![White pine plantation](https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/105/2016/09/WhitePineSeedOrchard-300x225.jpg)
White pine plantation near Lake Tomahawk
Soon after the beginning of the nurseries in Wisconsin, managers realized they had a special role to play in the development of trees, especially when it came to disease resistance, growth, and form. In conjunction with the UW system, USDA Forest Service scientists and researchers and our own tree geneticist, nursery staff established a number of seed orchards. Throughout the decades, we have explored and invested in new sites, creating a tree improvement program that is stocked with species in various stages of development and/or characteristic selection.
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