on an 8’x8’ grid. In its first year the tree is harvested and then regenerates from the stump without the need for replanting or soil prep.

In closing, Burton said she believes American farmers — the best in the world — have mastered the ability to put food on our tables, yet they are the ones starving. To move toward a plantation based timber, so that we can stop the destruction of old growth forests and supply the world with a natural renewable resource, is the way our future is heading.

WTT claims Empress trees can put cash back into the farmer’s hands and restore the wealth to individuals who work hard for the people and environment. As an added bonus, not only are growers planting trees for timber and bio-fuel, but in the process are offsetting carbon emissions and building a world rich in natural resources for future generations.

Get educated, call the World Tree Technologies, Inc. office, ask questions, and make sure of the product you are buying. For more information contact World Tree Technologies, Inc., 9943 East Bell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, phone 888-693-8733 or 480-948-0188; info@worldtreetech.com; www.worldtreetech.com