Fiber Farming | Upper Peninsula Tree Improvement Center

Grow Trees Fast Pulpwood can be grown in one-quarter of the usual time in intensively managed plantations on agricultural land. Because these plantations are treated like agricultural crops, they are more like farms than forests.
Supply An Existing Market The paper and oriented-strand board industries in Michigan consume a large quantity of aspen fiber each year. Prices for aspen pulpwood have hit record highs in recent years as a result of increased demand and diminished supply.
Put Surplus Land To Work Michigan has many acres of abandoned farmland, discontinued Christmas tree operations, and fields coming out of the Conservation Reserve Program that are suitable for fiber farming. Minnesota and Wisconsin already have active fiber farming programs – Michigan is just getting started.
Reduce Pressure On Natural Forests Competition for fiber produced in natural stands has increased at the same time as the public has pushed for less timber production in many of these same areas. Fiber farms can produce a product that will easily substitute for native aspen in some situations.

Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site to: Ray Miller, uptic@msu.edu Last Revised: 6-25-04