Listen and learn about the emerging opportunities for hazelnut farmers in the Kootenays. Featuring audio from a KBFA Field Day, listen to Zachary Fleming, a professional agrologist and the president of the BC Hazelnut Growers Association, discussing the what, why and how of getting into the hazelnut industry including market outlook, sector opportunities, and long-term management.
Check out the specific chapter sections (below) to listen in on the topics that interest you the most.Â
Hazelnut Farming in the Kootenays with Zachary Fleming
Chapter Sections
0:00:00 History of Hazelnuts
0:14:08 Hazelnut Life Cycle
0:15:54 Hazelnut Varieties
0:18:10 Climate, Zones, Kootenay Relevance
0:21:27 Marketing Potential
0:25:23 Basic Processing for Retail
0:27:05 Washing Nuts
0:28:01 Shelf Life
0:28:55 Harvesting (Over-row/Blueberry Harvester)
0:32:01 Harvesting (Sweepers, Vacuums, Nets, Other)
0:36:40 Nut Size
0:37:29 Hybrids vs Cultivars (and the Quarantine)
0:39:18 Eastern Filbert Blight
0:40:58 Native and Ornamental Hazelnuts
0:42:53 Propagation and Layering
0:48:38 Multi-stem
0:53:15 Pruning for Wood Renewal
0:55:31 Commercial 25% Pruning
0:56:40 Pruning for Healthy Establishment
0:59:55 Time to First Nuts
1:00:59 Soil Management
1:05:28 Weed Competition
1:07:00 Pruning Back to Zero
1:10:38 Live Stakes (not likely to work)
1:12:09 More Pruning (and Splitting Bark)
1:14:10 Sunburn
1:15:22 Squirrels and Pests
1:20:09 Pruning when Not Dormant
1:21:50 More Pruning (and Leaving Suckers)
1:25:47 Pruning with Blight
1:30:34 Cold Weather Impacts
1:37:14 Pruning Scaffolds
1:44:37 Establishment Obstacles
1:47:39 Organic Transitions
1:49:20 Landscape Fabric
1:50:38 Spacing
1:51:46 Intermission: Grazing Hazelnuts?
1:54:19 Vacuum Harvester
1:55:48 Deer Impacts on Establishment
1:56:36 Nut Size Comparison
1:58:18 Vacuum Harvester (again)
2:00:21 Comparing Varieties
2:06:29 Value as Shelterbelt Hedge
2:07:49 Alley Cropping
2:09:29 Big Old Trees
2:10:50 Pollination and Pollinizers
2:11:50 Feasibility of Blueberry Harvester
2:13:10 Cold Kills Nuts
2:14:05 Wrap-up
Resources
- BC Hazelnut Production Guide
- Perennial Crop Renewal Program (BC Hazelnut Re-plant program – funding to plant hazelnuts)
- BC Hazelnut Growers Association
- Â Oregon State Production Guide
- Â Berkemeier Orchards
- Purchase hazelnut trees: Local nurseries may sell trees and for larger orders, contact Zachary Fleming who sells high quality bare-root planting stock in the Fraser Valley. Email: zach@pcagriculture.ca
