The hazelnut orchard. Photo credit: Shawn Linehan
Nellie’s parents, David and Nita McAdams, harvesting hazelnuts. Photo credit: Shawn Linehan
It goes without saying that 2020 has had its share of challenges, but a bright spot for me and my family was a bountiful hazelnut harvest. This October, a cascade of nuts of different varieties - tiny and sweet Casina; golden Ennis the size of pullet eggs; and mahogany-colored Barcelona - flowed in by the tote-full. And for that I am grateful.
But work on the farm never ends. Our next task: removing dead trees and replanting.
Like most older hazelnut orchards in the Willamette Valley, our trees are slowly dying from a fungal disease. We heavily prune out infected limbs and use approved sprays to prevent the spread of spores. Even so, about 3% of our 10,000 trees succumb to the disease each year.
Each year we cut down around 300 trees - the chainsaw sometimes jams on the rock-hard dead wood. We grind the limbs and burn or mill the trunks. We give our thanks to the trees for the bounty of food and income they have given us. We grind the stumps and we dig new holes.
And then we replant.
Nellie’s father, David McAdams, during harvest. Photo credit: Shawn Linehan
Slowly but surely, we are replacing our old hazelnut varieties that are susceptible to the disease with resistant varieties. These new varieties were developed over decades by smart and dedicated OSU researchers who were funded in part by hazelnut growers themselves. These growers knew that if they did not band together and contribute some of their annual crop payments to the development of new varieties, there would soon be no crop to harvest - no Oregon hazelnut industry - for them or the next generation.
The sacrifices and ingenuity of these individuals have allowed my family to have hope for the future of our orchards and for our livelihood from our farm. And for that I am grateful.
In a nutshell (please excuse the pun), in 2020 I am grateful for communities working together.
I am grateful for my all-family harvest crew and the hundreds of farmers and researchers who make future Oregon hazelnut harvests possible.
I am grateful for the dedicated and passionate board, staff, volunteers, and believers who successfully launched a new organization - Oregon Agricultural Trust - during one of the most challenging years in a century.
I am grateful for the ongoing support of our growing community who understand that everyone’s quality of life rests on our ability to protect our farms, ranches, and the land they depend upon.
Nita, David, and Nellie McAdams. Photo credit: Shawn Linehan
Thank you for being a part of this community. Special thanks to the 84 people who donated or bid on items in our first-ever online auction, and to our growing group of supporters.
We could not do this work without your participation in our shared vision.
May 2021 bring you and yours peace and happiness.
Nelle McAdams
OAT Executive Director
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