Scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) report the development of a successful method for storing frozen budwood from ash trees and thawing the delicate buds for later use in propagation. Is that a massive "So what," I hear you asking? Well, just remember there, A-Rod, wood from ash trees is used to make baseball bats.
According to the ARS, ash trees - "among America's most prized shade trees" - are declining nationwide due to attacks by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an exotic beetle from northern Asia that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in several states since being discovered in 2002.
"Besides the ecological harm, the loss of ash trees to EAB infestations is of economic concern," stated the ARS in a press release. "Indeed, numerous forest products are derived from the species, including lumber for furniture, tool handles and baseball bats."
Baseball bats were traditionally made of ash until the early 2000s, when Barry Bonds increased the popularity of maple bats by using them during his record-breaking homerun streak. However a move is currently afoot by Major League Baseball to ban maple bats due to their inherent shattering danger. As About Baseball Guide Scott Kendrick writes in his article Shattered bats pose danger to players, coaches (and fans), "While ash cracks under pressure, maple shatters, sending shards of sharp wood everywhere."
Their newly developed method for long-term storage of ash tree budwood will allow the USDA to build up a national resource for reintroducing the tree once the Emerald Ash Borer has been controlled.
Also See:
Foreign Farmers Increasing, USDA Reports
Women Run 8.6 Percent of US Farms
Comments
Great Article. Although they are facing difficult times, ash bats will always be around, and be the favorite of plenty of players.