Christmas tree cultivation

Last updated
A Christmas tree farmer in the U.S. state of Florida explains the pruning and shearing process of cultivation to a government employee. Christmas tree farm FL.JPG
A Christmas tree farmer in the U.S. state of Florida explains the pruning and shearing process of cultivation to a government employee.

Christmas tree cultivation is an agricultural, forestry, and horticultural occupation which involves growing pine, spruce, and fir trees specifically for use as Christmas trees.

Contents

The first Christmas tree farm was established in 1901, but most consumers continued to obtain their trees from forests until the 1930s and 1940s. Christmas tree farming was once seen only as a viable alternative for low-quality farmland, but that perception has changed within the agriculture industry. For optimum yield and quality, land should be flat or gently rolling and relatively free of debris and undergrowth.

A wide variety of pine and fir species are grown as Christmas trees, although a handful of varieties stand out in popularity. In the United States, Douglas-fir, Scots pine and Fraser fir all sell well. Nordmann fir and Norway spruce sell well in the United Kingdom, the latter being popular throughout Europe. Like all conifers, Christmas trees are vulnerable to a range of pests.

The final stage of cultivation, harvesting, is carried out in a number of ways; one of the more popular methods is the pick-your-own tree farm, where customers are allowed to roam the farm, select their tree, and cut it down themselves. Other farmers cultivate potted trees, with balled roots, which can be replanted after Christmas and used again the following year.

History

The practice of cultivating evergreens specifically to sell as Christmas trees dates back to 1901, when a 25,000-tree Norway spruce farm was sown near Trenton, New Jersey. [1] The commercial market for Christmas trees had started 50 years earlier when a farmer from the Catskill Mountains brought trees into New York City to sell. [2] Despite these pioneering efforts, most people still obtained wild-grown Christmas trees from forests into the 1930s and 1940s. [3] More trees were grown in plantations after World War II, and by the 1950s, farmers were shearing and pruning trees to meet customer demands. The Christmas tree market burgeoned through the 1960s and 1970s, but from the late 1980s onward, prices and the market for natural Christmas trees declined. In the early 21st century, nearly 98% of all natural (not artificial) Christmas trees sold worldwide were grown on tree farms. [4]

Cultivation

Land and climate

This Christmas tree farm in southern Virginia is situated in a gently rolling valley. Southern Virginia Christmas tree farm.jpg
This Christmas tree farm in southern Virginia is situated in a gently rolling valley.

Christmas tree farms are best located on relatively level land that is free of obstructions. In the past, Christmas tree farmers established their plantations on less desirable agricultural plots or "wastelands of agriculture". [5] However, emphasis in modern Christmas tree farming has shifted toward the production of higher-quality trees, and increasing land quality expectations. [5] Indeed, some species of trees, such as the Fraser fir, are unable to grow on low-quality, marginal farmland. [6] Flat or gently rolling land is preferred to that with steep slopes and inclines, which is prone to erosion and fluctuations in fertility. Noticeable obstructions, such as rocks, fences, or significant underbrush, are also undesirable. [5]

This Christmas tree farm in Iowa is located on flat ground and has well-mowed rows between the trees. Christmas tree farm IA.JPG
This Christmas tree farm in Iowa is located on flat ground and has well-mowed rows between the trees.

Like all crops and plants, Christmas trees require a specific set of nutrients to thrive. [7] Some 16 elements are crucial for growth; of those, three are obtained through air and water: hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, copper, chlorine, manganese, molybdenum, iron, and zinc are obtained from the soil. If the necessary elements are not available in the local soil, nutritious fertilizers are used. [7] Other important soil considerations include pH and drainage. [8] Certain types of soil are preferable, depending on the type of tree. Pine trees are usually better adapted to a sandy or sandy loam soil, [9] while white spruce trees and fir trees, such as the Douglas fir, prefer fine-texture loams and clay loam soils. [9] Some trees grow well in all types of soil, but in any case, the land must be well-drained for a Christmas tree farm to have a chance of thriving. [9]

The weather, as with other agricultural endeavors, plays a key outcome in the yield of a Christmas tree farm. Severe cold in the winter and extreme hot and dry conditions during and after harvest can cause irreparable damage to the crop. [10] Early snow can make both harvesting and shipping trees difficult or impossible. [10]

Labor and equipment

Christmas tree farming is a labor-intensive process. Depending on the quality of the land, bulldozing may need to be undertaken prior to planting, to remove obstacles such as large trees or rocks. [11] If the volume of undergrowth requires it, the soil may be tilled; tilling can help remove any debris remaining after tree or weed removal. Both woody plants and herbaceous weeds must be controlled prior to planting; this is most often done by application of a chemical herbicide. [11] In addition, some types of fertilizers must be introduced into the soil prior to planting. [11] The work done before planting tree seedlings plays an important role in the overall success of a Christmas tree crop. [10]

After the trees are in the ground, work on the crop continues. Animal pests (especially insects) and diseases must be monitored and controlled, and weed growth must also be minimized. Many species of pine and fir require pruning and shearing two to four years after planting to maintain the classic Christmas tree shape. [10] Late or omitted pruning can result in trees that are unmarketable due to large gaps in needle coverage. Some species of pine, such as the Scots pine, are susceptible to dormant season "yellowing", which is generally countered with a green dye or paint. [10] [12]

The outlay of money on equipment varies greatly. Some items commonly found on Christmas tree farms are insecticide sprayers, tractors, and shaper sheers. [13] Mechanized planters, at a cost of about US$4,000, are not essential but a work-saving luxury for farmers. [13] Farmers can purchase seedlings, the lifeblood of a Christmas tree farm, from nurseries. One farmer in Oregon purchased seedlings for US$200–300 per 1,000 plants. The farmer, a wholesaler, sold his final products for about $20 each; after the cost of the trees and other expenses, a profit of $2–3 per tree. [13]

Trees

Fraser fir (cone and foliage pictured) is a popular species of Christmas tree in both the United States and Great Britain. Abies fraseri cone.jpg
Fraser fir (cone and foliage pictured) is a popular species of Christmas tree in both the United States and Great Britain.

The best-selling species in the North American market are Scots pine, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, balsam fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, and eastern white pine, although other types of trees are also grown and sold. [4] [14] In Alabama, for example, types of trees grown for use as Christmas trees include eastern white pine, Red Cedar, Virginia pine, Leyland cypress, and Arizona cypress. [15] In Florida, the sand pine and spruce pine are among the 20,000 grown in the state each year. [16]

Norway spruce is a popular Christmas tree species in Europe. Norway Spruce Flowers.jpg
Norway spruce is a popular Christmas tree species in Europe.

In Great Britain, Nordmann fir is a popular species, largely due to its needle-retention qualities. [17] [18] Other popular trees in Britain are Norway spruce, Serbian spruce, and Scots pine, the last of which is slightly rarer; [18] it has sharp needles that do not shed easily. [17]

In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, a major Christmas tree growing region, Douglas fir has always been the primary species grown. [19] A full one-half of all trees produced in the Pacific Northwest are Douglas fir. [19] Douglas firs typically take five to seven years before they are mature enough to sell as Christmas trees. [19] Also common in the region are noble fir, a tree that commands a higher price than Douglas fir, and grand fir, which accounts for about 10% of the annual harvest in the Northwest. [19] Other species collectively account for only 3–5% of the total Northwest harvest. [19]

In North America, Fraser fir, grown in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, has been called the "Cadillac of Christmas Trees", as well as the "most popular and most valuable of Christmas tree species". [20] In the Southern United States, Virginia pine is a popular Christmas tree species. [21] In Canada, white pine, white spruce, Scots pine, blue spruce, and Fraser fir are commonly cultivated. [22] In the province of Ontario, Scots pine has always dominated both the domestic and export markets. [22] Other regions of the world also have different favorites of natural Christmas trees, and Christmas tree farms reflect these; In Europe, Norway spruce is popular. [21]

Pests, disease and weeds

An adult balsam woolly adelgid, a major pest in the Christmas tree industry Balsam woolly adelgid.gif
An adult balsam woolly adelgid, a major pest in the Christmas tree industry

Many of the conifer species cultivated face infestations and death from such pests as the balsam woolly adelgid, other adelgids, and aphids. Invasive insect species, such as the pine shoot beetle and the gypsy moth, also threaten Christmas tree crops. [23] Christmas trees are also vulnerable to fungal pathogens, resulting in such illnesses as root rot, and, in California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia sudden oak death. [24] Douglas-fir trees are especially vulnerable to infections from plant pathogens such as R. pseudotsugae and Rhabdocline weirii ; R. weirii affects only Douglas fir trees. [25] [26] The pathogen often makes Douglas fir trees unsaleable as Christmas trees and heavily affects the Christmas tree farming industry. [25]

Mammals such as deer, gophers, and ground squirrels are also threats to Christmas tree crops, due to the damage they cause to roots and buds. Certain species of birds are also considered pests, including the pine grosbeak, which feeds on conifer buds, [27] usually affecting Scots pine but also affecting eastern white pine and red pine, as well as spruce trees. [28] Herbaceous weeds, as well as woody plants, also compete with Christmas tree crops for water and nutrients, necessitating control methods including mowing, chemical herbicide use, and tilling.

Quality

USDA Christmas Tree Grades [29]
GradeRequirements [30]
U.S. PremiumFresh, clean, healthy, heavy density, one minor defect allowed [31]
U.S. No. 1Fresh, fairly clean, healthy, medium density, two minor defects allowed [32]
U.S. No. 2Fresh, fairly clean, healthy, light density,
three minor defects allowed [33]

Christmas tree quality grades have been in place since 1965 in Ontario, Canada, and were included under the provincial Farm Products Grades and Sales Act. [22] While the grades in Ontario are law, in the United States the grading system is not mandated. In fact, it is common for U.S. growers to develop their own grading systems. [34] The grading systems established by individual jurisdictions are often in the spirit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) grading scheme, even if they are not entirely based upon them. [35] The Department of Agriculture's United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees took effect on October 30, 1989, covering "sheared or unsheared trees of the coniferous species which are normally marketed as Christmas trees". [29]

Harvest

Customers, armed with a saw, at a typical "choose-and-cut" Christmas tree farm Christmas tree farm customers cut n choose1.jpg
Customers, armed with a saw, at a typical "choose-and-cut" Christmas tree farm

Christmas trees can be harvested and marketed in different ways. Some operations are known as "choose-and-cut" or pick-your-own farms, which allow customers to walk through the planted land, select their Christmas tree and cut down themselves. [8] Wholesale operations are more labor-intensive because they usually require the farmer to complete tasks such as baling, cutting, moving the trees to a roadside pick-up, and loading the harvest. In addition, this work must be completed during a very short period in November. [8] Growers also harvest trees by digging and balling the root and selling the trees as nursery stock or as live, reusable Christmas trees. This last option allows trees to be harvested earlier than the usual six- to ten-year period required to grow a mature Christmas tree. [8]

Customers haul their own purchases off-site at choose-and-cut farms. Christmas tree farm customer choose n cut farm2.jpg
Customers haul their own purchases off-site at choose-and-cut farms.

Larger farms began using helicopters to move tree harvests during the 1980s. [3] One 1,200-acre (490 ha) farm in Oregon lacked road access, so it began using helicopters to move up to 200,000 Christmas trees per year. [36] Helicopters reduce the amount of time between harvesting and market, cutting it from up to two weeks down to as little as three days. [36]

Not all natural Christmas trees harvested are grown on plantations. In British Columbia, Canada, for example, most of the 900,000 trees harvested for use as Christmas trees came from native pine and fir stands. [37] The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Ranges allows any resident of the province to cut a Christmas tree for free from Crown Lands, provided the individual receive prior permission in writing from a forest officer. [38] In the United States, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management offer permits for individual tree cutting on government land, mostly within the National Forest system. [39]

Farmers

The people who operate Christmas tree farms range from full-time growers to part-time farmers. One farmer in Minnesota, who began planting Christmas trees in 1967, gave his trees away for free from his modest 1-acre (4,000 m2) farm for ten years before establishing a tree farming business. [40] Other farmers started growing Christmas trees as a supplemental income for retirement or college funds, [41] [42] or they worked farms that were not originally established as Christmas tree farms. [43] [44]

Various national growers' associations have been founded in Christmas tree producing nations. In the United Kingdom, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association is a trade association open to membership from Christmas tree farmers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. [45] The National Christmas Tree Association serves a similar function in the United States. [46] Most recently, a new trade group was formed that focuses on the critical role Christmas tree distributors or "Brokers" play in the supply of Christmas trees. The Association of Real Christmas Tree Merchants was formed in 2022 and as of July 2024, has close to 3,000 members. [47]

Environmental effect

In the United States, the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) promotes the environmental benefits of live Christmas trees over the competing artificial alternative. [48] The NCTA stated that every acre of Christmas trees in production produced the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people; with 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) in production in the U.S. alone, that amounts to oxygen for 9 million people per day. [48] The NCTA also stated that the farms help to stabilize the soil, protect water supplies and provide wildlife habitat. [48] In addition, the industry points to the reduction of carbon dioxide through Christmas tree farming. [49] An independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, conducted by a firm of experts in sustainable development, states that a natural tree will generate 3.1 kg of greenhouse gases whereas the artificial tree will produce 8.1 kg per year. [50]

A 1998 report from the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station predicted increasing environmental concerns about tree production and use as one possible reason people may favor artificial trees in the future. The report cited the use of fertilizers and pesticides and increasing concerns regarding tree disposal as the chief elements in its prediction. [51] Critics of tree farming have raised the concerns highlighted in the 1998 report, as well as other issues, such as the effect that large-scale tree farming operations have on biodiversity. [49] Pesticide use on Christmas tree farms is one of the main concerns of environmentalists; [49] [52] fir trees are vulnerable to a wide array of pests and diseases which requires the use of pesticides and other chemicals including the widely used herbicide glyphosate. [49] Glyphosate is commonly used in Christmas tree production in the U.S. state of North Carolina, where studies have found traces of agricultural chemicals in homes and tree industry workers' urine samples. [49] The average Christmas tree receives roughly a half of an  ounce (14 g) of pesticide over its lifetime. [52]

The BBC's "Gardening" website called buying Christmas trees directly from the farm, "the most environmentally friendly way of getting a tree". [18] Other positive environmental attributes have been given live Christmas trees as well. Researchers at the University of Nebraska included the reuse of natural Christmas trees as mulch and, in larger quantities, piled up as soil erosion barriers, among the benefits of live tree use. [53] Other positive reuses included fish habitat in private ponds and backyard bird feeders. [53]

Research

Since 2004, several researchers at Oregon State University's (OSU) College of Forestry have researched various aspects of Christmas tree cultivation. In the Department of Forest Resources, Rick Fletcher is researching Christmas tree genetics, fertilization and disease management, while Chad Landgren is concentrating his emphasis on Christmas tree genetics and disease management. Both men are doing their research in the Silviculture and Ecology Section of the department. [54] In OSU's Department of Forest Science, Mike Bondi is conducting ongoing research into Christmas tree fertilization, productivity and genetics, as well as natural and artificial regeneration systems. [55] During the mid-1990s, the trio's research was primarily focused on creating better Christmas tree seed stock, resulting in a higher percentage of quality mature trees, through genetic improvements. [56] Similar research has been conducted by the Agricultural Experiment Station at New Mexico State University. [57]

U.S. institutions in other Christmas tree producing locales have also undertaken their own research programs. North Carolina State University has several full-time staff dedicated to all aspects of tree production. [58] Specialties at N.C. State cross several academic departments and range from a Christmas tree genetics program to providing material support for growers in areas such as sustainable agriculture and pest management. [58]

The Christmas Tree Research Center in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia does research on Balsam firs for Canadian producers. [59]

Industry classification

Activities related to the cultivation of Christmas trees require cross-disciplinary (forestry, horticulture, and agriculture) skills and fall into different specialty categories. Under the terms of Title 29 of the United States Code, which defines federal regulations pertaining to the United States Department of Labor, Christmas tree planting, tending and cutting are specifically not "farming operations". [60] The U.S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) does not provide federal crop insurance for Christmas tree crops, however, there is an alternative program, through the FSA, which provides assistance for non-insured crops. [61] The U.S. Census Bureau, responsible for the Agriculture Census until 1997, excluded Christmas tree farms as farms from its reports. When the Census of Agriculture authority was shifted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1997 the differences in definition were resolved and the Census of Agriculture included Christmas tree farms. [62]

The status of Christmas tree farms as actual, by definition, farms, and their products thus agricultural in nature, has evolved in the various government agencies responsible for such categorization. In both Canada, and the United States the governments take a regular Census of Agriculture, reporting in these censuses relies on the classifications. [63] Beginning in 1996, the Canadian government included Christmas tree farms in its Census of Agriculture concerning the issue of net farm income and farm cash receipts. The changes also included the addition of egg hatcheries to the census. [63] The results were marginal with net cash farm income rising just 0.1 percent. [63]

In the United Kingdom, Christmas trees do not fall into the category of enterprises included in farm profits. [64] Instead, Christmas tree farms are classified as "market gardens". [64] Market gardens are defined separately from farming and are nurseries or gardens used for the sale of produce other than hops. [64] However, in Northern Ireland, some Christmas trees are cultivated and harvested by the Forest Service. [65]

Cultural significance

This reindeer, at a tree farm in Seattle, is part of the holiday-themed extras offered by many Christmas tree farms. Hunter's Tree Farm - reindeer 02.jpg
This reindeer, at a tree farm in Seattle, is part of the holiday-themed extras offered by many Christmas tree farms.

In the United States, visits to Christmas tree farms have become a Christmas holiday tradition for people. [40] [41] Christmas tree farms have embraced this trend; at one Minnesota tree farm it has become tradition for customers to pose for snapshots with their trees, when they return in subsequent years they can check the "wall of memories" for their photo. [40] Other tree farms have served the same families for multiple generations, becoming a part of each group's holiday traditions. [41] [66] In 2006, New York state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick H. Brennan, supported the virtues of purchasing Christmas trees from local Christmas tree farms. [67] In a statement released to support New York Christmas tree growers he stated,

It is a tradition in my family to visit our local tree farm and harvest our family's Christmas tree. It is a wonderful event for the whole family and if you don't already do so, I encourage you to share this tradition with your family. [67] –NY Agriculture Commissioner Patrick H. Brennan, 2006

Some tree farms offer more than just a chance to cut down a live Christmas tree. Outdoor and holiday themed activities are not uncommon and include wagon rides, offering hot cocoa or cider, Santa Claus visits and holiday crafts. [68] Many tree farms actively encourage schools to sponsor field trips to the farms. One grower in Kansas contended that usual worries for businesses, such as a tight economy, do not affect Christmas tree farms. [69] The grower thought that obtaining a tree from a Christmas tree farm was something that almost nothing could stop; an activity that transcended the economy and the weather. [69]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Faber Harold. Off to the farm for a Christmas tree, The New York Times, December 2, 1990, p. 17. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  2. ↑ Summers, Will. From Seed to Santa – A Tale of a Christmas Tree Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine , Oregon Employment Department, November 28, 2005.
  3. 1 2 Chastagner and Benson, The Christmas Tree: Traditions, Production and Diseases.
  4. 1 2 Wolford, Christmas Tree Facts.
  5. 1 2 3 Brown, et al., Bulletin 670: Choice of Lands for Christmas Trees.
  6. ↑ Leuty, Todd. Fraser Fir for Christmas Trees and Landscape Transplants Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Ontario), May 1, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  7. 1 2 Hart, et al., Christmas Tree Nutrient Management Guide for Western Oregon and Washington.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, et al., Tree Crops for Marginal Farmland: Christmas Trees With a Financial Analysis.
  9. 1 2 3 Koelling and Dornbush, Growing Christmas Trees in Michigan.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Barney and Finnerty, Christmas trees is this the crop for you?.
  11. 1 2 3 Brown, et al., Bulletin 670: Plantation Establishment and Management: Preplanting Land Preparation.
  12. ↑ Lane, Pirjetta, et al. Christmas tree production in Iowa, (PDF file), Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University, December 1992. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  13. 1 2 3 Preston, For a Very Merry Christmas, Invest in Trees for the Season. International Herald Tribune.
  14. ↑ Christmas Tree Facts Archived 2006-09-22 at the Wayback Machine , Plant Materials Program, National Resources Conservation Service, December 16, 2003; January 23, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  15. ↑ Fischman, Bernice and Tilt, Ken. History of the Christmas Tree Archived 2007-06-29 at the Wayback Machine , College of Agriculture - Horticulture, Auburn University. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  16. ↑ McEleroy, Terance. Florida-Grown Christmas Trees Presented To Governor Bush And Commissioner Bronson Archived 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine , (press release), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, December 5, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  17. 1 2 Anonymous, Metro (London), Tree shortage threatens Christmas.
  18. 1 2 3 Christmas tree, Gardening, BBC. Retrieved 3 September 2007. Archived December 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Bondi, An Introduction to Growing Christmas Trees.
  20. ↑ Vukina, Tomislav, et al. (2001). A Hotelling-Faustmann Explanation of the Structure of Christmas Tree Prices. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 83 (3): 513-525.
  21. 1 2 Wolford, Tree Types.
  22. 1 2 3 Leuty, Christmas tree production.
  23. ↑ Division of Communications: Untitled story Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Outdoor Indiana, November/December 2006, Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  24. ↑ Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - Phytophthora ramorum Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine , City of Victoria (British Columbia), Parks, Recreation & Community Development: Parks Division. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  25. 1 2 Cornell University, Rhabodocline Needlecast (Rhabdocline weirii).
  26. ↑ How To Identify and Control Rhabdocline and Swiss Needlecasts of Douglas-Fir, North Central Forest Experiment Station United States Forest Service, 1983. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  27. ↑ Christmas Tree Pest Manual, Index A Archived 2007-08-09 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  28. ↑ Christmas Tree Pest Manual, Shoot/Branch Injury Archived 2007-01-03 at the Wayback Machine , Table of Contents Archived 2007-08-09 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  29. 1 2 United States Department of Agriculture, "United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees".
  30. ↑ The table lists only a portion of the requirements for each grade. Each grade consists of 12 requirements. See United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees.
  31. ↑ The 12 requirements a tree must possess for the "U.S. Premium" grade are: characteristics typical of the species, butt trimmed (except for trees graded "on the stump"), normal taper, fresh, clean, healthy, well-shaped, not less than heavy density, handle length cannot exceed 6 inches (15 cm), or more than 1+1⁄2 inches (3.8 cm) for each foot (.3 m) of height (except for trees graded "on the stump"), in total three faces must not have more than one "minor defect", the other face may have only one minor defect. The final two requirements have to do with size and a few exceptions for cases where entire lots are required to meet the grade. See United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees.
  32. ↑ The 12 requirements a tree must possess for the "U.S. No. 1" grade are the same as U.S. Premium except for fairly clean, instead of clean, not less than medium density, and in total three faces must not have more than two "minor defects", the other face may have only one "noticeable defect". The final two requirements are also the same as those for the U.S. Premium grade.
  33. ↑ The 12 requirements a tree must possess for the "U.S. No. 2" grade are the same as U.S. Premium except for fairly clean, instead of clean, not less than light density, and in total two adjacent faces must not have more than three "minor defects", the other faces may have two "noticeable defects". The final two requirements are also the same as those for the U.S. Premium grade.
  34. ↑ Brown, James H., et al. Bulletin 670: Harvesting the Christmas tree crop, Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual, Ohio State University. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  35. ↑ Wholesale, New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association, official site. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  36. 1 2 Kalkstein, KVAL News Channel 13 (Eugene, Oregon), "Christmas tree harvest".
  37. ↑ Christmas Trees Archived 2007-06-20 at the Wayback Machine , BC Farm Products A–Z, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  38. ↑ Okanagan Shuswap Forest District, Information on cutting free Christmas Trees for Personal Use, British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Ranges. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  39. ↑ Christmas tree permits Archived November 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , United States Forest Service, December 3, 2000. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  40. 1 2 3 Foster, Jessica. For 37 years, tree farm has built tradition in FL Archived October 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , Forest Lake Times (Forest Lake, Minnesota), December 8, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  41. 1 2 3 Briody, Judy. Family traditions abound at Christmas tree farm Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine , Farragut Press (Farragut, Tennessee), December 16, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  42. ↑ McLeod, Gerald E. Day Trips, The Austin Chronicle (Austin, Texas), December 12, 2003. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  43. ↑ Zigmond, Jessica. Christmas trees help hog business [ permanent dead link ], Medill News Service, Northwestern University, August 17, 1999. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  44. ↑ Scott, Julia. Tradition grows at 'perfect' Christmas tree farm, Oakland Tribune, December 8, 2006, via FindArticles. Retrieved September 6, 2007. [ dead link ]
  45. ↑ British Christmas Tree Growers Association, official site. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  46. ↑ About Us Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine , National Christmas Tree Association, official site. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
  47. ↑ Powel, James. "Ever wonder what happens to unsold Christmas trees? We found out". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  48. 1 2 3 National Christmas Tree Association, "Real Christmas Trees are a Benefit to the Environment".
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 Hickman, "Is it OK ... to get a Christmas tree?"
  50. ↑ Ellipsos Inc. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Christmas trees, A study ends the debate over which Christmas tree, natural or artificial, is most ecological Archived December 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ", December 16, 2008; accessed online September 22, 2009.
  51. ↑ Koelling, Melvin R., et al. Christmas Tree Production in Michigan Archived November 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University, July 28, 1998. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
  52. 1 2 Sidebottom, Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Tree Farms and Pesticides.
  53. 1 2 Wilson, Jon. Keep Christmas Trees Fresh and Safe Archived June 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , West Central Research & Extension Center, University of Nebraska, 4 December 2000. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  54. ↑ Silviculture and Ecology Archived June 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Department of Forest Resources, Oregon State University College of Forestry. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  55. ↑ Current Research of 2004, Oregon State University College of Forestry. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  56. ↑ Rost, Bob. OSU Extension helps growers improve Christmas tree genetics Archived September 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , (Press release), Oregon State University, News and Communications Services, December 9, 1996. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  57. ↑ Christmas Tree Research and Forest Genetics Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine , Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State University, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  58. 1 2 "Christmas Tree Research and Extension Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ", North Carolina State University, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, accessed April 16, 2007.
  59. ↑ Barth, Brian (19 December 2016). "Can Science Produce a Longer Lasting Christmas Tree?". Modern Farmer . Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  60. ↑ 29 CFR 780.208 - Forest and Christmas tree activities Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Title 29, Chapter 5, Section 780.208, Code of Federal Regulations, United States Department of Labor. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  61. ↑ Farm Service Agency Archived February 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Agricultural Fact Book 1997 Archived October 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Office of Communications, United States Department of Agriculture, 1997, p. 4. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  62. ↑ Hoppe. Robert A. and Korb, Penni. Farm Numbers: Largest Growing Fastest Archived 2008-02-27 at the Wayback Machine , (PDF file), Agricultural Outlook, October 2002, pp. 24–27, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  63. 1 2 3 "Net Farm Income Archived September 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Agriculture Economic Statistics, Statistics Canada, May 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  64. 1 2 3 HM Revenue & Customs, Nurseries and Market Gardens - definition.
  65. ↑ Forest Fresh Christmas Trees Archived September 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Forest Service (Northern Ireland), United Kingdom Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  66. ↑ Long, Tom. N.H. family's donation preserves Christmas tree tradition, The Boston Globe, 23 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  67. 1 2 Chittenden, Jessica A. Commissioner urges consumers to buy New York Christmas trees Archived 2012-02-16 at the Wayback Machine , (Press release), New York State Department of Agriculture, 7 December 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  68. ↑ Go to a Christmas tree farm to relive, make, keep memories Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine , Tennessee.gov, 13 November 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  69. 1 2 Krug, Nick. Tradition clashes with economy, The Topeka Capital Journal (Topeka, Kansas), 2 December 2002, via FindArticles. Retrieved 4 September 2007.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas tree</span> Tree that is decorated for Christmas

A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas.

<i>Pseudotsuga</i> Genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae

Pseudotsuga is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. Common names for species in the genus include Douglas fir, Douglas-fir, Douglas tree, Oregon pine and Bigcone spruce. Pseudotsuga menziesii is widespread in western North America and is an important source of timber. The number of species has long been debated, but two in western North America and two to four in eastern Asia are commonly acknowledged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas fir</span> Species of tree

The Douglas fir is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three varieties: coast Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Mexican Douglas-fir.

Plantations are farms specializing in cash crops, usually mainly planting a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. Plantations, centered on a plantation house, grow crops including cotton, cannabis, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar cane, opium, sisal, oil seeds, oil palms, fruits, rubber trees and forest trees. Protectionist policies and natural comparative advantage have sometimes contributed to determining where plantations are located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cash crop</span> Agricultural crop grown to sell for profit

A cash crop, also called profit crop, is an agricultural crop which is grown to sell for profit. It is typically purchased by parties separate from a farm. The term is used to differentiate a marketed crop from a staple crop in subsistence agriculture, which is one fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanised agriculture</span> Agriculture using powered machinery

Mechanised agriculture or agricultural mechanization is the use of machinery and equipment, ranging from simple and basic hand tools to more sophisticated, motorized equipment and machinery, to perform agricultural operations. In modern times, powered machinery has replaced many farm task formerly carried out by manual labour or by working animals such as oxen, horses and mules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser fir</span> Species of conifer

The Fraser fir, sometimes spelled Frasier fir, is an endangered species of fir native to the Appalachian Mountains of the Southeastern United States. They are endemic to only seven montane regions in the Appalachian Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelgidae</span> Family of true bugs

The Adelgidae are a small family of the Hemiptera closely related to the aphids, and often included in the Aphidoidea with the Phylloxeridae or placed within the superfamily Phylloxeroidea as a sister of the Aphidoidea within the infraorder Aphidomorpha. The family is composed of species associated with pine, spruce, or other conifers, known respectively as "pine aphids" or "spruce aphids". This family includes the former family Chermesidae, or "Chermidae", the name of which was declared invalid by the ICZN in 1955. There is still considerable debate as to the number of genera within the family, and the classification is still unstable and inconsistent among competing authors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas tree production</span> Production of Christmas trees

Christmas tree production occurs worldwide on Christmas tree farms, in artificial tree factories and from native strands of pine and fir trees. Christmas trees, pine and fir trees purposely grown for use as a Christmas tree, are grown on plantations in many western nations, including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. In Australia, the industry is relatively new, and nations such as the United States, Germany and Canada are among world leaders in annual production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas tree pests and weeds</span>

Pine and fir trees, grown purposely for use as Christmas trees, are vulnerable to a wide variety of pests, weeds and diseases. Many of the conifer species cultivated face infestations and death from such pests as the balsam woolly adelgid and other adelgids. Aphids are another common insect pest. Christmas trees are also vulnerable to fungal pathogens and their resultant illnesses such as root rot, and, in the U.S. state of California, sudden oak death. Douglas-fir trees in particular are vulnerable to infections from plant pathogens such as R. pseudotsugae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas tree production in the United States</span>

While the first Christmas tree farm may have appeared as early as 1901, Christmas tree production in the United States was largely limited to what could be harvested from natural forests until the 1950s. Among the important Christmas tree producing areas in the U.S. are Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and the Pacific Northwest. In 2002 Christmas tree production in the United States totaled 20.8 million trees and the U.S. was one of the world's leading producers of natural Christmas trees. That same year, Pennsylvania was the top producer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas tree production in Canada</span>

Christmas tree production in Canada totals from 3 to 6 million trees annually. Trees are produced in many of the provinces of Canada but the nation's leading producers are found in Quebec, Nova Scotia and Ontario, which account for 80 percent of Canadian tree production. Of the 900,000 trees produced annually in British Columbia, most are cut from native pine stands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swanton Pacific Ranch</span>

Swanton Pacific Ranch is a 3,200-acre (1,300 ha) ranch in Santa Cruz County, California, outside the town of Davenport. The ranch is owned and operated by California Polytechnic State University for educational and research in sustainable agriculture. The ranch encompasses rangeland, livestock, and forestry operations for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, comprises a significant part of the community of Swanton, and includes the lower Scott Creek watershed.

By 2008 Christmas tree production in Denmark totalled around 9 million trees and Denmark was one of Europe's largest producers of natural Christmas trees. By far the most popular species grown in Denmark is the sought after Nordmann fir. Between 1999 and 2007 Danish tree production jumped from 6-7 million trees annually to 9-12 million trees annually. In 2009 the Danish Christmas Tree Growers Association (DCTGA) was convicted in a price fixing scheme that resulted in fines for the association and its executives.

Agriculture in the Southwest United States is very important economically in that region.

<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> menziesii</i> Variety of conifer

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, commonly known as Coast Douglas-fir, Pacific Douglas-fir, Oregon pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to western North America from west-central British Columbia, Canada southward to central California, United States. In Oregon and Washington its range is continuous from the Cascades crest west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and Pacific Ocean. In California, it is found in the Klamath and California Coast Ranges as far south as the Santa Lucia Mountains with a small stand as far south as the Purisima Hills, Santa Barbara County. In the Sierra Nevada it ranges as far south as the Yosemite region. It occurs from near sea level along the coast to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in the California Mountains. Further inland, coast Douglas-fir is replaced by Rocky Mountain or interior Douglas-fir. Interior Douglas-fir intergrades with coast Douglas-fir in the Cascades of northern Washington and southern British Columbia.

Until the 1990s most Christmas tree production in Mexico was limited to what could be taken from natural forests. Beginning in the 1990s trees were grown on plantations and in nurseries. By 2008 Mexico produced 800,000 Christmas trees domestically. A notable nursery is the Bosque de los arboles de navidad in Amecameca, State of Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Wisconsin</span> Farming in Wisconsin

Agriculture is a significant sector in Wisconsin's economy, producing nearly $104 billion in revenue annually. The significance of the state's agricultural production is exemplified by the depiction of a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese on Wisconsin's state quarter design. In 2017 there were 64,800 farms in the state, operating across 14.3 million acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tree plantation</span> Type of forest planted for high volume production of wood

A tree plantation, forest plantation, plantation forest, timber plantation or tree farm is a forest planted for high volume production of wood, usually by planting one type of tree as a monoculture forest. The term tree farm also is used to refer to tree nurseries and Christmas tree farms. Plantation forestry can produce a high volume of wood in a short period of time. Plantations are grown by state forestry authorities and/or the paper and wood industries and other private landowners. Christmas trees are often grown on plantations, and in southern and southeastern Asia, teak plantations have recently replaced the natural forest.

<i>Nalepella</i> Genus of mites infesting conifers

Nalepella, the rust mites, is a genus of very small Trombidiform mites in the family Phytoptidae. They are commonly found on a variety of conifers, including hemlock, spruce, balsam fir, and pine. They sometimes infest Christmas trees in nurseries. Nalepella mites are vagrants, meaning they circulate around the tree; females overwinter in bark cracks. Infested spruce emit a characteristic odour.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.