eucalyptus

Agri View: Eucalyptus

DanAgri View, Forestry

eucalyptusEverett Griner talks about the need for the eucalyptus tree in today’s Agri View.

Eucalyptus

The Eucalyptus tree was brought to California from Australia in the 1850’s. The reason is unsure. But it turned out to be a big mistake. They are good for making paper but not anything else. They were not good for the soil or other plants. Even insects avoid them. They became known as America’s largest weed. And so it shocked, might even Say it angered people when the department of agriculture decided to plant three hundred test plots in every state from Texas to Georgia. Those trees were genetically modified to make try to make them less toxic and more desirable for other purposes. The question is, why? I mean with our native Oaks, Willows and Pine trees why the need for an Australian Eucalyptus that may take centuries to modify into something more useful and desirable? I guess we will have to just wait and see.

That’s Agri View for today, I’m Everett Griner.