News

Have you ordered your poplar and willow poles for this winter?

Posted on April 12, 2023

The damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle has created a greater than normal demand for poles this winter. The supply in all regions will be affected as pole orders are coming from outside of the regions where they are grown. Use our Quicklinks ‘Buying poles’ to find your local supplier.

Poplar Timber

Posted on April 12, 2023

The latest in outdoor furniture – a table ready for the family to enjoy alfresco dining. This table is made from farm-milled timber, treated and dressed. It is sitting on a deck also constructed of farm-milled poplar. The deck has been stained with a light-coloured stain (linden). The table is not yet coated or stained, because we want to enjoy its soft natural colours a little longer. Unfortu

NZFFA ‘Poplar Action Group’

Posted on April 12, 2023

A new Special Interest Group ‘Poplar Action Group’ within New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) was inaugurated at the 2023 Annual Conference in Timaru. The large number of people joining the meeting in person and on-line showed the formation of the ‘Poplar Action group’ is very welcome. Poplar as a timber resource has been subservient to its use as a soil conservation tree. Now however

New face on the Poplar and Willow Research Trust

Posted on December 14, 2021

Rural marketing and brand specialist Chris Bristol has been appointed to the NZ Poplar and Willow Research Trust. Coming from a family farm near Whanganui, Chris is an experienced senior manager within New Zealand’s agribusiness and farming sectors. Trust chairman Iain Maxwell says Chris understands rural New Zealand and its farming systems, as well as the world of agribusiness that supports it.

Extra eyes needed to find spread of new pest

Posted on December 10, 2021

Help is needed to find a new pest invading the South Island. “We’re asking farmers to scan their eyes over their poplar trees for a hairy poplar sawfly,” Poplar and Willow Research Trust general manager Ian McIvor says. “Although currently only known around Dunedin and the Taieri Plains, this bug could be moving undetected around the country, especially after potentially hitch hiking through the

New face at the helm of Poplar and Willow Research Trust

Posted on February 18, 2021

Iain Maxwell from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council is the new chairman of the New Zealand Poplar and Willow Research Trust. “I’m excited to be asked to chair the Trust and am impressed with its impact on supporting New Zealand’s sustainable land management challenges.” After gaining degrees in zoology and ecology, Iain was a Department of Conservation fishery officer for six years and regional m

Poplar and willow ambassadors launched around New Zealand

Posted on October 01, 2020

A group of top farmers have joined forces with the Poplar and Willow Research Trust to help promote the value of poplars and willows on New Zealand farms. “Poplars and willows have an important role in developing greater resilience in our farming systems, so we’re using the knowledge and experience of some top farmers who know the true worth of poplars and willows on their land,” Trust chairman

You can get carbon credits from Poplars & Willows

Posted on April 27, 2020

Erosion control/spaced plantings are eligible to enter the emissions trading scheme (ETS), if they meet the ‘forest land’ definition’ as well as be ‘post 1989’ land. More information.

Poplar Demonstration on SH1 near Utiku, Rangitikei

Posted on February 28, 2020

There have been some queries about the Poplar Demonstration on SH1, just south of Taihape. With generous support from the farm owners, D&D Mickelson, and Beef + Lamb NZ, Ravensdown and Horizons Regional Council, we have established a demonstration site where you can check out 16 different poplar clones; 12 are available commercially with the other four expected to be in the near future. They vary

Poplars and willows offer a valuable feed source during dry conditions

Posted on February 20, 2020

As dry conditions and feed shortages hit many parts of the country, the Poplar and Willow Research Trust is reminding farmers their poplars and willows offer a valuable feed source. Known for their erosion control and shade qualities, palatable poplars and willows should also form part of a farm drought resilience plan. “In summer, often the only sight of green on parched farms is trees,” says

Poplar sawfly found in Dunedin

Posted on February 27, 2019

The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed that a poplar sawfly larva was recently detected in Dunedin, and that this is a new pest to New Zealand.Please look out for munching larvae... 16mm hairy yellow with two rows of black dots. MPI fact sheetOtago Daily Times news story

Press Release: Welcome increase in government funding for tree planting

Posted on September 06, 2018

The Poplar and Willow Research Trust has welcomed increased government funding for tree planting. Trust chairman Bruce Wills says the extra funding was to repair damaged and eroded landscapes. “Poplar and willow trees are absolutely the best species for achieving that. It has been reported that land north of Gisborne and nearby Tolaga Bay, which has widely spaced, established poplar plantings, su

Erosion Control in your budget 2018

Posted on March 13, 2018

Farmers are being urged to budget for the buying and planting of erosion-control willow and poplar poles. “It’s important to plan ahead to make sure the money is in your farm budget not just to buy poles but get them to your farm, planted and protected,” says Ian McIvor from the Poplar and Willow Research Trust. “Most regional council or private nurseries need to have your order by late May at t

Erosion control in your budget

Posted on May 19, 2017

“It’s important to plan ahead to make sure the money is in your farm budget not just to buy poles but get them to your farm, planted and protected,” says Poplar and Willow Research Trust general manager Ian McIvor. He says a series of videos was released last year about choosing the right sites site for erosion-control poles and the best planting methods. “The links are on our website and we als

Trees grown for shade, shelter and fodder on remote farm

Posted on January 20, 2017

Eastern Taranaki farmers Hugh and Maureen Paterson say the past decade has given them a strong belief in the benefits of poplars and willows. They farm 231 hectares in the Strathmore district about 30 kilometres inland from Stratford on the Forgotten World Highway (Ohura Road). While relatively remote, the farm is also visible to a growing number of tourists using the highway. Location and acces

A story of change and success in poplars and willows for erosion management

Posted on September 13, 2016

Trevor Freeman has seen the planting of hundreds of thousands of poplar and willow trees in the Gisborne region. The retiring Gisborne District Council Chief Science Specialist and former Environmental Services Manager finishes with the Gisborne District Council on August 19. In the past 40 years his role has morphed from land management into environmental services concerned with water, biosecuri

Giant Willow Aphid causing concern

Posted on July 18, 2016

The giant willow aphid has persisted in high numbers around New Zealand thanks to the mild start to winter. “In the last two seasons giant willow aphid populations have fallen off much earlier. We could do with a run of frosts to reduce numbers,” says Ian McIvor, general manager of the Poplar and Willow Research Trust. “But we have had reports of aphids in Southland in early July after an init

April 2016 Update

Posted on March 25, 2016

Giant willow aphid is peaking. Many basket willow growers are using a contact insecticide to kill the pest, with good effect. This is a satisfactory approach for solitary trees too, in home gardens and school playgrounds.The Hill Country Symposium, organized by the New Zealand Grassland Association will take place from 12th April to the 13th April 2016 in Rotorua, New Zealand. The conference will

November 2015 Update

Posted on November 09, 2015

Giant willow aphid is up and about in Palmerston North. Have you seen any in your district? Let us know.Hawke’s Bay Regional Council hosted ‘East Coast Hill Country Conference 2015’ in Hastings, 29-30 October. Well done Nathan Heath HBRC and your team. Hill country is still very important to the NZ economy. To quote Malcolm Todd (Horizons RC): "The most important thing (absolutely essential) is go

October 2015 Update

Posted on October 20, 2015

Keep a watch out for the first appearance of the season for the giant willow aphid. Report any appearances to our contact address.Hawke’s Bay Regional Council hosts ‘East Coast Hill Country Conference 2015’ in Hastings, 29-30 October.Pole planting should be finished for 2015, just in time for the October winds. Wind can play havoc with poplar and willow poles. Check to see your poles are still tig

August 2015 Update

Posted on August 13, 2015

As part of our national trial of experimental poplars new trials were planted at sites in Waikaretu in the Waikato, Studholme in Taranaki, Waituna West in Manawatu, Methven in Canterbury, Mavora Lakes in Southland, and Aramoana in Hawke’s Bay. A booklet ‘A Decision Support Tool: Trees for the Farm’ was produced as part of SFF 12/054 and is available on this website. Here’s hoping the cold winter h

June 2015 Updates

Posted on June 25, 2015

Congratulations to Linda Newstrom-Lloyd and her team in the ‘Trees for Bees’ project on the recent publication of the ‘Winning with Willows’ booklet released at the NZ Beekeepers conference in Taupo. This informative booklet provides information on the pollen and nectar cycles of many willow cultivars. Copies can be obtained from your local Regional Council.Congratulations to this year’s winners

Leaf bacteria fertilize trees, researchers claim

Posted on May 27, 2015

The fastest growing trees outside the tropics are poplars. Tall and slender, they can reach 30 meters in less than a decade despite the seemingly inhospitable ground they favor—burned areas and sandy riverbanks, for example. Sharon Doty says the credit goes to microbes in their leaves and other tissues. While the poplar's leaf cells are busy converting sunlight to energy, she says, bacteria betwee

May 2015 updates

Posted on May 27, 2015

Giant willow aphid continues to thrive into late May. In contrast to last season the aphid has been reported as resurging in many locations following a noticeable decline in populations in early April. The long term impact of this aphid is still unknown as no predators or hyperparasites are yet apparent.The time for poplar and willow pole planting is upon us. Council nurseries will begin harvestin

Christchurch field trip a big success

Posted on April 04, 2015

Poplar and Willow nursery managers were hosted by river engineer Dan Harrison, Barry Mathers (nursery manager) and Environment Canterbury staff in Christchurch February 16-17. Visits were made to ECan nursery on the banks of the Waimakariri River and on a field trip to Waimakariri Gorge the group looked at how poplars and willows were used to stabilise and manage water flow in a dynamic river syst

Giant Willow Aphid has re-emerged this summer

Posted on February 28, 2015

Giant Willow Aphid has re-emerged this summer as numerous as last season. It has spread its range into Southland. The honeydew crystallises readily on the stems of affected willows when it is not captured by other insects.Winged adults are more common towards the end of the season. They disperse and set up new colonies. No predators have yet arisen to capitalise on this food source and provide som