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Jeffrey H. OwenArea Extension Forestry Specialist |
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Responsibilities
Extension (100%): Christmas Tree Production
- Providing support to North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Agents with Christmas tree responsibility.
- Increasing the understanding of Christmas tree nutrition and soil fertility through educational opportunities.
- Maximizing the effectiveness Christmas tree farms through strategic planning, business management, and marketing education.
- Fostoring sustainable Christmas tree production across an array of production and harvest practices
Current Projects (2011-2012)
- Developing a growing degree day model to predict safe mistblower sprayer application of very low rates of glyphosate herbicide to Fraser fir in mid-summerEvaluating phytotoxicity and weed suppression of low rates of post-emergent herbicides in Christmas tree species grown in Eastern NC.
- Developing alternative, low-cost bulk deer repellents used to protect Christmas trees from browsing injury.
- Evaluating freshness of cut Fraser firs stored in different conditions & treated with different products
- Evaluating treatments to reduce precocious cone production in Fraser fir.
- Regional Christmas Tree Marketing Conference
Background
B.A. Drew University
M.F. Duke University
Jeff Owen received a Bachelor of Arts in botany from Drew University in 1982 and a Master of Forestry from Duke University in 1984. Owen worked as a plant pathologist with the US Forest Service from 1985 through 1987 on mycorrhizal research. Owen began working with the NC Christmas tree industry in 1987 as an agricultural extension agent in Avery County and then in 1995 in his present position as an area Christmas tree extension specialist.
Mountain
Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828-684-3562 ~ Fax: 828-684-8715
Email: jeff_owen@ncsu.edu
Maintained by: Bryan A. Konsler
Updated May 26, 2011