PRT USA Inc., a forest seedling propagator and the largest producer of container-grown forest seedlings, announced recently that it is constructing a containerized forest seedling nursery in Atmore.

The nursery will serve forest landowners and other customers in the southeast U.S. Construction will be completed in early 2017, and the sowing of seeds will occur in spring 2017, for shipping to customers for the 2017-18 planting season.

The nursery will be located at the former E.A. Hauss Nursery sit in Atmore. PRT has signed a long-term lease with the Alabama Forestry Commission, which includes land, buildings and infrastructure suitable to forest seedling production, according to a release.

“With establishment of this facility PRT will take another step towards our goal of better serving our customers in the Southeast U.S.,” PRT President and CEO Rob Miller said. “This region is an important forestry market in North America, which is poised to grow as the forest industry economic recovery continues and as more customers embrace the advantages of container grown seedlings. An Alabama based nursery will allow us to make PRT’s containerized forest seedlings available for quick and effective turnaround deliveries during the fall and winter plant period starting in 2017.”

PRT will construct container-growing facilities on the site, which it intends to expand over time in response to customer needs. PRT’s forest seedling product offering will include longleaf, slash and loblolly pine, and other species.