Christmas Tree Production
By: Brendon Smith
Christmas tree farming can be a very profitable business, it is quite effective on land that is seldom used for other agricultural crops. Where tree quality is the best, such as America, Canada, and Germany, these countries lead the world in Christmas tree production. Export markets include the US, Mexico and a smaller percentage to the Caribbean, as long as strict Federal pest control and inspection guidelines are met. Christmas trees are produced in all 50 states, including Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida.
What Trees to Plant
Choosing which Christmas tree species is a decision that has to be made depending on a number of different factors. The species that is going to be planted should be related to soil depth, drainage, fertility and texture. Investigate the potential market for each species that will suitably grow on the site and make decisions accordingly. Growing more than one species will permit some diversity and flexibility atthe time of sale. Most trees will be sold 7 to 10 years after they are planted, so it is a difficult job to plant the most popular species of plant will be at the time. Some of the species that will be used are listed below:
- White Pine
- White Spruce
- Scots Pine
- Balsam Fir
- Blue Spruce
- Fraser Fir
Harvesting and Marketing
Christmas tree producers usually will have wholesale markets in which consumers can come to a tree farm, that has the trees for sale in large urban centers. These salesmen will have different methods of distributing the tress which include direct to the customer or a cut-your-own (choose-and-cut) system. Sales plans should be established before planting or at least, established before the first harvest. Uncut, trees can be carried over to the next season. Except in a cut-your-own system, spruce and fir trees are generally cut from mid-November to December. Early frosts make the Scots pine yellow, so they are generally cut in early November and are put in special storage conditions to help them keep their distinctive color.
Christmas Tree Facts
- Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the U.S. since 1850.
- As many as 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.
- North America has more than 15,000 Christmas tree growers.
- Over one million acres have been planted in Christmas trees.
- More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On average, 1000 to 1500 survive. In the north, 750 survive.
- 73 million new Christmas trees are planted each year.
Sources
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/info_xmastreeprod.htm
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/news/features/trees.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Hv9YmhGpw
All pictures were taken from wikipedia which are free from individual permission laws.
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