the bulletin CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION Summer 2019 No 239

IN THIS ISSUE: Using Genetics to Make a More Perfect Tree CCTA Trade Show at Church Christmas Tree Farms How to Start a Gift Shop Make the Most of Your Acreage Sustainable Forestry Initiative Using Genetics to Make a More Perfect Tree cuttings that rate zero to one, or six By Gary Chastagner, Plant Pathologist, Washington State University to seven and grafted little bits of them onto rootstocks his lab manages on 15 At this very moment, scientists plant pathology based at Washington acres in Puyallup. This process con- are sifting through 1,200 gigabytes of State University’s Puyallup Research verts each outlying specimen into an genetic data, taken from hundreds of and Extension Center, has spent every isolated stand of genetically identical Christmas trees growing all over the fall since 1978 running reconnaissance trees, preserving their unique DNA in world, to figure out what separates the at Christmas tree plantations, pop-up what’s called a clonal holding block. best needle-holders from the worst. retail lots, and big-box stores across Now, those trees are part of a mas- They’re also looking for the genetic sig- the country. At each stop, the plant sive effort to pinpoint the tiny genetic nals that confer resistance to devastat- pathologist scours the inventory, find- variations that determine why some ing molds from the genus Phytophtora, ing the best-looking tree in the whole trees turn out better than others. Five Greek for “plant destroyer.” Although place. Then he takes photos, inter- years ago, Chastagner and his research some fungicides can reduce its sever- rogates salespeople, and snips away partners at North Carolina State Uni- ity, the root rot still costs the US Christ- small branches, which he weighs with versity landed $1.3 million from the US mas tree industry hundreds of millions a portable scale before airfreighting Department of Agriculture—the largest of dollars each year. them back to Puyallup, for testing at his Christmas tree grant in US history—to Unlike America’s other commercial Washington State University lab. use RNA, which translates DNA into crops, very little is known about what Next, Chastagner’s team hangs proteins, to figure out which genes are goes on inside a Christmas tree’s ge- the branches on racks, where they rest turned on or off in trees with valuable nome. For centuries growers have had without water for seven to 10 days. traits. And in a little more than a month, to rely only on traditional methods of Then, a few well-trained technicians they’ll finally have those answers. selecting and breeding for desirable gently rub each branch and rate the Jill Wegrzyn, a computational bi- traits. But soon, thanks to a small cad- needle retention on a scale of one (1 ologist at the University of Connecticut, re of scientists who’ve dedicated their percent of needles fall off) to seven (91 will analyze all the sequencing data— careers to unraveling the conifers’ se- to 100 percent loss). five years’ worth, collected by Chastag- crets, they’ll be able to use genetics to Chastagner is only interested in the ner and his collaborator at NCSU, John make a more perfect Christmas tree. extremes on both sides of the spec- Frampton. “We have our list of genes Gary Chastagner, professor of trum. Over the years, he’s taken any (Continued on page 14)

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 2 the bulletin CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION Summer 2019 No. 239

Published by: July, and October. (The annual Sales mit all materials for publication to the CCTA • Hilmar, CA 95324 Survey is now online.) The deadline for CCTA office. The Bulletin staff and the Phone: (209) 669-6668 advertising material and other copy is California Christmas Tree Association, http://www.cachristmas.com the 15th of the month preceding pub- however, assume no responsibility for The Bulletin is a membership publica- lication. Members and others are en- accuracy and validity of claims in ad- tion of the California Christmas Tree couraged to submit articles, announce- vertising and editorial reports. Opinions Association, a non-profit organization, ments, photographs, drawings, news expressed by writers in by-lined articles by and for its members. The Bulletin is and views concerning any aspect of the are their own and not necessarily those published three times a year in January, California Christmas tree industry. Sub- of this publication or the CCTA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Using Genetics to Make a Perfect Tree 2 President’s Message 4 Executive Director’s Report 4 OFFICERS National Director’s Report 5 Jeri Lynn Seifert, President Christmas Tree Promotioon Board 6 Nancy Roatcap, Vice President CAL FIRE Forest Improvement Program 7 Keith Garlock, Secretary CCTA Trade Show at Church Christmas Tree Farms 8 Ted Seifert, Treasurer How to Start a Gift Shop 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS* Make the Most of Your Acreage 10 District 1 Jeri Lynn Seifert Keith Garlock News From the North End (So. Sec. Report) 11 District 2 Holly Parrish Sustainable Forestry Initiative 13 District 3/4 George McKenzie CCTA Calendar of Events 15 Ed Battaglia District 5 Don Cameron Nancy Roatcap At Large Ted Seifert SECTIONS Holly Parrish, Loomis Chair, Northern Section Nancy Roatcap, Santa Clarita Chair, Southern Section Stacie Link, West Point Chair, Central Section STAFF Hidden Springs Tree Farm, location of this year’s annual meeting. Sam Minturn, Executive Director Betty Starr, Publications Manager Front Cover photos: Craig Dobbs, farm owner (upper left); Fred Frank (Craig’s Father-In-Law) demonstrates farm equipment, (upper right); Rusty, local Farm *See page 5 for director contact info Adviser, gives talk on noxious weeds (lower left); Olivia Dobbs (Craig’s daugh- ter) lectures us oldsters on the importance of Social Media.

3 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 Presidents Report also been difficulty due to legibility of June 27, 2019 President’s Message some info received. If you are a cur- rent member and have’t received your Summer greetings to you all! I hope member password you will receive it all of you have been able to have some soon via email. Please check our site summertime relaxation. I am grabbing to be sure all info is correct, if correc- my summer relaxation inbetween pre- tions are needed please email correc- paring our fields for Pumpkin planting. tions to [email protected] . Pre watering and pre-plant fertilization I am including in my report an arti- is taking place, planting maps are com- cle that I was asked to submit to Pacific plete and large, late maturing varieties Northwest’s Outlook magazine. I hope are sprouting in the nursery. First stage if any of you are considering starting a of planting happens the second week gift shop now or on the future, that this of July. info might be helpful. Now to keep you up to date on Please mark your calendar and plan some association info. The revised By- to attend our September 14th meeting Laws have been sent to all our board at the Church’s Tree Farm in the North members for review and will come to by Jeri Lynn Seifert Monterey Area. Please check the asso- the membership for approval at our ciation website and our Facebook page September membership meeting. A meeting. The board will visit this idea for information about the meeting. request has been made that we con- at the September Board meeting. The sider reducing the number of CCTA first stage of our overhaul on our CCTA Until then enjoy the rest of your board members. This would reduce website is almost done. Getting updat- summer…. the number of board members required ed information to our web master has Your Board President for a quorum to hold an official board taken longer than expected. There has Jeri Seifert

Share your farm news on the CCTA’s Facebook page. Posting pictures of new attractions and your yearly preparation creates interest and promotes curiosity in the minds of our customers.

girlfriend who came all the way from EXECUTIVE the Family Christmas Tree Farm down DIRECTOR’S near San Diego. And Charlie Anderson REPORT and Fred compared notes on how they mill logs on their property. We were fur- by Sam Minturn ther educated by Rusty from the SLO County Farm Adviser’s Office with a Do you use Instagram when you us some more. So don’t be shy if you booklet on Noxious Weeds telling us advertise your Tree Farm or Tree Lot? have a relative back there that knows how to control or eradicate them. And if you do, how old are you? Those something we all need to learn and tell Looking ahead you need to save of us who attended the last CCTA Meet- us how to contact them. the date of September 14 so you can ing at Hidden Springs Tree Farm were We also heard from Auraly’s Dad, attend our next CCTA Meeting at Glenn educated by Auraly & Craig Dobb’s Fred Frank about starting the tree farm & Kathy Church’s farm in Royal Oaks daughter, Olivia, about the advantages “by accident” around 1952, I think it near Castroville. You can read about of using it in your promotions. Not only was. I discovered another pattern and some of the agenda items elsewhere in were we impressed with her knowl- that is that we held a fantastic meeting this Bulletin. Hope to see you there. edge but we were blown away that she at this farm 5 years ago so we natu- came all the way from Denver, Colo- rally informed Fred that we’d be back rado to educate us. I’m not sure which in another 5 years, 2024 to be exact to of my favorite Baseball Stars said “It’s make sure he’s still alive and helping deja vue all over again” - probably Yogi take care of the farm. Berra but this reminded me of when One of the special features of their Charlie & Donna Anderson’s daughter, tree farm is that they have so many dif- Anna, also came from Colorado a little ferent species growing there. It’s the over a year ago and educated us about perfect farm for new growers to visit using Facebook to help us sell our and we were happy to have Kerry & unique product. Do you see a pattern Rich Morgantini who are starting a yet? I’m trying to figure out how I’m farm in Solvang visit with us. ever going to get someone next year The award for driving the farthest Everyone will be headed out to this to come from Colorado and educate goes to Tyler Stokes and his mom and year’s Trade Show & Tree Contest.

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 4 NCTA UPDATE FROM OUR NATIONAL DIRECTOR test rules for the upcoming convention. There was also discussion about the Greetings from Sonoma County! check- off program and reaching out to I am writing to update you on our past members of NCTA to encourage National Association News. The two them to vote. biggest news items to report are: Other than that I would say that the I just received notice yesterday that trees in my area are looking great af- our Christmas Tree Promotion Board ter nearly 50 inches of rain this winter. I Check Off program passed the national can also report with some authority that vote with 55 percent of the growers ap- the weeds seemed to have loved all of proving the program. I believe that the the rainfall too. As usual; I will have no program is the right thing for our indus- shortage of work ahead of me over the try and I’m glad to see this put behind next 10 weeks as Douglas Fir pruning us for a while as this seemed to be a looms on the horizon. divisive issue in some circles. Best wishes for a happy summer to We have a national convention you all. coming up in Dixon City, Pennsylvania this summer. There will be an NCTA Keith Garlock, National Director board meeting on 8/8 and a Tree and Wreath Contest on 8/9. The winner of the Tree contest will have the honor of providing the White House with the Na- Sales Survey Offers Valuable Data Selfie on the top of Mount Saint tional Tree this Christmas. The CCTA’s comprehensive Sales Helena in Napa. The Tree and Wreath contest will Survey Analysis is a tremendous re- be held at Roba Family Farm, North meeting but I already had a State Farm source for figuring out how many trees Abington Township, PA, in conjunction Convention scheduled for the same you will need for your upcoming sales with the PA Christmas Tree Association time period so I will have to miss the PA season as well as pricing information Meeting. meeting. from your local area. It.is available from Hotel reservations can be made by The NCTA Board met over the Sam Minturn at the main office. calling 570 307-4437. phone on 4/18/19. Much of the discus- For copies email a request to: Yours truly would love to attend the sion centered around planning and con- [email protected]

CCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS District: One Jeri Seifert, President Keith Garlock, Secretary [email protected] [email protected] Dixon • (707) 678-4300 Sebastapol • (707) 824-0361 Two Holly Parrish [email protected] Alta • (916) 717-5779 Three George McKenzie Ed Battaglia CCTA & [email protected] [email protected] Four Saratoga • (408) 867-5693 San Martin • (408) 683-4730 COMMITTEES Five Don Cameron Nancy Roatcap, Vice President [email protected] [email protected] RESEARCH Simi Valley • (805) 527-6412 Santa Clarita • (661) 255-6943 Don Cameron (805) 527-6412 At Large: Ted Seifert, Treasurer Dixon • (707) 678-4300 • [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP Southern Section: Nancy Roatcap, Chair [email protected] • Santa Clarita • (661) 255-6943 Position Open - Please call CCTA Office if you can volunteer Central Section: Stacie Link, Chair • [email protected] Northern Section: Holly Parrish, Chair • [email protected] NCTA Director: Keith Garlock • [email protected] Sebastapol • (707) 824-0361

5 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 Research means any type of test, - Carbon, Green space systematic study, investigation, analy- - Sustainability sis and/or evaluation designed to ad- - Insect/Pest Management - scale, vance the image, desirability, use, aphid, slug, mite, chalcid, wildlife, marketability, quality, product develop- roundup resistant weeds, ment, or production of Christmas trees, including but not limited to research re- - Improved technology - labor reduc tion, safety, cost benefit, quality Funding Available for lated to cost of production, market de- velopment, testing the effectiveness of of end product (baling materials, Christmas Tree Research market development and promotional baler pulling devices, shaking, Projects efforts, new species of Christmas trees tree display stands, cut tree water and environmental issues relating to use, Christmas tree allergies) The CTPB announced their re- the Christmas tree industry. - Disease Management/Resistance quest for Christmas tree research grant proposals for 2019-2020 fiscal year Our approved research budget for You can download the RFP packet funding. The purpose of the Christmas the 2019-2020 fiscal year is $200,000. here or email research@christmast- Tree Promotion Board Competitive Re- Proposals will be accepted on or before reepromotionboard.org for additional search Grant Program is to establish July 12, 2019. Keep in mind; emergen- information. and conduct research with respect to cy project funding may be available at The projects that are currently re- the image, desirability, use, marketabil- any time if an unexpected need arises ceiving CTPB funding range from hav- ity, quality, product development or pro- in your area. ing the potential to make a grower’s life duction of Christmas trees; to the end Priorities set for this grant cycle a little easier to completely transform- that the marketing and use of Christmas funding include but are not exclusive ing a grower’s operation. CTPB funded trees may be encouraged, expanded, to: projects include: improved, or made more acceptable - Genetic Improvement - All species, • The Cooperative Fir Germplasm and to advance the image, desirability, all growing regions Evaluation (CoFirGe ) an experiment or quality of Christmas trees. - Environmental Benefit of Real Trees Continued on next page

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 6 Research Projects (Cont’d) in Fraser fir plantations, Bert Cregg, duction, Joseph Neal, NCSU MSU • Effectiveness of preharvest applica- to see how well Turkish and Trojan firs • Fraser Fir Cone Control Research, tion of 1-MCP in reducing needle loss can grow in various locations across Ashe County Center – NCSU on cut Christmas trees, Gary Chastag- the country. Research areas include: • Developing Strategies for Leader ner, WSU Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Control in Nordmann and Turkish fir, • Managing cone formation in Abies Station (CAES), Oregon State Univer- Chal Landgren, OSU Christmas tree species, Bert Cregg, sity (OSU), Washington State Universi- • Spray Drones to Apply Agricultural MSU ty (WSU), Pennsylvania State Univer- Materials to Christmas Trees, Travis • Evaluation of Nordmann Fir (Abies sity (PSU), Michigan State University Birdsell, NCSU nordmanniana) Seed Sources for U.S. (MSU) and North Carolina State Uni- • Post-Entry Elimination of Megastig- Christmas Tree Production, Chal Land- versity (NCSU). mus Seed Larvae in Imported Conifer gren, OSU • Understanding the Impact of Elon- Seed, Gary Chastagner, WSU • Twig Weevil- A small poorly under- gate Hemlock Scale, Jill Sidebottom, • Enhanced establishment and growth stood pest inflicting havoc in the PNW NCSU of bare-root transplants using control- export markets, Gary Chastagner, • Development of IPM Strategies for led-release fertilizers, Richard Cowles, WSU Management of Slugs on Christmas CAES • Spotted Lanternfly: A new exotic pest Trees, OSU, WSU • Management options for herbicide threatening the mid-Atlantic Christmas • Cultural options for controlling cones resistant weeds in Christmas tree pro- tree market, Rick Bates, PSU

ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other California Department of economic benefits, and the protection, Forestry and Fire Protection maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations. Cost-share assist- California Forest Improvement Program ance is provided to private and pub- CAL FIRE’s mission emphasizes resources is the goal of the CAL FIRE lic ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 the management and protection of Cali- Resource Management Program. acres of forest land. Cost-shared activi- fornia’s natural resources; a goal that is CAL FIRE manages eight Demon- ties include management planning, site accomplished through ongoing assess- stration State Forests that provide for preparation, tree purchase and plant- ment and study of the State’s natural commercial timber production, public ing, timber stand improvement, fish resources and an extensive CAL FIRE recreation, and research and demon- and wildlife habitat improvement, and Resource Management Program. stration of good forest management land conservation practices. California is rich in natural resourc- practices. Forests are located in Fort Status: Funding applications are ac- es. Of the 85 million acres classified as Bragg; Boggs Mountain in Cobb; So- cepted on a continuous basis. wildlands, nearly 17 million are com- quel; Redding; and Springville. Contact: Kristen Merrill mercial forest land. In addition to tim- California Forest Improvement Forest Health Program Coordinator ber, the state’s wildlands also provide Program (CFIP) encourages private (916) 651-2022 valuable watershed, wildlife habitat, and public investment in, and improved [email protected] and recreation resources. Maintaining management of, California forest lands For more information about CAL FIRE’s the sustainability of all these natural and resources. The focus of CFIP is to programs: https://fire.ca.gov

7 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 CCTA Trade Show at Church Christmas Tree Farms By Glen Church The last time the CCTA visited makes for some interesting problems We also practice stump culture. our two tree farms in North Monterey during the tree season. Our farms are The tour includes the sequoia redwood County it was 1971. A lot of things have also on hillsides and some are quite my dad planted in the 1960s that has changed since then. Richard Nixon isn’t steep, so bring your hiking shoes for a at least five cuttings from it, and is now President any longer, and the Vietnam tour. Fortunately, most of the properties producing two beautiful trees simulta- War is long over. We have social media are easily accessible by road so cars neously. instead of Walter Cronkite. There were are an option. I need to do an official Last year, I was contacted in the even astronauts strolling around on the count, but I believe there are over 20 latter half of October by a mall in Sali- moon in 1971. We must not forget the species of trees growing on the farm, nas that needed a tree lot since their most obvious change – we all have a including three that I don’t think anyone previous occupant decided to pull out. lot more gray hair! else is growing as Christmas trees. I’ll give a presentation on how to put On September 14, the CCTA re- One of them would be an excellent re- up a tree lot in 30 days or less that in- turns, and we are looking forward to placement for Douglas fir as they do cludes locating the trees, a trailer, sales giving you a tour of our farms. Back not seem bothered by climate change. materials, etc. From that experience, in 1971 it wasn’t the CCTA, but the Another has a white fir appearance but I have learned that those who have CCTGA, or California Christmas Tree with a broader needle. It has possibili- questioned my intelligence in the past Growers Association. According to my ties. The third… well we won’t discuss may have been onto something. father, Warren Church, who planted his that here. See you all in the fall! first trees in 1959 and started selling in 1963, Church Christmas Tree Farms A Brief History Over the years, we have planted has the longest continuous member- The year was 1959, and Warren dozens of different species but have ship in the CCTA (Sam has threatened Church was raising his family in north found Monterey pine, Douglas fir, white to fact-check that claim. However, until Monterey County, not far from Elkhorn fir, Italian stone pine, white spruce, he proves me wrong, I’m standing by Slough. He purchased property on Hid- Leyland cypress and incense cedar to it). den Valley Road, and began to plant do best in our Mediterranean climate. We plan a blast from the past as Monterey pine seedlings to create one Our Christmas tree farms at 470 and we look at the CCTA from the ‘60s and of the area’s first Christmas tree farms. 385 Hidden Valley Road open the day ‘70s. My father had a habit of hold- A few years later, Warren started after Thanksgiving. ing onto things. His files are filled with a second tree farm on nearby prop- Sometimes only one farm is open many interesting and forgotten stories, erty that his mother and grandfather at a time, but during busy periods both studies and experiences from the early had originally purchased in the 1920s. usually are open. The 470 farm is a days of the CCTA. Did you know that Through the Great Depression, the Christmas tree plantation of nine scat- the CCTA has its own song? Sung to farm was used to grow popcorn and tered patches surrounded by a forest of the tune of Jingle Bells, we’ll give you a produce honey which Warren’s mother coastal live oak trees. The tree patches spirited rendition at the meeting. and father sold door to door. are scattered amidst the oaks and man- Deep within the secret Church fam- The Christmas tree farms are now zanita and present a hike with over 19 ily archives, I uncovered a forgotten nearly 60 years old, and Warren’s son, acres of varied terrain and vegetation. Christmas tree shearing study (so old Glenn, now oversees the farm. With The 385 Farm is laid out in open fields that back then it was called pruning). Glenn’s two sons, that makes three with a gentle slope that allows a view of This was a University of California Ag- generations that have grown Christmas most of the trees from any location and ricultural Extension study conducted at trees in Hidden Valley. easy accessibility. our farms on Hidden Valley Road that involved Ed Gilden and Norman Mc- Royal Oaks Helpful Information Calley. Four rows were experimented Location: 10 miles south of Watsonville, or 15 miles north of Castroville. on that involved different intensities of Mediterranean climate with an average annual temperature of 50 degrees (don’t shearing starting from April until the forget to bring a sweater!). trees were sold in December. I can’t re- Attractions veal the outcome of these test results at this time, but I can declare that they • Moss Landing State Wildlife Area, a beachfront conservation area, with a salt are shocking. If we follow the over- pond, salt marshes & trails for walking. (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places- whelming results of these tests, it will to-Visit/Moss-Landing) revolutionize our industry! You have to • Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve (http://www.elkhornslough.org), five miles come in September to learn the long- of trails that meander through beautiful oak woodlands, calm tidal creeks, and suppressed results, though. freshwater marshes. Back to our farms, we have two • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (30 miles north via Highway 1). Amusement park that are a quarter mile apart. That offers a variety of games & rides on a mile-long stretch of sandy beach.

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 8 HOW DO I START A GIFT SHOP ON MY FARM? by Jeri Seifert, Silveyville Christmas Tree and Pumpkin Farm California Christmas Tree Association President My name is Jeri Seifert. I am a sec- In purchasing items it is very impor- ond generation Christmas Tree Farmer. tant to realize what area your establish- Our farm “Silveyville Christmas Tree ment is located in and what the respec- and Pumpkin Farm” established in 1979 tive retail value may be. If my farm was is located in Northern California. When located closer to California’s Bay Area we opened we knew we wanted to offer for example my price point could be a gift shop venue of some kind. By the much higher. Keeping this in mind and second year of business we decided to focusing on themed items appropriate get started with a gift shop in our barn, to your farm or area, brings the best located on our main sales area. sales. At this point in our startup business Initially we stocked mostly orna- funds were not available to purchase ments and a few small Christmas nov- the necessary merchandise to get elty items. Really, even as we have started in the gift shop. We opted to grown this is where our yearly gift sales offer local artisans the ability to show are sustained. Customers come back their creations on a consignment basis. every year to purchase a new orna- Jeri Lynn & husband Ted Seifert Depending on the price of an item, we ment for their family and purchase offered these local creators a consign- many more as yearly traditional gifts for clear of anything you might see at lo- ment fee of twenty to twenty five per- friends and extended family. We now cal craft or box store chains. One of cent. This consignment fee covered carry a large variety of ornaments that my first questions when I am contem- our set up costs and sales tax that we we personalize for our customers, add- plating a purchase is where can I find were required to pay on goods sold. ing a personal touch makes for great this in my area? Walmart? Michaels?...I When our consignment gift shop was customer service and gives that cus- can’t compete with that pricing so I find in full swing we worked with up to 45 tomer lasting memories of their experi- other unique items to focus on. artists. As you can imagine a con- ence. New farm owners or existing farms signment shop can be a bookkeeping Our gift shop has grown to be quite who wish to start a gift shop will often nightmare. However, with so many large and is a valuable addition to our ask me how they should go about the computer programs out there now this farm. It draws that specific clientele purchasing process. Looking back as could be less of a problem. The loss of that may no longer be in the market for our farm established our shop, here product due to “walk off” (yes sadly this a tree but enjoy the gift buying experi- are a few things I wish I had known. happens everywhere) is also an issue ence; this broadens our customer base There are hundreds of retail compa- when it comes to compensating your which is always a good idea. nies that carry Christmas out there. vendors. I departmentalize our shop accord- Most companies have a minimum first As our Business grew and the ing to themes, for example: vintage, order amount. These minimums can economy took many of our artisans farm, traditional christmas, trendy, spe- be as low as one hundred dollars up to to a normal eight to five job, the deci- cial occasion, and kids. I usually place fifteen hundred dollars and sometimes sion was made to begin purchasing gift a large tree in the front of the shop dis- more. Once your initial order is placed items from wholesale companies. For playing a new fresh look for the year, there is usually no minimum amount the first few years we continued to of- I figure out what’s trending as I shop needed. Although large distributors fer artisans consignment options. Now, for the new season during my yearly minimums are higher they have more although our goal is still to keep a local wholesale market trip. Customers are variety to offer. Networking, purchas- flare in the gifts we carry, we purchase always looking for new fresh ideas; this ing items, with other farms is an excel- creations from only a few local artists is a good way to catch their eye when lent idea when it comes to purchasing and depend largely upon wholesale gift they first walk in. goods from these larger distributors. companies to stock our gift shop. Keep it unique and different. I steer Continued on page 12

FREE ADVERTISING ON CCTA & NCTA WEBSITES If you have a Choose & Cut, Retail Lot, or Pumpkin Patch listing on our CCTA website, there is still room on the website for two pictures of your operation. Email the photos to Sam Minturn and he’ll get them posted (space permitting). There is also a free listing available to CCTA members with the NCTA on their web- Archived technique articles site under their Tree Locator page as part of the TIP program. For $15, you can have are available at the CCTA on- an enhanced listing with them. Contact Ann O’Conner at [email protected] line library. Contact Sam Minturn if you have questions. for details on how to get a pass- Hope this helps to bring about a great selling season! word.

9 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 How to Make the Most of your Acreage By Paul Illingworth Every year on December 24, I go diagnose a problem. For example, yel- out to my tree farm to look over the lowing of the trees could be caused by farm and notice the number of cut a nutrition problem or too much water. stumps and say to myself, “Where did Poor growth could be caused by not all the trees go?” “Will I have any trees enough water or poor soil nutrition or to sell next year?” During the summer drainage problems. We should always and fall of every year, Christmas tree be vigilant about insects and disease in growers start thinking about marketing the trees, while realizing that the least and setting up the farm for the coming toxic methods of control are sometimes selling season. However, I think it’s im- the best. portant at this time of the year to also Weed control chemicals and tech- be thinking about planning ahead for niques are always being improved, so the future and considering how we are a grower should always be aware of going to produce more trees on the lim- these advances and be willing to try ited amount of acreage we manage. new techniques. If herbicide use is a Over the years the number of concern and water is limited, mulching Fast growing 4 year old 8’ Sequoia Choose & Cut tree farms in Califor- with wood chips can be beneficial to the that’s never been sheared nia has decreased dramatically, but growth of trees, especially the smaller demand has remained high for the ones. I am not allowed to use herbi- press and cedars can also be sheared Choose & Cut experience, which in cides and I can’t irrigate the trees at my with the more “open” look in mind. many areas has caused a shortage of tree farm, so this year after we weed Tree species Choose & Cut trees at California farms. whacked the weeds we followed up by The most popular Christmas trees At the March CCTA meeting in Santa raking the cut weeds into the tree rows, sold in California are true fir (especially Nella, Keith Garlock lead a spirited dis- taking advantage of the dried grass Noble and Nordmann) and Douglas- cussion on methods to produce more and weeds and using them as a mulch fir. The problem is that they are also trees on existing acreage. There were around the trees, concentrating on the the slowest growing trees (7-12 years), many good ideas mentioned that made newly planted trees. We are also start- and sometimes they grow poorly or me stop and think that maybe with a ing to hand water the seedlings during not at all on California Choose & Cut few adjustments I can produce more the dry summer, thus giving the small farms. One way to increase produc- trees on the acreage that I have. trees a better chance of surviving the tion numbers on your farm is to plant Best cultural practices first year of growth. Both of these tech- species that are faster growing. Some The most obvious way to produce niques have looked promising for the fast-growing species that have been more trees is to follow the best cultural improved growth and survival of the successful in California are Monterey practices when raising your trees. This newly planted seedlings. pine, Incense cedar, Leland cypress, includes proper soil nutrition, watering, Shearing Sequoia, and Coast redwood, all with and weed and pest control. Soil con- An entire article could be written a rotation of 3–5 years These alternate ditions can best be addressed before about how to shear trees to produce a species require a little more work and a field is planted; however, improve- saleable tree in a shorter amount of time special cultural techniques, but they ments in nutrition and watering can also Every time we shear or prune a tree it can be well worth it with a shorter ro- be accomplished after the trees are in slows the growth because it takes time tation and a unique appearance that the ground. Sometimes the appear- for the cut ends to recover and start many Christmas tree customers prefer. ance and growth of the trees can help new growth. In my opinion the Califor- Besides, no commercial tree lot is go- nia Christmas tree consumer tends to ing to offer these species for sale, so if prefer a well shaped but more “open” customers like the look of these trees tree. This is good for us because grow- they will return to your farm year after ing this type of tree means less work year to cut one down. and a shorter rotation. Some trees like Tree spacing true firs and Sequoia may not need to I visited a tree farm several years be sheared at all. Even the Douglas- ago where the grower was complaining fir and Monterey pine can be sheared that he didn’t have enough trees to sell. “lighter” by leaving a longer leader and His trees were on a 6 X 6 spacing, and laterals each time they are sheared, he said, “I wish I had made the spac- thus producing a saleable tree quicker ing between the rows 7 feet because I 4X4 spacing in a mixed-aged stand of with a more “open” appearance. The can’t get my tractor through.” I thought Doug-fir showing grass mulching. faster growing trees like Monterey cy- Continued on next page

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 10 Make the Most (Cont’d) I know there are restrictions to planting acre on a 6 X 6 spacing is 1210, but if trees closer together (especially with you kept the distance between rows at to myself, “Be careful what you wish for tractors and mowers being used). But 6 feet and you tightened up the spac- because on a 7 X 6 spacing you would what’s wrong with keeping the distance ing within the row to 4 feet, you would have even fewer trees.” Tree spacing between rows wide, if need be, and increase the number of trees per acre in Christmas trees is one of the most planting the trees at a closer spacing. by more than 600 trees. There are contentious issues discussed among For example, the number of trees per even growers planting trees at a much tree growers. It seems like it’s almost tighter spacing, 2’ or 3’ within the rows a personal issue, as I’ve seen growers to sell as table-top trees. almost come to blows defending their At the end of each selling season spacing of trees. I would like to discuss when we inspect our Christmas tree tree spacing, concentrating on tree farms, the first thing we do is notice all numbers with the emphasis on increas- the cut stumps and think about all the ing number of trees available to sell. As trees we sold. But the next thought is seen in Fig. 1 below, on a spacing of 4 how can we sustain a high level of pro- feet X 4 feet, you can plant 2,722 trees duction of trees with the acreage we per acre and on a 6 X 6 foot spacing have. The more trees we can produce you can only plant 1,210 trees. (The the happier our customers will be, and way to figure this is: 43,560 divided by obviously the happier we will be. the product of the spacing, eg. 43,560 divided by 4 X 4 = 2,722) So with a 6 X Christmas tree spacing (in feet) 6 spacing rather than a 4 X 4 spacing Spacing Trees per acre you are decreasing your trees per acre 4 X 4 2722 by more than ½ or by 1, 512 trees per 4 X 5 2178 acre. On a 10 acre farm that is 15,120 4 X 6 1815 less trees to sell. I use a spacing of 4 X 4 on my tree farm and I’ve never had 5 X 5 1742 to cut out a tree due to spacing and the Fast growing 4 year old 8’ Coast Red- 5 X 6 1452 quality of my trees remains very good. wood that requires shearing 6 X 6 1210

11 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 Atascadero June, 2019 News from the North End… ia, part of the family operating the farm. Summer is here and fall is just She advised us on website construction around the next corner. Some of us and why we should aim our advertising already have our precut trees ordered at millennials. I personally came away and the growers are busy shearing, from her presentation with the convic- week whacking, irrigating, fertilizing tion I should double my tabletop tree and monitoring the pest populations. order. Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? After a great Santa Maria style BBQ We all know it is. lunch we had a tour of this unique farm, At the summer meeting of the Cen- led by Craig Dobbs. Hidden Springs is tral Section, held at Hidden Springs just that, lots of water above ground Christmas Tree Farm in Atascadero on hidden in a grotto like creek bed and a June 29, we had the pleasure of listen- very high water table underground. The ing to Rusty from the San Luis Obispo Dobbs are true tree planters; besides Ag Extension office. He spoke eloquent- . . . of the Southern Section true firs, pines and spruce, there were ly on noxious weeds and pests and the walnut, chestnut and Sequoia. Not only trouble they cause growers. He offered by Nancy Roatcap that, Fred Frank can tell you what year up some solutions and warned against www.nancysranch.com he planted each tree. using glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) too It was a great meeting and you heavily and often, as some common tions and then a break found everyone should be sorry if you missed it. (smiley weeds have developed resistance to catching up with friends and scarfing face here). The weather was perfect it. Rusty gave us a glimpse of eradica- the fruit plate and donuts put out by and we had a nice shady new barn roof tion efforts against alien weeds likely to our hosts, Craig and Auraly Dobbs and to sit under, built, by the way, with tim- cause harm to growers and ranchers. their children. ber harvested and milled from Hidden Participants had plenty of ques- Next we heard from millennial Oliv- Springs tree farm.

GIFT SHOP (Cont’d from page 8)

Tree Fresh Certification Program CCTA Tree Fresh program train- ing is offered at our Annual Meeting or Trade Show each year. This program is also now available to complete in the comfort of your own home by request- ing the training packet. After finishing this course and pass- ing a no-stress test, you will be certified as a Tree Fresh Professional and have the tools to get the media’s and cus- tomers’ attention. The cost of this Pro- gram is only $10 to cover material and Jeri’s recipe for success: lots of variety in an appealing setting. your Certificate. Please call the CCTA Office at 209- You will benefit from the variety as well you as to what’s selling best in your 669-6668 if you would like to partici- as quantity discounts per item. There area. Shopping homework is always pate in this Program and become Tree are also area representatives who work good. Get around and see what others Fresh Certified. If your Choose & Cut for distribution companies who handle have, this will help you establish how farm or your Retail Lot is listed on our several different small companies, and you can make your shop unique. Website, we will place our eye-catch- they will usually come to you. Build- More and more importantly today ing ‘Stamp’ next to your listing. We also ing a rapport with a rep can benefit you is that “one-stop shop “ for customers. have a membership sign available for in many ways as they get to know you Offering christmas gifts while shopping $25 with this same stamp that let’s your and your shop, allowing them to help for that Real Christmas Tree, it’s a no customers know you are a member of you select the best items and educate brainer. CCTA and are Tree Fresh Certified.

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 12 CCTA Signs Available A variety of CCTA signs are always available through the CCTA Main Of- fice. Call (209) 669-6668 or email: Cal- [email protected]. • Membership sign - metal - $25 (must be Tree Fresh Certified) • Help Me I’m Thirsty - metal - $30 • Hats with logo - $15 NEW LOWER PRICE: • Tree Fresh Certified - plastic - $5 size: 32” x 48” • Breathe Deeply - plastic - $5 size: 32” x 48”

invested more than $1.6 billion in forest period of time each year. The applica- research activities. tion period typically opens early August, The Sustainable Forestry Initiative and applications are accepted through (SFI Inc.) accepts proposals for the SFI early October. Conservation and Community Partner- For more information: https://www. ships Grant Program during a limited sfiprogram.org/communitygrants/

The SFI Conservation and Com- Free Program Teaches Children about Nature munity Partnerships Grant Program fosters partnerships between organi- Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an Planting trees around your home zations interested in improving forest award-winning environmental educa- brings environmental benefits such as management in the United States and tion program, an offshoot from the Sus- temperature reduction and energy con- Canada, and responsible procure- tainable Forestry Initiative using trees servation. Use an online tool to identify ment globally. Projects address topics and forests as a launching pad for un- the best tree species for your location of current importance such as improv- derstanding complex environmental is- based on the level of benefits it pro- ing wildlife habitat management and sues. vides. conservation of biodiversity, avoiding Take a look at PLT’s latest activi- 4. Reduce Your Utility Costs: Cre- controversial sources of fiber such as ties for families. They incorporate free ate a quick sketch of your yard and those resulting from illegal logging, and smart phone apps and free i-Tree on- upload it to a design tool that recom- assisting local communities through line tools developed by the U.S. Forest mends the best spots for planting for forest education programs and green Service and its partners. energy savings. building projects for low-income fami- 1. Name That Tree: Use a smart phone Visit PLT for more family learning lies. app to take a photo of a leaf, identify its activities,. with more than 40 fun, easy- The grant program builds on the species, and learn about its common to-do activities to choose from that can fact that SFI is the only forest certifi- uses, products and benefits. be done simply by investigating your cation standard in North America that 2. What’s the Value of That Tree?: own backyard, exploring a nearby park, requires participants to support and en- Determine the monetary value of a giv- or taking a walk down your city street, gage in research activities to improve en tree with an online calculator. Crite- as well as some others to try while on a forest health, productivity and sustain- ria include the value of the carbon diox- walk in the forest. able management of forest resources, ide the tree stores, the rain it intercepts and the environmental benefits and to reduce flooding, the air pollution it To learn more about SFI, sustainable performance of forest products. Since absorbs, and the energy it saves. forestry, and youth education opportu- 1995, SFI program participants have 3. What Tree Should I Plant?: nities, visit http://www.sfiprogram.org/. 13 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 CCTA Annual Tree & Wreath Contest It’s not too early to start picking out your best tree to enter in the Annual Tree & Wreath Contest. There’s prob- ably no better way to get free publicity for your farm than by having a photo of yourself standing next to your winning tree or wreath posted online. Rules available at CCTA website.

CCTA Website Corrections Needed Please check the CCTA website to make sure your farm info is correct. Un- fortunately, therte have been problems due to illegibility of some entries. Ifyou Bramble Hill Tree Farm For Sale find any mistakes, please email the cor- After 32 years we are selling the farm. Our hope is to find a family to rect information to info@cachristmas. carry on the Christmas Tree Farm tradition that has blessed our family and com . our faithful customers. If you know anyone who may be interested in our If you are a current member and farm, please have them give us a call. have’t received your member password 7 Acres - Located in Columbia, CA contact Sam Minturn to receive a new Owners: Rick & Mary Ulvevadet • 209/532-5629 one.

TREE GENETICS break open, causing the tree to release designer trees—for super fragrance, (Cont’d from page 2) its needles. So his team scraped those or bioluminescence, say—have never cells out of hundreds of branches, at really gotten off the ground. And even we’re looking at to see if they are being 10, 20 and 30 days post-harvest. Then with new work into conifer genetics, up or downregulated,” says Wegrzyn. they froze the tissue in liquid nitrogen there’s still not enough knowledge to “Now we’re connecting them together, and sent them off to North Carolina to make the trees good candidates for to- to see how they form different networks be extracted for RNA sequencing. day’s newer gene editing technologies. and pathways of gene expression. Each sample is like a snapshot of “The potential for genetic improvement Which is not super easy for conifers.” all the genes being turned on and off in these species is huge,” says Chast- That’s because the conifer genome as needles are lost. Chastagner’s col- agner. “But the reality is that the ap- is not just enormous—20 billion base leagues at NCSU sent in samples taken plication of those improvements using pairs compared to your 3 billion—but from the roots of trees, to see how gene genetic engineering will be hampered also pretty weird. At some point in their expression in different trees changed by their complexity—that just slows deep past, spruces, pines, firs, and in response to fungal infections. They everything down.” their relatives acquired a complete sec- ae ultimitely looking for a molecular bi- ond set of genes. Scientists think this omarker for needle retention. So that genome-wide duplication likely helped Christmas tree growers can separate shape these species into the tallest, the strong, stoic ones from the rest of hardiest plants in the world. But it’s also the pack much sooner. It takes a year made sequencing them an incredibly or two to grow a viable seedling in a daunting challenge. And unlike corn nursery and another six to eight before and soybean, there hasn’t been much you can tell if it’s a good one—that is, money available to even try. So far sci- if it survives the rampant root rot. With entists have managed to put together biomarkers, growers could test much partial DNA blueprints for only a hand- earlier, only planting trees that will keep ful of conifers, not including the most their needles post-harvest. And it could popular Christmas tree species. help breeders cross in resistance traits Chastagner’s research has taken from more exotic species to more tradi- him to look at what’s going on in a spe- tional American ones. cial layer of cells, right where the nee- This doesn’t mean Christmas trees Gary Chastagner was a recipient of the dle meets the branch. Gene expression are going GMHo-ho-ho anytime soon, NCTA’s Outstanding Service Award for here controls whether or not these cells though. Attempts to genetically engineer his work on genetic research.

The Bulletin • Summer 2019 14 CCTA Calendar of Events NCTA Convention • Dixon City, Pennsylvania NCTA board meeting 8/8/2019 • Tree and Wreath Contest 8/9/2019 Tree and Wreath contest will be held at Roba Family Farm, North Abington Township, PA Hotel reservations can be made by calling 570 307-4437 Note: the winner of the Tree contest will have the honor of providing the White House with the National Tree this Christmas.

CCTA Trade Show & Tree Contest • North Monterey County CCTA board meeting 9/13/2019 • Tree and Wreath Contest 9/14/2019 Tour of Church Christmas Tree Farms 470 and 385 Hidden Valley Road, Royal Oaks, California 95076

NCTA Meeting to be Held at Popular Family Farm the weekends in December for retail Christmas tree sales since 2007. The John Roba dreamed of someday tivities and is a major destination for Scott Township farm is also the location owning a Christmas tree farm. In 1984, locals as well as out of state visitors. of Lakeland Orchard & Cidery, which John found the perfect piece of land to But don’t worry, the Roba family opened in the Fall of 2013 for ‘Pick make his dream a reality when he pur- hasn’t forgotten about what originally Your Own’ apples and has most re- chased a 52-acre dairy farm in North brought them to the business. In 1999, cently added a carousel and ‘Pick Your Abington Township, a few miles north they bought a 196 acre farm in Scott Own’ sunflowers and zinnias. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The first Today, Roba’s is spread out over Christmas trees were planted in 1985, three farms and grows over 100 acres of and the farm opened for “choose and trees, including evergreens, and shade cut” retail sales in December of 1990. and flowering trees, as well as pump- John married Sue in 1988, and kins and other fall specialty crops. The together with their children they built Robas are proud to be a family owned Roba Family Farms into the successful & operated business and are grateful business it is today. Jennifer, Jeff, and to the many visitors who come to Roba Jake not only grew up on the farm but Family Farms to celebrate Fall Harvest also contributed to the growth of the Township, known affectionately as “the fun and Christmas tree traditions. business. As the years have gone on, Lakeland Farm”, where they have been the second generation of Robas are growing Christmas trees ever since. https://www.robafamilyfarms.com/ taking lead roles in the daily operations The Lakeland Farm has been open on christmas-trees of the family business. Both Jennifer and Jeff have active roles in managing the farms, while Jake contributes dur- ing our fall and Christmas seasons on weekends. Jake is a graduate of Du- quesne University and Jeff is a gradu- ate of Bucknell University. Jennifer has two beautiful children, Gabrielle and Johnny, who love to visit the farm! In 1993, Roba Family Farms be- gan selling pumpkins, hoping this “side business” would help promote Christ- mas tree sales. The pumpkin patch quickly became very popular. Much like a pumpkin vine that overtakes an entire home garden, this side operation grew from its three acre beginnings to encompass nearly the entire original 52-acre farm. The original farm is now dominated by fall fun and harvest ac- 15 The Bulletin • Summer 2019 the bulletin SUMMER 2019 CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION No. 239

GUIDE TO ADVERTISERS CCTA Trade Show & Tree Contest KEELSON PARTNERS pg. 7 September 14th, 2019

KIRK COMPANY pg 6 Tour of Church Christmas Tree Farms

RES EQUIPMENT pg. 2

SILVASEED COMPANY pg. 13

TIM MITCHEL’S YULE STAND SYSTEM pg. 11

CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 401 • Hilmar, CA 95324 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Notice: In accordance with the laws governing non-profit organizations, advertising revenue generated by this publication helps to offset the cost of printing and distribution. No profit is realized to California Christmas Tree Association for the advertisements accepted in this magazine.