Forum Trufflegrowers

Webinar recorded September 20 2026 - Why do some truffle trees produce whilst others do not? This presentation explores new research conducted across North American orchards that seeks to answer this question.

Webinar recorded July 27 2026 - Introduction to methods used to develop assays, to rapidly detect Tuber species.

Webinar recorded May 18 2026 - NATGA Monthly Webinar: Research Task Force update.

Webinar recorded April 20 2026 - Ten agronomic practices in the pre-productive stage and ten in the productive stage.

Webinar recorded March 16 2026 - Result for the Truffle Grower Survey for 2023-2024 truffle season.

In reply to Vanessa Shea . Please disregard.

Hi Fabrice, Can you update the Virginia Truffles Services Statement to read: At Virginia Truffles, we offer a dedicated, professionally operated truffle testing service currently available to growers in the United States. Our team holds advanced degrees in science, has published peer-reviewed research, and brings over twenty years of combined research and consulting experience to every sample we process. Whether you need DNA-based species confirmation from root tips or harvested tissue, or a detailed microscopic assessment of colonization and spore morphology, our results give you the certainty you need to make informed decisions about your orchard.

I have only experienced with one orchard so take my input with caution. From my understanding it is very important to consider prior vegetation. Having an establishe rich ectomycorrhizal ecosystem will increase your risks of your tree contamination with other competing ectomycorrhizal fungies. In our orchard despite being fallow for 10 years and previously being a pear orchard, we are now seeing big schleroderma and other echtomycorrhizal fungies blums. It is believed that if you have to significantly change the pH of your soil that ot might help controlling the native populations of contaminants…

For us the biggest surprised was in order: Having to hire full time help from the beginning in order to keep gophers under control Cost of electricity to pump the water (irrigation) Cost of reinoculation (labor + spores + substrate) Prunning Q. robur after year 4 Insurance Dogs are starting to enter into the equation, and will become quickly big ticket items.

Hello everyone, Several growers have mentioned that their original business plans underestimated some costs. Looking back at the first 5–10 years of your orchard, which expenses turned out to be the most significant surprises? Examples might include: tree replacement; irrigation; soil amendments; labor; equipment; dogs; pest control; re-inoculation. Thank you.

Hello everyone, I am researching the feasibility of black truffle cultivation in Mexico, where many potentially suitable sites have a history of oak or pine vegetation. For growers who established orchards on land that previously hosted ectomycorrhizal trees: How long did you wait before planting? Did you use cover crops or any other strategy to reduce competition? In hindsight, how important was previous land use to the success of your orchard? Thank you for sharing your experience.

Hello everyone, I have been reading some of the discussions and recent literature regarding mating types and spore amendments in Tuber melanosporum orchards. For growers who have experimented with spore amendments or re-inoculation: Have you observed measurable improvements in productivity? Did the response vary between different areas of the orchard? Looking back, at what orchard age would you recommend the first application? I am curious whether spore amendments have become part of your regular orchard management or if you still consider them experimental. Thank you very much.