Current Program

• Reforestation Program
• Tree Improvement Program
• Tree Seed Purchase Program
• Nursery Soils Research Program
• Nursery Insect & Disease Research Programs
• Arbor Day
  
  
  
  

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) currently operates three forest tree nurseries: the Wilson State Nursery in Boscobel; the Griffith State Nursery in Wisconsin Rapids; and the Hayward State Nursery. Each state nursery is an important economic contributor to these local communities and provides significant employment opportunities in their respective regions of the state.

The state nursery program currently produces and distributes between 18 and 20 million seedlings annually for reforestation of state, county, industrial and private lands in Wisconsin. Seedlings from the state nurseries program can only be utilized for conservation plantings. They cannot be utilized for ornamental, landscaping, or Christmas tree production.

The citizens of Wisconsin do not subsidize the present state nursery program. It is financially self-supporting from revenue generated by the sale of state nursery stock. The state nursery program is actually a net revenue generating program for the DNR and citizens of Wisconsin. The purchaser of state nursery stock pays for the Department's entire cost of production, distribution and administration of the state nursery program. In addition, a surcharge on all state nursery stock sold contributes $400,000 annually for forestry education and public awareness programs in Wisconsin. (The state nurseries also financially support the following DNR programs)

Wisconsin's State Forest Nurseries Publication #FR-042 2004 [PDF 1.1MB]

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Reforestation Program

The Reforestation Program in Wisconsin is one of the most successful in the nation. This is a direct result of the state nursery program's production of high quality seedlings, the efforts of foresters who write and facilitate planting plans, and our excellent distribution system. This coordinated effort allows a large quantity of seedlings to be planted in Wisconsin during April and early May. Our continuing emphasis on planning, proper seedling handling, and planting increases the chances of successful reforestation projects.

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Tree Improvement Program

The Tree Improvement Program provides genetically superior seed for the state nursery program by developing and managing seed orchards. The long-term commitment necessary to support a tree improvement program is provided by the existence of the nursery program Seed orchards have currently been established for red, white and jack pine, white spruce, black walnut, and red oak. Currently, all of the seed needs for white spruce and significant amounts of white pine seed are provided by these orchards. Genetic improvements have been made with white pine blister rust disease resistance, jack pine gall rust disease resistance, increased wood volume production, and improved stem form. In addition, the tree improvement program TIP Annual Report [PDF, 566KB] provides critical information on the proper movement of seed sources within Wisconsin to ensure the best growth and adaptability of reforestation stock.

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Tree Seed Purchase Program

The Tree Seed Purchase Program is vital in providing the thousands of bushels of seed needed annually for planting at the state nurseries. Since genetically improved orchards do not yet meet all of our seed needs, the hundreds of citizens statewide who collect and sell seed provide a consistent supply of seed from a wide range of genetic sources. Training these collectors on how, when, and where to collect seed is an on-going effort, and provides a perfect opportunity to involve and interest citizens in Wisconsin’s forest resource. A seed extractory and storage facility is located at Hayward. It provides the majority of conifer seed sown in the state nurseries. In addition, hardwood and conifer seed for direct seeding regeneration projects is available from the state nurseries. The variety of species and the large volume of seed needed for this alternative reforestation technique are made possible by the extensive network of citizen seed collectors.

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Nursery Soils Research Program

The Nursery Soils Research Program at the University of Wisconsin has historically been supported financially and "in-kind" by the state nursery program. Research results that have been implemented in our nursery operations include soil fertility and organic matter management, use of slow release fertilizers, species-specific fertilization schedules, and fumigation alternatives. In addition, this research has generated numerous scientific publications that have benefited both public and private nurseries across the nation.

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Nursery Insect & Disease Research Programs

Nursery Insect and Disease Research Programs are conducted at, and funded by, the state nurseries. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and USDA-Forest Service cooperate with the state nurseries to find practical solutions to insect and disease problems that affect nurseries.

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Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a national environmental education program designed to teach students the importance of trees within our environment. Wisconsin's Arbor Day is celebrated by schools on the last Friday in April and is usually linked with Earth Day. Annually, the state nursery program provides 75,000 free seedlings to fourth grade students for this celebration. In addition, free seedlings are provided to registered school and community forests. Click here for more information.

The infrastructure and operational methods of the three state nurseries continue to be upgraded to take advantage of new technology. New coolers, modern material handling equipment, refrigerated trucks, and a computer based ordering and inventory system are some of the recent innovations that insure high quality seedlings at a reasonable cost. Currently, there are nearly 55 million seedlings in the state nurseries with a future value of over 5 million dollars.

Wisconsin has been considered a leader in the nation for reforestation practices since the CCC era. The state nursery and reforestation programs have been the backbone of Wisconsin's conservation programs by providing a consistent supply of high quality, economically priced seedlings for rebuilding the state’s forest resource.

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Hayward State Nursery

This is one of the three state-owned forest tree nurseries in Wisconsin. The other two nurseries are the Griffith Nursery at Wisconsin Rapids in central Wisconsin, and the Wilson Nursery at Boscobel in southwestern Wisconsin.

The Hayward Nursery is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The nursery was built in 1935 by the US Forest Service and has been run by the state since 1944. The nursery was purchased from the Forest Service in 1981. In 1990 the West Addition to the nursery was put into production.

There are 132 acres in the nursery, and of this amount, 64 acres are used for growing trees. The varieties of trees grown include Red Pine, White Pine, Jack Pine, White Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Cedar, Tamarack, Hard Maple, Green and White Ash, Red and White Oak, Mixed Crab, Wild Grape, and Wild Plum. Seed for all the state nurseries is extracted and stored at Hayward, where the only storage and extraction facilities are located.

Trees are usually shipped out when they are one or two years old. The price of the trees is based on the cost to raise them.

Water for stock irrigation is pumped from the Namekagon River. There are over 16 miles of overhead irrigation lines and several more miles of underground pipe. Two centrifugal 50 HP pumps are used to supply approximately 800 gallons per minute at the pump location. A total of 14 lines can be operated with a length of 500 feet. This is a total area of approximately 4 acres. In a two hour period, one-half inch of water can be put on this area.

For more information:
Hayward State Nursery
16133 W. Nursery Rd.
Hayward, WI 54843
(715) 634-2717

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