Demand for Texas-grown Christmas trees continues to rise as acreage and entrepreneurial interest in farms expands, according to a 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 choose-and-cut farms are also diversifying their operation with “experiential services” built around Christmas trees like hayrides, do-it-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 60-70-acre 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 live-tree 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:
Central
Temperatures cooled off and the district experienced the first frost of the season. A few areas received scattered showers, but most of the district needed significant runoff for ponds and surface impoundments. Pastures were going dormant, and the cool-season grasses were in good shape. The pecan harvest looked good, but there were reports of dead trees. The second-crop corn silage harvest was nearing completion. Oats, wheat and other winter grasses needed rain to support growth. Ryegrass was trying to emerge. Some supplementation and hay feeding continued and expected to become more necessary in the coming weeks. Cattle, sheep and goat markets performed well amid strong demand.
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.
Coastal Bend
Dry conditions persisted in many areas. Some areas experienced a light, spotty frost, but daytime temperatures remained in the 80s and 90s. Soil moisture was critically low, halting most fieldwork. Some producers applied fertilizer, while others waited for moisture. Winter pastures were planted in some areas, but many have not germinated due to the lack of rainfall. Fires were becoming a concern, and burn bans were still in effect in some counties. Rangeland and pasture conditions were deteriorating, with standing forage drying out and quality declining. Hay supplies were good but of lower quality than usual. Ratoon rice harvest was 63% complete. Livestock were in good condition, though supplemental feeding of hay and protein was in full swing. Cattle remained in good condition, and sale barns were seeing large runs of calves sold at strong prices. Pecan harvest continued with fair yields reported.
East
The region received some much-needed rainfall. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Winter forages started to grow. Grasses were greening up, providing adequate grazing in some areas. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair. More moisture will be needed to continue the current progress. Cattle markets were strong. Livestock were doing fair to good with some supplementation taking place. Wild pigs were moving and causing an increasing amount of damage.
Southeast
Soil moisture levels were very short to adequate. Several counties received rain and reported cooler temperatures, which should benefit winter forages. One county lifted its burn ban. Winter wheat and ryegrass looked good. Livestock were in good condition, but many producers continued to feed supplemental feed/hay. Pasture and rangeland conditions had not changed significantly and were in poor to good condition. Cotton was harvested, and oats emerged in fair to good condition.
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.
North
Topsoil and subsoil were short to adequate for the counties. Several counties reported scattered showers, and a few reported up to half an inch of rain, while most counties reported cooler temperatures with lows in the mid- to high-40s. Some areas reported a light frost.Pasture and range conditions were fair to poor for most of the counties. Feral hog activities increased. Pond levels improved. Summer grass growth had slowed due to lower temperatures, but pastures looked good. Livestock were in good to excellent condition.
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.
Southwest
Cooler temperatures and drought conditions persisted. Some areas experienced rain showers that supported the germination of cool-season grasses and forbs. River flows were above normal but were not replenishing dry areas. Wheat and oat fields designated for grazing benefited from the recent rainfall, though fields in drier areas were struggling. Despite the lack of significant moisture, cooler mornings and sunny days were favorable for forage growth. However, in drier areas, pastures continued to decline and rangelands remained very dry, prompting fire warnings. Winter crops irrigated by pivots were thriving. Pecan harvest concluded, and trees were beginning to enter dormancy. Livestock were in fair condition, with producers still providing heavy supplemental feeding. Cooler temperatures were providing relief to both livestock and wildlife, with whitetail deer becoming increasingly active during the cooler nights.
South
Dry conditions continued throughout the district. Some counties reported rain, but soil moisture conditions continued to decline in most areas. Temperatures were cooler in the morning. Sesame was being harvested along with some forages. Peanut harvest continued and was complete in some areas. Some harvested peanut fields were being cut as forage. Strawberry plantings were underway. Winter vegetables, including leafy greens, cabbage and onions were being harvested. Farmers continued to prepare fields for winter plantings. Pecan and citrus harvests continued. Citrus yields have been good in some varieties. Wheat and oat fields continued to progress under irrigation. Some small grain fields remained unplanted due to dry conditions. Fall corn was in good condition and close to harvest. Rangeland and pasture conditions were declining, and some grasses were going dormant. Forage quality was declining, and producers were providing supplemental feed, hay and cubes. Many producers were culling their herds deeper. The sale volumes at some barns was decreasing though prices remained strong. Wildlife conditions were good. Burn bans continued to be implemented.
