Module 5: SPAR nursery

This section will look at the basic steps required to search for a nursery request. Step-by-step instructions 1. Select the Search tab and select Nursery Search from the options. 2. Enter data into the search fields. The search has no mandatory fields, so you can search on which ever criteria you know. If you leave all the search fields blank the search results will show all nurseries. The more search parameters you enter the more precise your search results become. The data in the search fields can be entered in whichever fields and in whatever order you like. 3. Click the Search button. Examine the search results. The results are sorted alphabetically by Nursery Acronym. Nursery acronym Each nursery has a unique acronym which is based on the Client Number and Location Code and can be up to 8 characters long. Many of the nurseries have only one location (with a location code of 00), so the nursery acronym is the same as the client acronym. In the case where a nursery has more than one location, the nursery acronym includes a unique location identifier.

Now that you have learned how to search for a nursery request, click Forward to learn how to update and add sowing dates.

Accessing the Latest Sowing Dates screen

SPAR has a single screen which allows you to efficiently view and update the sowing dates applicable to your nursery. To access this screen, log onto SPAR, using your Nursery assigned user name and password and navigate to the Admin Tab. Now select Nursery Maintenance and Latest Sowing Date.

Using the Latest Sowing Dates screen

You will notice that this screen is divided into two sections, top portion and bottom portion.

Top portion - the top portion of the screen contains the parameters for the sowing dates. You should use these fields to enter search criteria for your Sowing Dates. For example, if you know you have already entered Sowing Dates for your nursery for a Species, but can't remember which Season, then simply:

• Select your Nursery
• Enter the Species
• Click the Go Button

All Sowing Dates for your Nursery for that Species will display in the bottom portion of the screen.

View a sample of the top portion of the Latest Sowing Dates Screen

Bottom portion - the bottom portion of the screen allows you to perform two functions:

Update existing Sowing Dates for your nursery
Add new Sowing Date information for your nursery

View a sample of the bottom portion of the Latest Sowing Dates Screen

This training video will show you how to add a new sowing date for your nursery.

Nurseries wishing to be efficient with seed can adjust seed on the Nursery Grams Adjustment screen. Nurseries can select sowing requests and bring these up on one common screen where gram quantity can be adjusted downwards. To adjust grams of nursery seed, logon to SPAR and follow these steps: Step-by-step instructions 1. Select the Requests  tab and select Nursery Grams Adjustment from the options. 2. You can select sowing request based on any one of a number criteria. You must enter at least one of the following fields: Request ID Assigned Nursery Request Agency   If you enter the Request ID all other criteria will be ignored.   3. Click the Go button to display request information at the bottom of the screen. If there are multiple requests that match your criteria, then each is displayed in a separate row.   4. To modify the grams associated with a request, click the Update button. The grams will be displayed in an editable field. You can reduce the number of grams in this field and then click the Save button to save your changes to the data.     Clicking the Details button will open the Seedling Request Screen which provides detailed information on the specific seedling request.

The conservation of FDI (interior Douglas fir) class ‘A’ seed, PY (Ponderosa pine) class ‘A” and ‘B’, Pli (Lodgepole pine) class ‘A’ and ‘B’ seed and of Sx (Spruce) class ‘A’ seed, is mandatory and seed requirements have been adjusted on the Seed Planning and Registry System (SPAR). As germination tests are regularly being updated, the germination rate and subsequent number of grams is subject to change.

Based on the germination rate of the seedlot, the seed adjustment factor is applied to the number of grams calculated by SPAR. For example, if SPAR calculates that 2,000 grams are needed to fulfill the seedling request using an Fdi seedlot with a germination rate of 95 percent, then:

2,000 grams x 0.85 = 1,700 grams

Please note: reductions are not done to seedling requests with less than 10 thousand seedlings, 52000 or 62000 series seedlots or to those requests using up the remaining seedlot balance.

Seed Adjustment Rules for A Class Interior Douglas Fir (Fdi)

Germination Rate of Seedlot	Seed Adjustment Factor
96 to 99	0.90
84 to 95	0.85

Seed Adjustment Rules for A Class Interior Lodgepole Pine (Pli)

Germination Rate of Seedlot	Seed Adjustment Factor
97 to 99	0.85
Below 97	0.80

Seed Adjustment Rules for B Class Interior Lodgepole Pine (Pli)

Germination Rate of Seedlot	Seed Adjustment Factor
97 to 99	0.95
Below 97	0.85

Seed Adjustment Rules for A and B Class Ponderosa Pine (Py)

Germination Rate of Seedlot	Seed Adjustment Factor
97 to 99	0.90
94 to 96	0.80
89 to 93	0.75
80 to 88	0.70
Below 80	No adjustment

Seed Adjustment Rules for A and B Class Hybrid Spruce

Germination Rate of Seedlot	Seed Adjustment Factor
0 to 100	0.85

Frequently asked questions:

Q1: The ministry has mandatory seed reductions on Fdi, Sx, Pli and Py as described in posted contracts. Are there mandatory gram reductions on other species such as Fdc, Cw, etc.?

• Not at this time.

Q2: When a nursery sees how much seed they get when awarded a ministry contract, has the amount already been reduced (if applicable)?

• Yes, we try to get them all done before awarded. There are times when we are waiting for test results to come in and we may use an estimated species average as a place holder.

Q3: Are the mandatory seed reductions for ministry orders (e.g. BCTS, MOF) only, or does it apply to licensee requests as well?

• The gram reductions on this page apply to ministry orders only, we don’t have any mandatory adjustments for licensee requests. Licensees typically reduce the number of grams used themselves or the nursery does it. Tree Seed Centre staff ask seed users to try and reduce on the A class Py since it is in such short supply, but up to them in the end.

The following videos contain a lecture presented by Dave Kolotelo who is the Cone and Seed Improvement Officer at the Tree Seed Centre in Surrey BC. These videos will provide a background on the work done at the Tree Seed Centre, conifer reproductive biology and tree seed biology.

• Part One: Background on Conifer Reproductive Biology and Tree Seed Biology (MP4, 62 MB)
• Part Two: Tree Seed Basic Concepts (MP4, 49MB)

If your nursery assists clients with seedling request entry in SPAR, you responsible for following the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) Regulations and Standards, specifically the Chief Forester’s Standards for Seed Use.

The following are the steps for ordering seedlings:

1. Obtain a BCeID by following the steps on the BCeID website.  Then request Silviculture Supervisor access to SPAR for the client on who's behalf you will be entering seedling requests. Please note: you will need to have your Private Nursery profile linked to one BCeID and your Silviculture Supervisor profile linked to a different BCeID. We have noticed compatibility issues when both the Private Nursery and Silviculture Supervisor profiles are linked to the same BCeID. 
2. Determine the species, stock type, container type, stock age, year and season of planting most appropriate for the planting site. 
3. Determine the quantity of seedlings of each species required. 
4. In SPAR, enter a Seedling Request for each species required. For entry of a request, you will need the following information:
   • Client Number and Client Name
   • Mean latitude and longitude of planting site
   • Mean elevation of planting site (from the site plan or silviculture prescription)
   • Biogeoclimatic zone (from the site plan or silviculture prescription)
   • Tree Species required
   • Quantity of seedlings for each species to be ordered
   • Stocktype and container type for each species
   • Stock age, planting year and season
   • Preferred seedlot numbers (where the woodlot licensee owns seed)
5. Review the suitable seed and/or vegetative lots available.   When a Seedling Request is entered in SPAR, a list of suitable seedlots is generated. There may be situations where no surplus seed is readily available if it is all held in reserve by ministry, licensee or private seed dealer owners.  In this situation, you can contact the seedlot owner to inquire about purchasing some seed. To learn how to look up contact information for the owner agency of a seedlot, please refer to the:
   • Client Search training video (MP4, 9.5MB)
6. Approve the seedling request(s) in SPAR.   Once the status of a seedling request is set to “approved”, the Tree Seed Centre will withdraw the seed from storage at the appropriate time, prepare the seed with a pre-sowing treatment (stratification or pelletization), and ship the seed to the nursery in time for the nursery’s sowing date.