| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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See the Headland Plantation Recommendation by Reynolds, 1976
There are many tales of people who have failed at Christmas tree production. Nevertheless, uch Productions units are recommended for consideration within The Trevey because knowledge is now available for reducing failures (but never guaranteeing success). The Christmas Tree Production unit is a part of forestry, a special high-intensity operation unlike other forestry activities with its long periods of "waiting around" for growth and a harvest. The Production Unit is designed in part to provide opportunities for high income between other typically-long tree-harvest periods. It is a way to use land otherwise of limited suitability for other production. It is part of a strategy for diversifying the sources of income from the land. Equally important, The Trevey has a concept for a production unit with emphasis on profit, not trees, that is so different from the normal small tree operation that it is unique.
The elements of The Trevey Christmas Tree Production Unit (hereinafter the Production Unit) are as follows (even one or two elements listed suggests the Production Unit is very different from others found locally):
Whether any or all of the above is done, perhaps at least it can be contemplated for later and for imagining how it may be started and eventually built. Even if the greater system is never realized, it may offer suggestions and potentials for improvements in other operations. The small private Christmas tree unit can diversify the landscape, provide some wildlife, enhance the scenic quality of an area, provide special products for family and friends, and provide supplemental financial gains from lands difficult to use in other ways. They have great potential for financial-gains (10-20% on investmsnts) when many small units are managed and marketed cooperatively as a single unit.
With reductions in the Agricultural Extension Service, there is little free public advice available to the landowner considering Christmas tree production. The principles provided here are believed to be the best currently available. They were assembled by Mr. Don V.Reynolds, Jr. working for Giles. The data shown are from the late 1970's and were expensive to gather. Rather than debate and adjust the numbers now at high costs, it can be instructive to consider the system and then, knowing about inflation, to assume production is less than than shown here. The conclusions will be the same. That conclusion is: a well-managed conventional Production Unit can make a lot of money on an investment! No one has seen the unconventional Production Unit as suggested above within The Trevey.
Currently, Virginian growers produce only a small percentage of the trees sold annually within the state. A substantial share of the market can be captured by new producers. Competition from out-of-state growers can be overcome since they incur high transportation costs when bringing their trees into Virginia's market centers.
Virginia producers also have the advantage of being near concentrated groups of consumers, thereby lowering the costs of transporting trees to consumers. There are eight cities exceeding populations of 100,000, twenty-four cities with populations of 10,000 to 50,000, and twenty-eight cities with populations of 5,000 to 10,000 scattered throughout the state. Additionally, there are highly developed networks of roads and railways servicing the state.
The following was provided by Ronald V. Reynolds, Jr. The primary objective of the Christmas tree grower should be to produce profits from a system. This will center on type of tree demanded by consumers. This tree is characterized by fragrant, dense, green foliage with a symmetrical, tapered appearance, and an ability to retain its needles through the Christmas season. To produce this kind of tree requires intensive cultural practices and a desire to produce a quality product at an acceptable cost. By producing such a product, the grower should have few problems in finding a buyer for trees. The desired Christmas tree would have these traits:
The following sections provide guidelines for producing such trees cost effectively. Failing to deal with the land costs (or foregone profits from other land uses), low fertility, employment, and marketing can lead to failures. The real needs are for a large comprehensive system for the small-tract owner. Of course we are not discussing here the landowner who only wants a few trees for family and friends
Species Selection
One of the most important considerations in establishing a Christmas tree plantation is selecting the most suitable species to plant. This selection should be based primarily on the ability of a species to grow vigorously on the available sites and on the market acceptance of the species. Other factors that will influence the decision include annual rainfall, temperature extremes, soil drainage and fertility, topography, elevation, the length of time necessary to produce a marketable tree, the resistance to disease and insect attacks, and the ease and timing with which stand improvement operations such as shearing can be completed. The Trevey may someday have a computer system to assist in this complex analysis.
There are seven species that are considered appropriate for planting in Virginia. These can be separated into two groups--
There are two criteria for this division. The first is the timing of the shearing operations--pines must be sheared in the early summer while spruces and firs can be sheared throughout the year. The second is the length of the rotation necessary to produce marketable trees -- pines generally take 6 to 8 years while spruces and firs require 8 to 15 years.
Pines
Three species of pines are suitable for Christmas tree plantations in Virginia ...
The white pine is a native of the mountains of Virginia and is also found east of the mountains in the Piedmont. It has a pleasing silver-green color, with good needle retention, and soft needles about 3 to 5 inches long. White pine is a fast growing tree on average to good sites. It requires heavy shearing to produce a tree with the desired characteristics. This species grows best on moist, well-drained, sandy loam soils, preferably on northeast, east, or southeast slopes. Approximately 6 to 8 years are required to produce a 6 foot Christmas tree. The market acceptance of this species is very good.
Scots pine is a native to Europe. The needles are blue-green, 1 to 3 inches long, and slightly twisted. There are many varieties of seed sources of Scots pine which make the needles differ a great deal in length, color and stiffness. Many varieties of Scots pine turn pale yellow in winter, a characteristic which calls for artificial coloring before marketing the trees. This yellowing is more prevalent in the strains from the continental provenances, such as the French strain. The strains from the maritime provenances, such as the Spanish strain, maintain their blue-green color through winter. Many commercial nurseries have selected trees for their distinctive characteristics and can provide information on the species most suitable for the site. Scots pine is a fast growing, hardy species and will grow well on most sites in Virginia. The tree often has crooked stem and requires heavy shearing to obtain the desired shape. The limbs are sturdy and thus make decoration easy. This species is very much in demand as a Christmas tree and generally requires 6 to 8 years to produce a marketable tree.
As its name implies, Virginia pine is a native of this state. It has fair color and its needles are 1 to 3 inches long which are retained fairly well. This pine grows well on a wide range of sites, from good to poor. It commonly grows irregulary, with a crooked stem, and usually requires shearing twice annually. Virginia pine is a newcomer to Christmas tree production and its market acceptability is rather poor. As with the other pines it should take between 6 and 8 years to produce a marketable tree.
Spruces and Firs
Four species of spruces and firs are worth considering as Christmas trees in Virginia...
Fraser fir is a native to the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 4,000 to 6,000 feet. The needles are dark green above and silvery underneath, giving the tree a two-tone color effect with good needle retention. Fraser fir is highly desired as a Christmas tree because of its beauty of shape, its color, and its pleasing fragrance. On good sites in the Appalachian Highlands the tree grows rapidly and should reach a height of 6 feet in 8 to 15 years. Fraser fir should not be considered for sites in Virginia below 2,000 feet, and at elevations below 3,000 feet the planting sites should be carefully selected. At these elevations the species requires a moist, acidic soil, with some organic matter, and a moderate water holding capacity, as well as a northern or northeast slope. Fraser fir is naturally compact and conically shaped, requiring little shearing.
The Norway spruce is a native to Europe and has been widely planted in the United States as an ornamental. It has fair color, but poor needle retention. The needles are short and sharp, but the tree has an attractive appearance. It grows best on cool, moist sites, but can be successfully grown on a variety of sites. It is rather slow growing, taking from 8 to 12 years to produce marketable trees. Considerable shearing is necessary to form a compact tree.
The Colorado blue spruce is a native of the Rocky Mountains and has an exceptionally pleasing color. Its needles are short and sharp and make the trees hard to decorate. The best growth is obtained on cool, moist sites with northern or northeast exposure. It takes from 9 to 15 years to produce marketable trees.
Douglas fir is a native to the western states where it has long been a favorite Christmas tree. There are two strains of the species-- the Coastal and the Inland Empire strains. The latter strain is the most suitable for planting in the Virginia mountains. The species is subject to drought and late frost damage, and requires a cool, well-drained site. Unlike the other spruces and firs this species is rather fast growing, requiring 6 to 8 years to produce a 6 foot tree.
Recommended Species For Planting
The pines offer the greatest potential for Christmas tree production in the mountainous areas of Virginia. Of these, the Eastern white pine and Scots pine are the most marketable. These species promise to grow much more rapidly than the firs and spruces, offering an earlier harvest and a higher return on the investment. The risk associated with potential failure of the plantation is lessened with the pines since they are better adapted to the climate and soils of Virginia and have proven themselves well in the past.
Of the firs and spruces, Fraser fir and Douglas fir are most often recommended as candidates for the Christmas tree plantation. Because of the limited time available to shear the pines, that is, in the early summer, the firs offer an opportunity to expand the size of a plantation when the man-hours of labor are limited since the shearing of the firs and spruces can be done throughout the year. It is recommended that when the decision is made to go with species of this group that several different species be planted on an experimental basis on selected sites and after several years of growth the species selected which perform the best.
Seedling Availability
There are several nurseries in Virginia and the surrounding states (some state operated) which will supply various species for Christmas trees, usually at the cost of production. In addition, there are numerous commercial nurseries that also supply trees, but these are higher priced than planting stock from state nurseries. Table 1 lists species and prices per thousand for planting stock available through state nurseries.
| Table 1. Species and approximate prices (late 1970s) per thousand for planting stock available through state nurseries (Va, NC, West Va.) |
| white pine $18 - 22 Scots pine $22 - 35.00 Norway spruce $22 - 30 Virginia pine $11 Fraser fir, depending on grade $50 - 70 |
The recommendation for much of the mountains of Virginia is a plantation with equal mix of Scots and white pines. These two pines are rapid growers and both meet with good market acceptance. The appearances of the two pines are different enough to appeal to consumers with varying preferences and thus a larger market will exist than if only one species were grown. Additionally, it is recommended that Douglas fir, Fraser fir, and improved Virginia pine be grown on a limited, experimental basis in order to identify potential alternative species in the event of future shifts in consumer preferences.
Stand Establishment Operations
Before operations can be started, the potential sites must be evaluated and matched to the species under consideration. Soils, exposure, and elevation must be considered to insure the vigorous growth of the plantation. The site should be easily accessible and the slope must not be too steep for equipment to operate. A location near a dwelling is desirable to minimize the possibility of theft and for detecting and controlling fire.
The plantation sites should be wide enough to prevent shade damage and root competition from adjacent trees. Openings created to make corridors along a contour are advisable to facilitate cultural and harvesting operations. An available supply of water for fire protection and possibly for irrigation is very desirable.
The soil that is relatively easy to work, has good depth and open texture, and is well-drained makes a good site. It should not be too acid or alkaline and not too rocky or steep. The soil should be tested several months prior to planting to make sure that no major nutrients are deficient.
There are certain areas, called frost pockets, into which cold air flows and frost occurs more readily than other sites. Trees growing in these frost pockets may suffer frost damage. Windy, excessively exposed areas should also be avoided because many species will become wind-shaped and one sided. Steep areas prevent saf& operation of machinery and the steep slopes often cause the lower branches on the uphill side to be poorly developed, requiring an additional year or two of growth to compensate.
Once the sites are selected they must be prepared for planting. If the site is wooded, the timber, stumps, rocks, and competing vegetation must be removed. A large crawler-type tractor, such as a Catepiller D-6, is the most efficient method for this removal. This operation is usually performed in the late summer before the spring planting.
Clearing is generally an incomplete method of site preparation and will require additional treatment. Disking the soil with a tractor pulling a disk should be sufficient to prepare the soil for planting. Additionally, vegetation must be controlled on the site as it competes with the Christmas trees for moisture and nutrients. Herbicides are useful for this purpose. Low growing shrubs, such as blackberries or dewberries, and perennial grasses should be controlled in the late summer or early fall and other vegetation can be treated in either the fall or the spring before planting. Herbicides are applied with tractors pulling 50 to 500 gallon pressure sprayers. The application of a recommended herbicide in 24 inch bands over the tree rows prior to planting greatly decreases the amount of mowing needed.
The planting operation is one of the most critical operations performed by the Christmas tree grower, for it directly influences future management decisions. The plantation must be laid out in a fashion to allow ample space to operate equipment during stand improvement and harvesting operations. Additionally, the trees must be close enough together to make efficient use of the land.
If the plantation is laid out as a corridor along the contour, about 300 feet wide to minimize shade, with groups of 4 rows of trees planted on a 5 foot by 5 foot spacing, each group separated by a 13 foot access lane, 1140 trees could be planted per acre. This would allow all operations to be carried out efficiently.
Each species should be planted as a separate stand to facilitate cultural proceedures. Each stand should be separated from other stands to minimize the risk of fire, disease, and insect spread between stands.
A rotation system of planting and harvesting should be adopted to provide an annual flow of income. With this system, 1/8 of the total plantation is planted annually since the pines are grown on a 8 year rotation. After the first planted trees are harvested, the area is replanted and the rotation is ready to repeat. After 8 years, 1/8 of the total number of trees will be harvested and replanted annually, resulting in a sustained annual income.
Planting stock is separated into two classes-- seedlings and transplants. Seedlings are young trees that have not been moved from the seedbed in which they germinated. Transplants are trees that have been lifted from their original seedbed and replanted elsewhere in the nursery. Thus, transplants are older, larger, and, in general, better planting stock. The total age of planting stock is designated by a 2-digit figure. For example, 2-0 indicates a 2-year seedling and 2-1 indicates a 3-year old transplant that was left in the seedbed for 2 years and then moved to a transplant bed for one year. Table 2 can be used as a guide for selecting the right planting stock in terms of age and size.
| Table 2. Recommended planting stock |
| Species and size Size Scots pine 2-0, 3-0 white pine 2-0 Virginia pine 1-0 Fraser fir 2-2, 3-2 Douglas fir 2-2 |
In Virginia, spring planting is recommended. The season is usually from late February through April, depending on the locality. The object is to plant the trees at the same depth or slightly deeper than grown in the nursery. Care must be taken while planting to avoid problems resulting in slowed growth of the tree or possible seedling death. One problem commonly occurring while planting is J-root, caused by placing the root system in the hole with the roots turned upward in the shape of a J. Other problems occur when roots are left exposed for any length of time before planting, or if they are left exposed after planting. Care should be taken to make sure the soil is firmed well around the base of the tree to avoid air pockets around the roots. These problems can be prevented through proper handling of the seedlings and careful planting.
There are two methods of planting commonly used-- hand planting and mechanical planting. The choice depends on the characteristics of the planting site and on the labor availabile during the planting season. The most common method is hand planting with a planting bar. This method provides the most uniform spacing, which benefits future operations. Planting rates may vary from 400 to 800 seedlings per person-day, depending on the site. Machine planting requires a three man crew-- a tractor operator, someone feeding seedlings into the planter, and someone following the planter, resetting and straightening the seedlings. The crew can plant from 8,000 to 10,000 trees per day. A tree planting machine, which is pulled by a tractor, can be rented from the Virginia Division of Forestry at a cost of $1 .25 per acre. Arrangements for the planting machine should be made well in advance since everyone else will be planting at the same time. It is generally recommended for Trevey operations that machine planting be used to reduce labor requirements during the planting season.
Replanting is sometimes done in the spring of the first two years following planting to replace mortality. Replanting beyond the first two years is not advised because the seedlings would not catch up to the other trees in the stand. Replanting is not necessary if the mortality is less than 10%.
Stand Improvement Operations
Stand improvement operations are implemented to improve the quality and vigor of the existing stand. Operations included in this group are: shearing, pruning, fertilization, vegetation control, fire control, insect control, disease control, and artificial coloring.
Shearing and pruning are perhaps the most important cultural operations in producing a high-valued and marketable tree. Shearing is cutting back the current year 5 growth of the leader and laterals. Pruning is the removal of undesirable wood older than a year, such as diseased, dead, or damaged wood, or forks. It is also done to make a handle.
The purpose of shearing is to control the growth by reducing the length of the terminal and lateral branches, which results in a tree form pleasing to the customer. This practice promotes thick, dense foliage by stimulating and increasing bud development. Shearing should be started as soon as the growth is long enough to justify its removal. This usually occurs 2 to 3 years following planting after the root system becomes well established and the tree begins rapid lateral and terminal growth. The trees will develop a sparse and spindly shape if the annual growth is not cut back to 8 to 12 inches. Shearing also stimulates growth on the remaining branches causing the tree to fill out. Shearing is performed annually until the year of harvest when a light shearing is done as necessary.
Pines must be sheared in the late spring or early summer when the new growth is still succulent and before it hardens. There are about 30 to 45 days during June and July during which shearing conditions are favorable. Shearing should be started after height and lateral growth has slowed down or stopped. An indication of this is when the needles start to stand away from the stem, which signifies that cell enlargement is near completion and there will be no further lengthening of the terminal or lateral branches. Too early shearing will result in few buds, slow growth, and dead stubs. If the trees are sheared too late, the new buds will be small, and new growth the following year will have a bird's nest effect.
The period available for shearing is more critical for white pine than for Scots pine. White pine produces buds in the callus tissue which forms after the succulent growth has been cut back. If the growth has turned woody, this callus tissue and tHe buds will not form effectively. Scots pine, on the other hand, produces buds at the base of each cluster of needles. Because of this, priority should be given to white pine for shearing. It is important that no more pines be planted than can be sheared during this period by the available labor supply. It requires about 20 man-hours per thousand trees of shearing time and is one of the most labor-intensive operations.
Firs and spruces can be sheared any time of the year. Shearing during the late summer or early fall after the season's growth is completed gives the cut surface time to heal before winter. It also allows the labor available for the pine shearing to be used for an additional period of time. This is a benefit because suitable labor is often hard to find because the work only lasts a few weeks. If the shearing season can be extended because of firs and spruces, there might be more incentive for workers to take the job.
Pines are sheared by cutting the terminal leader at a 45 degree angle at the desired length, usually not more than 12 inches. The laterals of the terminal whorl are next cut 3 to 5 inches shorter than the leader. The rest of the laterals are then cut back so as to shape the tree into an inverted cone. Any branches that are too long or irregular may need to be removed to the second year wood. A minimum of shearing should be done during the season prior to harvest to give the trees a natural appearance.
Firs and spruces are sheared by cutting the terminal leader at a 45 degree angle back to about 12 inches. The cut should be made just above a good, live, single bud. Two or more buds result in multiple leaders so they should be removed by pinching them off. After the terminal is cut, shear the lateral branches so the tree is cone shaped. As for pine, only a minimum amount of shearing should be done during the season prior to harvest. Firs and spruces, because of their natural cone shape, generally, require much less shearing than do the pines. The main purpose of shearing them is to stimulate a more dense foliage development.
There are two common methods of shearing-- with hedge shears, and with shearing knives. When trees are under 3 feet tall the hedge shears are quicker, but after the trees are taller than this, knives are the quicker method. Hedge shears have the advantage of being safer than knives, but users are fatigued more rapidly using hedge shears than when using knives. Electric shears have not been used much because of the difficulty in moving the generator and electric cords. However, they offer an opportunity for safer, quicker, more accurate, and less tiring shearing if this problem could be eliminated. A possible solution is to place the generator on a tractor-pulled trailer with a boom system on it to get the electric cord in the air, avoiding entanglement around the base of the trees. Electric shears should be investigated on an experimental basis and could potentially improve the shearing operation.
Pruning is used to remove defects in the trees and to create a handle. About 1 inch for each foot of tree height, plus a little allowance for a fresh cut at the time of mountng the tree in its holder is required as a handle. Removing at least the lowest whorl of branches is often necessary. This operation should be carried out several years following planting after the trees have become well established, but early enough during the rotation to allow the new bottom branches to fill out before harvest. Pruning is generally done with hedge shears.
The control of vegetation in the Christmas tree plantation is a necessary operation. Weeds, grasses and woody vegetation compete with the trees for nutrients and moisture. Young trees are especially susceptible to competition from undesirable plants as they are often choked and become poorly formed and unmerchantable. There are two methods of vegetation control, which used in combination can effectively reduce this competition.
The first method is control through the application of herbicides around the base of the trees. This frees the tree from weed competition and enables the lower branches to develop correctly. Herbicide treatment should only be necessary during the first two years after planting. After this time the trees should be large enough to withstand the competing vegetation. Application is by a pressurized sprayer, pulled by the tractor The spray must be directed toward the base of the tree to protect the foilage from damage from the chemical. This can be facilitated by placing a piece of stove pipe over the seedling to shelter it while spraying.
In addition to the application of herbicides it will be necessary to mow the plantation access roads when the vegetation gets too high. Two or three mowings annually, with a tractor-pulled bush hog, will probably be sufficient. Mowing between the rows may not be necessary if sufficient control is attained with the herbicide application. However, if additional control is necessary, the rows will be best mowed with a 10 to 15 horsepower horticultural tractor with a mounted rotary or sickle blade. A benefit of mowing between the rows is the reduction of habitat for mice and rabbits which feed on the bark of the trees during the winter. Roosts for raptors for them to observe and prey down the rows may help reduce these tree growth losses.
Fertilizers are generally used on agricultural crops to increase the growth and yield of the crops. In Christmas tree production, any excess growth must be removed during the shearing operation. Thus, fertilizer treatments are only rarely needed in the plantation. There are three instances where fertilization may be necessary. One, when the soil is tested prior to planting, there may be found a deficiency in one or several of the required nutrients. Two, some of the slower growing species can be fertilized to increase the growth if it is too slow. In this case fertilizer should be appplied in the spring just prior to the start of the new growth. The third situation is when the vigor or color of the trees is to be improved. Fertilizer should thus be applied in the midsummer, to have the least effect on the growth rate.
Fertilizer is applied at about 200 pounds per acre around the base of the trees. It can be applied as a solid or as a sprayed liquid. Broadcast application of the fertilizer should be avoided for two reasons. First, it is much more costly than a basal application. Secondly, it aids undesirable competing vegetation. It is important to note that the symptoms indicating a need for fertilization can also be caused by insect or disease damage, water deficiency, or poorly developed root systems. Therefore, it is best to have the soil analyzed prior to any fertilizer application.
Fire Control
Fire is an ever present danger to the Christmas tree plantation. Proper preventive measures and a fire management system can aid in reducing the risk from this hazard. The trees should be planted in blocks, with access roads and fire lanes maintained between them. An adequate supply of fire tools should be available for use in the event of a fire. Facilities for water storage may be desired as they can also be used for mixing chemicals, as well as for fire control. The names and phone numbers of the nearest fire wardens should be readily available in the event of an emergency. These measures can prevent the complete destruction of the plantation.
Insect and Disease Control
The potential for devastating losses in the plantation due to insect and disease outbreaks can be minimized through the proper diagnosis and timing of treatment operations. Since neither insect nor disease outbreaks can be predicted, the best control method is to be prepared for an outbreak. This involves a familiarity with the types of insects and diseases most likely to attack, the control measures needed, and the types and sources of the needed chemicals.
The most common insects attacking plantations are: aphids, pine tip moth, pine webworm, scale insects, and white pine weevil.
Aphids
These small insects may infest either the needles or the bark of the Christmas trees. Both white pine and Scots pine are susceptible. The aphids are usually active beginning in May until late summer. Control applications of malathion, for example, should be made when the aphids are first noticed to prevent the buildup of infestations. Controls are effective against both adults and nymphs.
Pine Tip Moth
The pine tip moth feeds on the tips of the new growth of Scots pine. This insect can be controlled by spraying the entire tree with dimethoate or trichlorfon in mid to late April and again in late May to early June.
Pine Webworm
Affecting all pines, the pine webworm will be noticed when its webbing is formed in late July or early August. At this time the trees should be sprayed with diazinon, before the larvae drop to the soil to pupate in September.
Scale Insects
Scale insects attack Scots pine and can be effectively controlled by spraying with malathion or diazinon in late May when the eggs hatch. It may be necessary to respray for the second generation in mid-July.
White Pine Weevil
This weevil presents the most problems to Christmas tree growers in Virginia. The white pine weevil attacks the terminal shoot, killing it, and causes the trees to become mis-shapen. Trees should be treated with lindane, applied to the main upright terminal, prior to April 1, or before adults begin feeding on trees and laying eggs.
In addition to the potential insect problems there are also several diseases of concern. These include the Eastern gall rust, white pine blister rust, and needlecast.
Eastern Gall Rust
Scots pine is susceptible to this rust which forms a gall on the main stem. The rust is caused by a fungus which, to complete its life cycle, requires both pines and oaks. Pines growing in areas adjacent to the plantation stands should be checked and infected trees removed and destroyed. The control of this rust in a Christmas tree plantation requires the persistent removal and destruction of severly infected trees.
White Pine Blister Rust
As its name implies, the white pine blister rust attacks the white pine. As with other rust fungi, it requires an alternate host to complete its life cycle. In this case the alternate hosts are species of Ribes, more commonly called gooseberry, wild currant, or black currant. Effective control can be accomplished by uprooting Ribes plants in areas adjacent to white pine stands. In the event of an infestation within the plantation, the diseased trees should be removed and destroyed.
Needle Cast
Needlecast is a serious leaf disease of both white pine and Scots pine. This disease causes the needles to turn red and makes the trees worthless as Christmas trees. The disease can be effectively controlled by applying a Bordeaux mixture after the needles are half grown and again when they are fully developed.
Some precautions that are necessay when using pesticides and fungicides a re:
Artificial Coloring
It is sometimes necessary to spray trees which fade or turn yellow with an artificial coloring agent. This must be done prior to when the problem is noticed. Trees usually do not fade or turn yellow until late fall so the problem must be anticipated. Therefore, the trees should be examined for these problems in the late fall of the years preceeding the year of harvest. Scots pine is considered the most susceptible to yellowing of the species under consideration, but, as mentioned previously, this problem can be avoided through the careful selection of the planting stock.
Harvesting and Marketing
Marking the culmination of the Christmas tree rotation are the harvesting and marketing operations. These include all operations from the selection of the trees to cut to the delivery to the consumer. Generally, it will take about three years to harvest each stand of trees. This is due to the individual growth differences between trees.
The harvesting operation begins in mid-summer when the stands are inventoried and the trees to be cut for sale are tagged according to species, grade, height, and with instructions for care. Around Thanksgiving the trees to be sold are cut from the stump using a chain saw. Next, they are loaded on a trailer and moved to a central processing area where the trees are sorted and bundled using a Christmas tree baling machine and plastic Vexar netting (See Appendix A). The trees are also identified with a tag indicating the species, grade, and instructions for care. The bundling process is necessary for several reasons. First, many buyers will not accept trees that are unpackaged. Secondly, bundling reduces damage during handling and shipping. Third, packaging greatly increases the number of trees that can be packed in a given space, thus reducing transportation costs.
For an operation of the size under consideration it is recommended that the Christmas trees be sold wholesale. There are three alternative methods worth considering when wholesaling the trees. The trees could be sold at the roadside which would involve transporting the trees from the plantation to the roadside and perhaps loading them on the buyer's vehicle. The trees could be sold at a rail or truck yard which would entail loading the trees into the producer's vehicles, transporting them to the rail or truck yard, unloading the trees, and possibly loading them into the rail cars or into the trucks. The third possibility is to sell the trees to a wholesaler-retailer at his or her lot, and this involves loading and transporting the producer's vehicles to the retailer's lot and then unloading them.
As the trees are transported closer to the retail lot they demand proportionatly higher prices per tree. However, associated with the higher price per tree is the higher risk assumed since any trees not sold must be discarded. There is also an increase in the labor and time required. For these reasons it is recommended that the trees be sold at either the roadside or at a rail or truck yard.
After the trees are inventoried during the summer, potential buyers should be contacted and arrangements made for delivery of the trees they require. Potential buyers can be identified through advertizing in the Christmas Tree Journal, through civic organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Jay Cees, and Lions Club, and through the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association (Appendix A is "References " below
The timing of the harvesting operation will depend on the number of trees to be harvested with a given labor supply and on the weather conditions. This period usually begins in the first week of December and extends through the third week in December, but it may start as early as the week following Thanksgiving. Problems with weather can be reduced by maintaining a good system of access roads to facilitate getting the trees out of the plantation. Weather conditions are not a serious constraint in Virginia and the harvesting dates can be freely chosen as long as enough time is allowed to market the trees before Christmas day.
Economic Analysis The economic analysis of the operation was performed using the Christmas Tree Investment Analysis (CTIA) program, written by William Sellers for a Masters degree (Forest Economics, Virginia Tech). The management plan and cost summary are presented in Appendix B. The income summary is presented in Appendix C. The cash flow and financial summary is presented in Appendix D. Appendix E. gives the cost assumptions used in 1979. Labor costs were much lower and tree prices are now much higher.
The analysis was done for low, medium and high cost operations, varying the tree sale price between $2.00 and $4.00. Table 3 summarizes this information for the internal rate of return, or the actual interest rate which the operation is capable of producing.
| Table 3. Internal rate of return (percent). | |||
| Cost of Operation | Tree Sale Price | ||
| $2.00 | $3.00 | $4.00 | |
| Low | 17.7 | 28.1 | 35.7 |
| Medium | 6.9 | 18.5 | 26.7 |
| High | 4.6 | 10.1 | 19.0 |
These results (as noted above, prices have changed over time but it is believed that the relations still hold soundly) indicate that a well managed plantation has the potential of earning at least the minimum acceptable rate of return of 15% and, depending on the sale price of the tree, can earn in excess of a 35% return on the investment.
Assuming that a six-man labor crew will be available during the shearing and harvesting seasons, it was determined that the optimal size plantation would be 96 acres. Every year 12 acres will be planted, six of white pine and six of Scots pine. After eight years the plantation would have one stand for each year of the eight year rotation, allowing an annual harvest in excess of 11,000 trees.
The equipment needed to manage a plantation of this size includes:
-- D-6 catepillar bulldozer (generally rented)
-- 30 h.p. farm tractor
-- disk
-- 50 to 500 gallon pressure sprayer
-- tree planting machine
-- bush hog
-- trailer
-- bundling machine
-- Christmas tree shearing knives
Christmas tree production within a Production unit offers investors the opportunity to receive returns on the investment which exceed many alternatives.
After a careful analysis of Christmas tree production inputs to a system (for example, selecting genetically improved trees (Van Haverbeke 1981)), the one limiting factor that emerges as critical to the success of such a system is time ... time that the owner - operator - manager has left after performing his or her regular duties and associated work with his or her main occupation or with the other units of the wildland enterprise. Numerous publications point out the costs and returns of this important opportunity; few indicate time requirements.
Since Christians tree inputs are spread over a rotation of about 10 years here and different labor inputs occur within different months of the year, it is important to isolate the 1 or 2 months that make the most demands upon the operator's time. Few research data are available that directly applies to Tennessee. However, from available research it appears that June, with its shearing, is the most demanding, followed by December with its harvesting requirements. Thus, our analysis centers on the time available locally for these 2 months.
| Table 4. Accumulated Monthly Labor Needs in Hours | ||||||||||||
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 1 Establish |
201 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | |||
| 2 | 20 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.4 | |||
| 3 | 20 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.6 | 5.1 | |||
| 4 | 20 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 15.22 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 6.8 | |||
| 5 | 20 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 27.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 8.5 | |||
| 6 | 20 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 38.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 7.2 | 10.2 | |||
| 7 | 20 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 49.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 8.4 | 11.9 | |||
| 8 | 20 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 61.2 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 9.6 | 13.6 | 33.03 | ||
| 9 | 20 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 72.6 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 15.3 | 66.0 | ||
| 10 | 20 | 15.0 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 72.6 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 15.3 | 66.0 | |
1 Each year an additional acre is established at 20 hours per acre.
|
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Holem and Wise (1971) suggest that mowing takes 1.4 hours and shearing duties take 10.0 hours per acre. (The laborers, equipment, land slope and many factors influence such numbers.) Touliatos, Ishee, and Norton (1971) allocated 33.0 hours per 400 trees for cutting, skidding, grading, packing and loading on trees on trucks. With about 800 marketable trees per acre, this totals 66.0 hours.
Since 400 trees would be harvested 1 year and the remaining 400 the next, only 33.0 hours are allocated on an annual basis. The unmarketable trees must be disposed of by some means. This may amount to an additional 15.0 hours. However, these hours can be allocated to January or February when other demands are low.
There are generally few demands made on a farmer's time for crop management during June and December so he or she can allocate at least 8 hours daily for the summer shearing work. Since shearing must be done during a 3-week period, the farmer has 18 days, or 144 person-hours available. During the late November-December marketing period, crop demands again are minimal. The marketing season also lasts about 3 weeks. Again, figuring 8 hours daily for 18 days, there are 144 hours available. From these and other data, we can estimate the maximum number of acres that one person could handle.
Table 4 shows that for a 10-acre Christmas tree operation, planting 1 acre per year on a 10-year rotation could be handled by a farm operation. The 72 hours required in June for shearing and mowing would still leave some additional time for other related duties such as locating markets. The same applies to December with its 66 hours required for harvesting. The owner wishing to do so, can handle a maximum of 20 acres. This would be a 2-acre per year operation.
The individual who worked a full 8-hour day off the farm on a 2080-hour per year basis would find it difficult to handle 10 acres. He or she would, in all probability, need assistance from family members during June and December. Outside hired help may be necessary. Off-farm workers are less likely to have the proper spraying, mowing, and hauling equipment. Thus, they would be faced with a decision about whether to purchase the needed equipment or to rent it. Work within the concepts of Lasting Forests might be advantageous. Absentee landowners face similar problems. In addition to needing the above time they would have to add appropriate travel time to and from home operations. Whether or not to purchase or rent needed equipment would be difficult decisions.
Prorating the work is an important consideration in growing Christmas trees. It is recommended that the landowner establish some maximum-size operation and do only a portion of that total each year. In this way the operator gains valuable experience and expertise as his operation grows. Mistakes or needs to respond to unique local conditions , should they happen, can be corrected without jeopardizing the total operation. Experience gained in the early stages of production will lead to more efficient methods as the full scope of the operation is reached. For example, the landowner night set 10 acres as a maximum. Thus, with a 10-year rotation he would plant 1 acre each year. Mowing, shearing, and other cultural activities would gradually expand to about the ninth year.
In summary, the full-time, average-size farmer/land owner should not attempt over 20 acres of plantations without the assurance of additional labor, while the full-tine off-farm owner should not attempt over 10 acres, without additional assistance. Absentee landowners may want to consider developing considerably less than 10 acres (depending on travel time, available help, and equipment). The expanded Production unit outlined above can offer new potentials for economic development within a region.
Producing the trees is only part of the system that starts with land acquisition (a cost rarely included in the economic analysis), taxes, labor, etc, but then transportation and marketing the trees produced. Garrett and Pendleton 1977 developed models for forecasting sales of natural trees. We believe that The Trevey staff can develop sound models based on their work for a serious grower. The regression models would probably include for a selected sale lot:
and the results will likely explain more than 75% of the variation in trees purchased from a lot in a year. Variation can be high. Buyers of Christmas trees undergo changes in attitudes and expectations that cause them to alter their spending habits one year to the next. The equations developed by Garrett and Pendleton move knowledge about the importance of marketing strategies, advertising, tree quality, traffic and competition right into realistic computations about tree prices and the number to be sold each year to assure profit from the Chritmas Tree Production unit.
References
Garrett, L.D. and T.H. Pendleton, 1977. Developing models to forecast sales of natural Christmas trees. USDA Forest Service, Northeastern For. Experiment Sta., Upper Darby, Pa Res Paper NE-374, 5pp.
Holemo, F. S. and J. 0. Wise. 1971. Forestry Outlook. Paper presented at Southern Regional Outlook Workshop, Atlanta, Ga. Oct. 11-13, 1971.
Touliatos, P., H. Ishee, and T. Norton, 1971. How to grow Christmas trees in the South. USDA, USFS, Southern Area, State and Private Forestry, Atlanta, Ga.
Van Haverbeke, D.F. 1981. Seed orchards - a way to better Christmas trees; I - Establishment, American Christmas Tree Journal 25(2):16-19.
The Maryland Christmas Tree Growers Association has valuable resources as does the Kentucky association.
An Ohio manual discusses variables.
A diverse study site out of California with links is available.
General information about theVirginia Christmas Tree Growers Association. can be reached through this link.
In 1982 there were 137 citations about Christmas tree production found by the Agricola information system, Bethesda, Md.
from TVA, Division of Forestry WRAP files, 4-14-72 with revisions by Giles, 2001 and production system notes from Don Reynolds as noted above.
Supplier of Baling machines: Howey Tree Baler Corp, Merritt, MI 49667
The Production of Christmas Trees by Donald V. Reynolds (about 1975), a report to the Headlands project, Nettleton Estate, Covington, Virginia.
The primary objective of the Christmas tree grower should be to produce cost effectively the type of tree demanded by consumers. This tree is characterized by fragrant, dense, green foliage with a symmetrical, tapered appearance and an ability to retain its needles through the Christmas season. To produce this kind of tree requires intensive cultural practices and a desire to produce a quality product. By producing such a product, the grower should have few problems in finding a buyer for his trees.
The desired Christmas tree would have these traits:
The following sections provide guidelines for producing such a tree.
Introduction
The production of Christmas trees in Virginia offers the potential of a high return on the investment in a plantation. Currently, Virginian growers produce only about ten perrcent of the trees sold annually within the state. This indicates that there is a substantial share of the market which can be captured by new prod ucers. Competition from out-of-state growers can be overcome since they incur high transportation costs when bringing their trees into Virginia's market centers.
Virginia's climate is generally favorable to the production of Christmas trees. Rainfall in the state tends to average between 41 and 45 inches annually. Winters in the state are generally mild, with average January temperatures in the mountains in the low thirties.
Virginia producers also have the advantage of being near concentrated groups of consumers, thereby lowering the costs of transporting trees to consumers. There are eight cities exceeding populations of 100,000, twenty-four cities with populations of 10,000 to 50,000, and twenty-eight cities with populations of 5,000 to 10,000 scattered throughout the state. Additionally, there are highly developed networks of roads and railways servicing the state.
Species Selection
One of the most important considerations in establishing a Christmas tree plantation is the selection of the most suitable species to plant. This selection should be based primarily on the ability of a species to grow vigorously on the available sites and on the market acceptance of the species.
Other factors that will influence the decision include annual rainfall, temperature extremes, soil drainage and fertility, topography, elevation, the length of time necessary to produce a marketable tree, the resistance to disease and insect attacks, and the ease and timing with which stand improvement operations such as shearing can be completed.
There are seven species that are considered appropriate for planting in Virginia. These can be separated into two groups-- (1) the pines and (2) the spruces and firs.
There are two criteria for this division. The first is the timing of the shearing operations-pines must be sheared in the early summer while spruces and firs can be sheared throughout the year. The second is the length of the rotation necessary to produce marketable trees- pines generally take 6 to 8 years while spruces and firs require 8 to 15 years.
Pines
Three species of pines are suitable for Christmas tree plantations in Virginia, the Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus;Scots pine, P. sylvestris; and Virginia pine, P. virginiana.
The white pine is a native of the mountains of Virginia and is also found east of the mountains in the piedmont. It has a pleasing silver-green color, with good needle retention, and soft needles about 3 to 5 inches long. White pine is a fast growing tree on average to good sites. It requires heavy shearing to produce a tree with the desired characteristics. This species grows best on moist, well drained, sandy loam soils, preferably on northeast, east, or southeast slopes. Approximately 6 to 8 years are required to produce a 6 foot Christmas tree. The market acceptance of this species is very good.
Scots pine is a native to Europe. The needles are blue-green, 1 to 3 inches long, and slightly twisted. There are many varieties of seed sources of Scots pine which make the needles differ a great deal in length, color and stiffness. Many varieties of Scots pine turn pale yellow in winter, a characteristic which calls for artificial coloring before marketing the trees. This yel1owing is more prevalent in the strains from the continental provenances, such as the French strain. The strains from the maritime provenances, such as the Spanish strain, maintain their blue-green color through winter. Many commercial nurseries have selected trees for their distinctive characteristics and ca,n provide information on the species most suitable for the site . Scots pine is a fast growing, hardy species and will grow well on most sites in Virginia. The tree often has crooked stem and requires heavy shearing to obtain the desired shape. The limbs are sturdy and thus make decoration easy. This species is very much in demand as a Christmas tree and generally requires 6 to 8 years to produce a marketable tree.
As its name implies, Virginia pine is a native of this state. It has fair color and its needles are 1 to 3 inches long which are retained fairly well. This pine grows well on a wide range of sites, from good to poor. It commonly grows irregulary, with a crooked stem, and usually requires shearing twice annually. Virginia pine is a newcomer to Christmas tree production and its market acceptability is rather poor. As with the other pines, it should take between 6 and 8 years to produce a marketable tree.
Spruces and Firs
Four species of spruces and firs are worth considering as Christmas trees in Virginia. These are: Fraser fir, Abes fraseri; Norway spruce, Picea abies; Colorado blue spruce, Picea pungens; and Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii.
Fraser fir is a native to the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 4,000 to 6, 000 feet. The needles are dark green above and silvery underneath, giving the tree a two-tone color effect with good needle retention. Fraser fir is highly desired as a Christmas tree because of its beauty of shape, its color, and its pleasing fragrance. On good sites in the Appalachian Highlands the tree grows rapidly and should reach a height of 6 feet in 8 to 15 years. Fraser fir should not be considered for sites in Virginia below 2, 00 0 feet, and at elevations below 3,000 feet the planting sites should be carefully selected. At these elevations the species requires a moist, acidic soil, with some organic matter, and a moderate water holding capacity, as well as a northern or northeast slope. Fraser fir is naturally compact and conically shaped, requiring little shearing.
The Norway spruce is native to Europe and has been widely planted in the United States as an ornamental. It has fair color, but poor needle retention. The needles are short and sharp, but the tree has an attractive appearance. It grows best on cool, moist sites, but can be successfully grown on a variety of sites. It is rather slow growing, taking from 8 to 12 years to produce marketable trees. Considerable shearing is necessary to form a compact tree.
The Colorado blue spruce is a native of the Rocky Mountains and has an exceptionally pleasing color. Its needles are short and sharp and make the trees hard to decorate. The best growth is obtained on cool, moist sites with northern or northeast exposure. It takes from 9 to 15 years to produce marketable trees.
Douglas fir is a native to the western states where it has long been a favorite Christmas tree. There are two strains of the species-- the Coastal and the Inland Empire strains. The latter strain is the most suitable for planting in the Virginia mountains. The species is subject to drought and late frost damage, and requires a cool, well drained site. Unlike the other spruces and firs this species is rather fast growing, requiring 6 to 8 years to produce 6 foot tree.
Recommended Species for Planting
The pines offer the greatest potential for Christmas tree production in the mountainous areas of Virginia. Of these, the Eastern white pine and Scots pine are the most marketable. These species promise to grow much more rapidly than the firs and spruces, offering an earlier harvest and a higher return on the in vestment. The risk associated with potential failure of the plantation is lessened with the pines since they are better adapted to the climate and soils of V irginia and ha ve proven themselves well in the past.
Of the firs and spruces, Fraser and Douglas fir are most often recommended as candidates for the Christmas tree plantation. Because of the limited time available to shear the pines, that is, in the early summer, the firs offer an opportunity to expand the size of a plantation when the man hours of labor are limited since the shearing of the firs and spruces can be done throughout the year. It is recommended that when the decision is made to go with species of this group that several different species be planted on an experimental basis on selected sites and after several years of growth the species be selected which perform the best.
Seedling Availability
There are several state nurseries in Virginia and the surrounding states which will supply various species for Christmas trees, usually at the cost of production. In addition, there are numerous commercial nurseries that also supply trees, but these are higher priced than planting stock from state nurseries.Table1 lists species and prices per thousand for planting stock available through state nurseries.
| Table 1. Species and prices per thousand for planting stock available through state nurseries (about 1975) | |
| Virginia | |
| White Pine | $18.00 |
| Scots pine | $35.00 |
| Norway spruce | $30.00 |
| West Virginia | |
| White pine | $22.00 |
| Scots pine | $22.00 |
| Norway spruce | $22.00 |
| North Carolina | |
| White pine | $20.00 |
| Scots pine | $25.00 |
| Virginia pine | $11.00 |
| Fraser fir, premium | $170.00 |
| Fraser fir, grade 1 | $120.00 |
| Fraser fir, grade 2 | $50.00 |
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Last revision August 4, 2001.