Demand for Texas-grown Christmas trees continues to rise as acreage and entrepreneurial interest in farms expands, according to a Texas A& M Forest Service expert.
Fred Raley, Ph.D., Texas A&M Forest Service director of the Western Gulf Tree Improvement Program, said Texas Christmas tree producers fared well this year after back- to- back seasons of drought for much of the state. He said consumers should expect higher prices for choose-and-cut and shipped cut trees this holiday season.
“Demand is up, whether the previous seasons impacted supplies or supplies held steady, so there is a potential for price increases and limited selection,” he said. “The increased cost of shipping in fresh-cut trees from other states will also factor into prices.”
Growers, farms diversify around Christmas trees
Raley said the impact of drought depended on localized rainfall and growers’ access to irrigation. Some farms are supplementing their native tree stocks with more shipped trees this year.
“If you want a live tree, my advice would be to get one early for the best selection,” he said.
Raley said sales typically kick off the weekend following Thanksgiving. Farms have been busy ordering trees and preparing their farms for sales season. In North Carolina, tree damage and impassable roads were concerns regarding Christmas tree supplies following the flood damage from Hurricane Helene. However, there was limited damage following the storm to farms and roads have been restored.
Texas producers continue to expand their acreage where they can, Raley said. Many chooseand- cut farms are also diversifying their operation with “experiential services” built around Christmas trees like hayrides, doit- yourself decoration/ wreath making and games.
“They’re trying to build a complete seasonal experience,” he said. “We’re seeing some older generational farms closing, but we’re also hearing from younger entrepreneurs who want to do something in the green industry, and they are looking to start with Christmas trees.”
Demand for replacement seedlings continues to rise
Stan Reed, executive secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, said the organization is seeing similar expansion and diversification trends in the industry across Texas. He estimates there are 85-95 tree farms in Texas that range from small “mom and pop” growers-sellers to 60-70acre operations.
“Texas doesn’t have any growers who serve the wholesale market, but there are two operations that are poised to enter that market, which will serve local-cut livetree stands,” he said.
Reed said new information and methods are helping growers increase production and limit setbacks like lost seedlings. There are four primary tree varieties that perform well in Texas growing conditions – Virginia and Afghan pines, and Leyland and Carolina sapphire cypresses.
Christmas trees in Texas are typically grown in four-year rotations, he said. The association sells seedling Virginia pine trees started from seed banks created by the Texas A&M Forest Service at a discount to growers.
Reed said growers have purchased around 130,000 seedlings so far for their upcoming replants.
Growers have been encouraged to buy more trees than they will plant to replace the season’s harvest. Those excess trees are kept as potted trees and are available to replace seedlings that do not establish and survive. Over the years, Reed said some growers have begun taking advantage of keeping trees potted longer to expedite their growth and shorten their harvest time to three years.
Raley said the seedling program started in the early 2000s, and research trials around the state have identified trees and varietal germplasm that are resilient and perform best. Seed from selected high performers grafted in seed orchards are used to create the seedlings supplied through the association.
“That program is about continuous improvement, and our goal is to meet or exceed the demand of growers each season,” Raley said. “That’s become a challenge because those numbers keep going up every year, but we want to continue to see that trend.”
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Rolling Plains
Conditions remained favorable for agricultural operations. Additional rains boosted soil moisture going into the winter. Wheat benefited greatly from the recent moisture. All counties reported healthy wheat stands and growth with no signs of rust or nitrogen issues. Livestock were benefiting from the rain as well. Drinking water sources were replenished, and the wheat pastures should be good for grazing soon.
South Plains
Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were adequate. Some rainfall halted harvests and fieldwork. Producers were trying to get their crops out as fast as possible when the weather allowed. Heavy dew in the mornings delayed harvest until mid-day and humidity was too high after sundown leaving a short window for harvest. Winter forage fields looked great after recent rains, and cattle were in good condition.
Panhandle The district experienced extremely wet conditions with record or near-record amounts of precipitation for November. Soil moisture levels were adequate to surplus. Topsoil in harvested fields continued to dry after the recent rains, and a few had dried enough for cover crop planting and fertilization. Cotton and silage harvesting resumed on a few fields, others needed more time to dry. Small grain crops were improving as were grasses in pastures and rangelands. Pasture and range conditions were fair to good. Overall, crop conditions were reported good to excellent.
Far West
Temperatures fluctuated widely with some days starting in the upper 30s with highs reaching the upper 80s. The south-central and western portions of the district received 1.5-3.5 inches of rain. Fieldwork was delayed multiple days in those areas. Most parts of the district still needed rainfall. The pecan harvest should finish soon. Livestock were in fair condition, and rangeland conditions were very poor in many areas with little forage available. Water sources were drying up in some areas. In the Rio Grande Valley, Pima and upland cotton was being harvested with reports indicating production was slightly above average. Light freezes were helping remaining cotton bolls open. Some alfalfa growers will get a final cutting before colder temperatures arrive.
West Central
Scattered showers and rainfall up to 1.5 inches were reported. Soil moisture levels were mostly adequate. Most areas received frost on cold mornings while days were mild. Pecan harvest continued. Most cotton was harvested or shredded with very few harvestable fields remaining. Wheat plantings were mostly complete, and earlier planted fields emerged and looked good. Small grain fields in drier areas needed rainfall to emerge and/or to progress. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair but improving with good moisture and growing conditions. Some areas had greened up well, and stock tank levels improved or were declining depending on location. Some stock tanks were at critical levels. Fall cattle work continued, and livestock looked good. Winter feeding continued, and producers were expecting grazing conditions to improve in most areas. Strong demand and prices continued at local sale barns with higher prices reported.