Has anyone requested material from this California facility http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=17491&page=1 as an individual? They say "Germplasm may be distributed to private individuals at the discretion of the Curator."

They have some varieties in their collection that aren't yet being distributed through California's Citrus Clonal Protection Program.

FYI, I read in this post link about Millet's and Citrus Joe's tour of the facility in 2007.

Yes, basically we asked and we received. Citrus Joe has received germ-plasm from them numerous times. Really not much of a problem. - Millet (1,281-)

excellent!

Now I just have to work on my grafting skills.

I think that by 'germplasm' they only mean seeds.
It sounds as if you were hoping for budwood. Others may know differently, but I believe they don't distribute budwood.

The National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus & Dates (NCGRCD)are the budwood people. I've been to their place at UCR. Besides their huge budwood screen house, they also have a greenhouse where they grow citrus cultivars for disease research, and a lab for disease verifications. We have received bud wood directly from them on various occasions. Interestingly, I have never ever seen a single thing there, that has anything what-so-ever to do with dates. Not even one single date plant. Dr. Kruger told me that at one time the NCGRCD used to do work with dates in the past, but their official name has never been changed. - Millet (1,273-)

I think the dates are kept at another site. This is from their web site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximately 350 accessions are currently available as pathogen-free budwood. Additional virus-free accessions will be available for distribution at yearly intervals during this phase. All accessions are maintained in insect-excluding screenhouses and greenhouses as potted trees in five gallon containers, budded or grafted onto appropriate rootstock.

Via a cooperative arrangement, the Repository utilizes the UCR Citrus Variety Collection as a field planting for the purposes of evaluation and as a source of seeds, pollen, etc. This collection contains approximately 900 accessions of citrus and related genera. Over 50 additional cold-sensitive accessions are maintained at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, California.

The date collection consists of 75 varieties and hybrids of two Phoenix species (P. dactylifera and P. sylvestris). The collection is maintained as two field-grown palms per accession at the USDA-ARS Desert Conservation Station at Brawley, California and at the University of California Coachella Valley Agricultural Research Station at Thermal, California.

jrb, all the dates must now be located in Irvine, CA. I notice that the web site you write about, says that the date people use some of the Citrus Variety Collection ( CVC) land to grow some of their dates. They must no longer do this, as I have been completely through out the CVC and have never seen a single date plant. It would be interesting for date growers to go through the Irvine center on a tour. Normally UCR is very generous with their time, showing visitors around. - Millet (1,272-)

Is it more cost effective for budwood to go through the National Clonal Germplasm than the CCPP for us out of state folks? It is quite costly to go through the CCPP (out of state) and you must get 12 pieces of each variety. I could not find a cost or minimum purchase number for budwood on the site? Is their collection the same as the UCR's?

Joe

I tried the USDA route and the quarintine is making it hard. Robert K told me I'm better off with the CCPP because of location.

I've ordered cuttings other than citrus from them over the years, and this will be my first budwood order. They have shipped FedEx and shipping is all I have paid for vinifera and ficus carica. Also pomegranates.

I agree that the CCPP is pretty expensive, and you receive far more buds than you really want, but you pay for them. Even at that, if you count the retail cost x the varieties you want, you could be talking around $1000.00!! CCPP sounds economical when I count the retail costs of the same thing. But, retail is a known thing. No chances. Budwood. Yep! Chance!

I will try GRIN first with an email of varieties I desire, for availability and deadlines. Hopefully they will respond with instructions. I live in their same county in CA, so planning on success on at least a few of my desired varieties.

It took me a long time to find this, but I did! http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/swish/accboth?query=
Suzi