Once again the Missouri Department of Conservation is buying tree seeds, so if you have an abundance of acorns or other tree seeds, you could make some money!

The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) George O. White Tree Nursery in Licking, will be buying several variety of tree species seeds from the public.

The MDC nursery conducts seed collections to grow into bare root seedlings for planting next year.

In south-central Missouri, you may bring seeds to MDC’s Ozark Regional Office in West Plains, from 8 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday at 551 Joe Jones Blvd.  Once the nursery has reached its quota it will stop buying seeds. You may want to call ahead to make sure there is a need for your seed donation.

Here is a list of which seeds the MDC may purchase. All prices are per pound of fruit:

  • Mixed hickory: $0.75
  • Persimmon: (Persimmon fruit must be ripe, which means it must be yellow, red, or orange. No partially green fruit will be accepted.) $0.75
  • Shellbark hickory: $0.90
  • Ohio buckeye (without hulls): $0.95
  • Red buckeye (without hulls): $0.95
  • White oak: $0.95
  • Paw paw: (Fruit must be ripe, which means it will be soft. Seed will not be accepted if fruit is too firm.) $1.50
  • Post oak: $1.50
  • Wild plum: (Plum must be ripe, which means it must be yellow, red, or orange. No partially green fruit will be accepted.) $1.95
  • Chinkapin oak: $2.50
  • Butternut: $3
  • Redbud: (Pods must be brown and have an average of three seeds per pod that are light-brown and filled, not black. Green seed pods will not be accepted.) $4 per pound in pods
  • Elderberry: (Fruit must be ripe, purple to black in color. Sellers should bring fruit only, no clusters.) $4.25
  • Spicebush: $4.25
  • Witchhazel: (Seed inside pod must be black in color.) $4.50
  • Hazelnut: (Seed must be mature, light-brown, and easily pulled from husk. No green or partially husks will be accepted. Please be patient and allow the seed to mature on the plant.) $4.75
  • Roughleaf dogwood: $4.75
  • Flowering dogwood: $5
  • Gray dogwood: $5
  • Black cherry: (Fruit must be ripe, black in color), $6
  • Eastern wahoo: $6.50

The following species will be accepted beginning Oct. 2:

  • Black oak: $0.85
  • Shumard oak: $0.95
  • Northern red oak: $0.95
  • Bur oak: $1.10
  • Pin oak: $1.25
  • Cherrybark oak: $1.85
  • Nuttall oak: $1.85
  • Swamp white oak: $1.50
  • Swamp chestnut oak: $1.50
  • Overcup oak: $1.50
  • Willow oak: $1.85

The following species will be accepted beginning Oct. 23:

  • Deciduous holly: $4.50