For most people Christmas is just not complete without a tree to decorate and place the presents under. Christmas trees are grown around the world and in every state of America. The tree is an important symbol of the season and one-third of households decide to purchase a real specimen. There are approximately one million acres in production in the US and these farms will plant more than seventy million trees each year. Growing Christmas trees requires a long term investment but will bring joy to people each year.
Farmers considering entering the Christmas tree business must appreciate the unique and long-term demands of the industry. Unless the farmer purchases an established farm, it will be a wait of seven or more years before they can create income. Careful management each year before harvest is necessary to ensure the trees meet the quality required for the market. Poor quality trees can be hard or impossible to sell.
Christmas tree production will usually require land that is of good quality and reasonably level. Very small operations can operate on the lower quality lands. However, large operations will require mechanization and intensive care that one cannot effectively do on poor land.
Like any crop, Christmas tree farming works best on land free of rocks, large trees and other obstacles. Harvesting frequently occurs during inclement weather, requiring roads and paths to stay passable. This is particularly important for retail operations.
Before any farmer begins planting it is worthwhile to plan roads and paths that can subdivide the different tree types and soil conditions. Once they establish the trees, it will be nearly impossible to correct layout problems. Grouping of similar trees allows more efficient use of your farm's resources. Pruning, fertilization, harvesting and weed control can all be done in one area of similar trees. Small areas of one type of tree are also easier for the consumer who is looking for a specific tree.
Another major management decision is what species to plant. This will vary by your land conditions, consumer preferences, markets and species properties. To be successful you must match your species with your climate and soil conditions. Slow growth or high tree losses can dramatically change your profitability.
The farmer must also be aware of local insects, disease and pests that can damage growing trees. Other factors are snow/ice damage, frost and air pollution. The farmer should also research consumer species preferences and experiment with nontraditional species in small numbers.
Farmers considering entering the Christmas tree business must appreciate the unique and long-term demands of the industry. Unless the farmer purchases an established farm, it will be a wait of seven or more years before they can create income. Careful management each year before harvest is necessary to ensure the trees meet the quality required for the market. Poor quality trees can be hard or impossible to sell.
Christmas tree production will usually require land that is of good quality and reasonably level. Very small operations can operate on the lower quality lands. However, large operations will require mechanization and intensive care that one cannot effectively do on poor land.
Like any crop, Christmas tree farming works best on land free of rocks, large trees and other obstacles. Harvesting frequently occurs during inclement weather, requiring roads and paths to stay passable. This is particularly important for retail operations.
Before any farmer begins planting it is worthwhile to plan roads and paths that can subdivide the different tree types and soil conditions. Once they establish the trees, it will be nearly impossible to correct layout problems. Grouping of similar trees allows more efficient use of your farm's resources. Pruning, fertilization, harvesting and weed control can all be done in one area of similar trees. Small areas of one type of tree are also easier for the consumer who is looking for a specific tree.
Another major management decision is what species to plant. This will vary by your land conditions, consumer preferences, markets and species properties. To be successful you must match your species with your climate and soil conditions. Slow growth or high tree losses can dramatically change your profitability.
The farmer must also be aware of local insects, disease and pests that can damage growing trees. Other factors are snow/ice damage, frost and air pollution. The farmer should also research consumer species preferences and experiment with nontraditional species in small numbers.
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