PREFACE

Interest in the species of Eastern Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.)  for commercial nut production continues to increase.  During the past several years interested growers have intensified tree care and evaluated several varieties and selections.  It is believed that we have arrived at an economically viable threshold for commercial nut production.  While we are operating with a strong level of cautious enthusiasm we believe that we are witnessing the emergence of a new industry.

This is the first attempt to create a publication specifically for the commercial production of Eastern Black Walnut nuts.  While some areas remain to be explored it is believed by the nut production focus groups that we must challenge ourselves and move aggressively forward with the information that we do have.  Our plan for this publication is to identify the areas of need for the members and the potential members of the industry and identify prospective authors.

The Eastern Black Walnut nut industry has historically functioned  with minimal dependence on artificial pet control.  It is our goal to encourage the development of this new, emerging industry, to make the necessary genetic selections and develop cultural practices to have limited dependence on pesticides.

It is important that we develop an enterprise that is sustainable and renewable.  It must allow growers, workers, processors and consumers to live in a balanced and harmonious environment.  This land-use practice must not only be environmentally sound but economically viable.  Our efforts are to encourage the development of a commercial Eastern Black Walnut industry that is profitable for the grower, processor, the supportive infrastructure, and the one that provides quality, competitively-priced products for the consumer.

A portion of the funds to produce and distribute this publication has been provided by a grant from the USDA Forest Service for which we are very grateful.

Editors,

Jim Jones¹
Rita Mueller²
J.W. Van Sambeek³

¹Jim Jones, Director - The Center For Advancement of American Black Walnut.  P.O. Box 600, Stockton, Missouri 65785 - (417) 276-6010
²Rita Mueller, RC&D Coordinator - Southwest Missouri Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), 283 U.S. Highway 60 West, Republic, Missouri 65738.
³J.W. Van Sambeek, Research Plant Physiologist, USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, 202 Natural Resources Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211-7260.