The Plow Meets the Prairie

1873 - Timber Culture Act

The Dirty Thirties

1931 - Severe drought hits the plains.1932 - Dust storms increasing, 14 reported.1933 - FDR takes Office. 38 dust storms reported. 1934 - Great dust storms spread from the Dust Bowl

area.1935 - April 14: Black Sunday. 1936 - The SCS publishes a soil conservation district

law. 1937 - FDR's Shelterbelt Project begins. 1938 - Conservation methods resulted in a 65%

reduction in the amount of soil blowing. 1939 - The rain comes bringing an end to the

drought.

Prairie States Forestry Project

Community Forestry

1950s and 1960s

• ACP

• Fabric

• CRP

• Deer

• Rain

• Tree Promotion

Winter of 1996-1997

• CRP Scattered Shrub Plantings

Conservation Tree Planting is Declining in the Great Plains

New Products

New Species?

New Customers

….Plan for the future!

If you want to know your past, look into your present conditions.

If you want to know your future, look into your present actions.

Get kids involved

Emerging IssuesLand ValuesCommodity PricesGrowth in the WestDiversity of CustomersT&E SpeciesNon-Native Species Invasive/Noxious PlantsExotic PestsDo trees belong on the prairie?

Time to work together toward common goals

Speak ……in a Unified Voice

Partner…… with Others

Carry…… Common Messages

Lead……by Example

Learn…… All You Can

Practice……What you Preach

North Dakota Conservation Tree Planting Initiative!

In defense of the Siberian elm

Right Tree

Right Place

Right Reasons