New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Association January 2018

Special points of interest: Winter Meeting at Vermont Farm Show  The Winter meeting of the  Trading Post NHVTCTA will be held on

WANTED: Tree baler wanted. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Cham- Need a 14-inch round metal plain Valley Fairgrounds in Es- baler. An Internet search does sex Jct., Vermont, in conjunc- not show any currently manu- tion with the Vermont Farm factured. Do not want a hex- Show. Also, don’t forget to agonal fiberglas unit. My welder bring a tree and/or wreath works fine, so one in need of to enter in the Vermont repair is OK. Contact Russell Farm Show competition. It Reay, [email protected] is good exposure for the indus- or call 802-492-3323. try as a whole and a good mar- keting opportunity for individ- ual farms!  Upcoming Meetings The agenda includes the The Summer 2018 meeting will be annual group discussion of the at the NH State Nursery in past sales season for choose- Boscawen on Saturday, June 23. and-cut, retail and wholesale. afternoon session will include a

The Vermont Secretary of talk about the ins and outs of

Agriculture had hoped to join farm insurance from Kevin

us but a scheduling conflict Bourdon with Co-operative In- Inside this issue: means he won’t be there. So we surance. will begin with a presentation We will conclude by cover- Winter Meeting Preview 1 by Ann Hazelrigg, director of ing another important business UVM Extension’s Plant Diag- topic: payroll issues, including Trading Post 1 nostic Clinic, on “Diseases and seasonal employees, contractors President’s Message 2 Pests of Christmas Trees.” vs. employees, and how a pay- We will then hear from a repre- roll company can reduce your Association Contact Information 2 sentative at the Christmas liability and simplify things for Tree Promotion Board about you. This presentation will be NHVTCTA News Roundup 3 activities that took place during given by Paul Trahan of Work- Listing Your Business 3 the 2017 season to promote real force Solutions. Christmas trees, as well as Registration for the Phytophthora 4 other topics related to the Pro- meeting is available on-site motion Board. if you have not already sent Christmas Trees in the News 8 After a lunch (stuffed in your registration form. Fair Report 9 chicken breast, tossed salad, Contact Jim Horst at (802) veggies, bread, red pota- 447-0660 with questions or for CTPB in the News 10 toes...and pie for dessert), the more information. PAGE 2 JANUARY 2018 President’s Message As I begin my term as president of the NH- tree farming, I tell them the first thing they VT Association, I’d like to thank should do is to join this association. a few people. It’s been nearly 40 years since I planted my First, thanks to Dan Beloin for his service to first Christmas tree with my father on the small the association through not one but two terms as farm where I grew up. Through middle and high president. He put in much work, and I’m sure school I worked on a number of larger Christmas will continue to do so, especially with his orga- tree farms in southern Vermont. They say that nizing efforts at the Big E. when you don’t know what do to, you should do And thanks also to Tom Lang, who was what you know. So when my wife and I pur- elected to serve as president but put the needs of chased a house with an open field 15 years ago, I the association first and reluctantly stepped talked her into planting Christmas trees. And aside for health reasons. We’re fortunate that the first thing I did was to join this association. Tom has continued serving the association as a Just as the species of Christmas trees has director, and as his friend and neighbor it’s great changed over the years (I remember shearing to see that he’s doing well and still working hard scotch pine and Douglas fir), the marketplace out in his trees. has also changed. Facing down competition from Thanks also to Jim Horst, who really is the artificial trees and harnessing the power of social one who keeps the NHVTCTA organized and media are just some of the issues that I’ll do my rolling along. best to help the association address as we move Finally, thanks to the many members of the forward. association who have willingly shared their ex- I hope to see you at the Winter meeting. pertise and experiences over the years. When Patrick White, someone asks me about getting into Christmas President

New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association

Contact Information 2018 Officers Jim Horst, Executive Secretary 569 Pleasant Valley Road President Patrick White [email protected] Bennington, VT 05201-9637 Past-President Dan Beloin [email protected] Phone: (802) 447-0660 Vice President Jeff Taylor [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Recording Secretary Russell Reay [email protected] Association Web site: www.nh-vtchristmastree.org Exec. Sec./Treas. Jim Horst [email protected] For matters related to Tree Line only: 2018 Directors Patrick White, Editor NHVTCTA Tree Line

18 Merritt Road Andy Aldrich [email protected] Middlesex, VT 05602 Dan Beloin [email protected] Phone: (802) 223-3880 Ben Hoyt [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tom Lang [email protected] Bill Lefebvre [email protected] Copies of the Association bylaws and policies are available to Paul Lemire [email protected] members at any time by contacting the Executive Secretary. Nigel Manley [email protected]

Carl Szych [email protected] 2018 Tree Line Publication Schedule Jeff Taylor [email protected] Issue Ad/Submission Deadline Bill Tester [email protected] January — Bob White [email protected] June June 1 Patrick White [email protected] September Sept. 7 JANUARY 2018 PAGE 3 206 NCTA Membership Structure NHVTCTA News Roundup List Your Business Meeting Help Needed In Remembrance According to VerticalResponse.com, If you’d be interested in helping Phyllis (Carle) Ahrens, 87, of these are the 7 listings that every plan NHVTCTA meetings, please Simsbury, Conn., passed away on business should claim: email Patrick White pwhitevt@ October 9, 2017, while enjoying a aol.com. We’re looking for some- visit with family in California. Google My Business: Follow in- one to help pick topics, find Phyl was a wonderfully suppor- structions at Google.com/business speakers, coordinate with host tive wife to the late Dr. John F. Facebook for Business: Start at farms, etc. You’d have plenty of Ahrens for nearly 60 years, a de- https://www.facebook.com/business/ help, but we need someone to voted mother, mother-in-law, overview help lead the effort. grandmother, and great- We’re also open to new topics to grandmother, and a kindhearted, Yelp for Business: Start at https:// cover at meetings. If there’s witty, and faithful friend. biz.yelp.com/signup_business something about growing Christ- She and her late husband Yellow Pages: Go to My- mas trees that you’d like to learn John stayed busy traveling back FreeYP.com more about, chances are others and forth between their Christ- would like to learn more too, so mas tree farms in Connecticut Yahoo Local: Begin at https:// let us know what subjects you’d and in Northern Vermont. She smallbusiness.yahoo.com/local-listings like to see at meetings. If you’re loved knitting and creating hand- willing to host a Summer or Fall crafts for others. Donations may Bing Places for Business: Visit meeting, or you have a topic idea, be made to Old Saint Andrew’s https://www.bingplaces.com/ contact Patrick White, Episcopal Church in Simsbury, Forsquare for Business: https:// [email protected] Conn., in her memory. foursquare.com/venue/claim

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PAGE 4 JANUARY 2018 Phytophthora and Christmas Tree Planting Trends The following is excerpted gion, originating from Southeast well-drained, nutritive soils, un- from an article by Martin Pet- Asia, where it was first described der optimal temperature), and tersson, John Frampton and Jill from cinnamon plants in Suma- therefore may be less prone to Sidebottom that appeared in the tra (Zentmyer 1988). It is be- display disease symptoms, espe- Spring 2017 issue of Tree Plant- lieved to have been brought into cially when dormant. Further- ers’ Notes, published by the U.S. the United States through south- more, fungicides do not always Forest Service. The article can be ern ports during the 1800s or kill Phytophthora species, so read in its entirety online. While earlier on exotic plants destined that diseased plants are often it reports on Fraser fir cultiva- for gardens of antebellum es- not recognized until they have tion and how Phytophthora root tates. been lifted and planted in the rot has influenced planting prac- Phytophthora root rot affects field. tices in North Carolina and sur- all sizes and ages of Fraser fir. Two investigations of the rounding states, much of the in- Symptoms include flagging of incidence of Phytophthora root formation should also be of inter- lower branches, stem cankers or rot in Fraser fir Christmas tree est to growers in the Northeast. cambial lesions with distinct bor- plantations in North Carolina

ders, foliar chlorosis, reddening suggest that this disease is com- The Southern Appalachian or browning of needles, dimin- mon in the region. The first Mountains are home to the at- ished growth, and wilting of new study was conducted in 1972 and tractive Fraser fir that began to growth, as well as darkened, average disease incidence due to be cultivated for Christmas trees sloughing, and necrotic roots. P. cinnamomi in 14 Fraser fir in the 1950s. Since the 1960s, Dying roots and girdling stem plantations in 5 counties in west- however, Phytophthora root rot infections result in decreased ern North Carolina was reported has been a problem for Christ- water and nutrient translocation to be 9.6 percent (range = <1 to mas tree production in this re- and often lead to a weakened 90 percent). In a more recent gion. tree and eventual death. study, conducted in 1997 and Even though most growers Phytophthora species can 1998, the average disease inci- have shifted from using locally rapidly spread in saturated and dence was similar (9 percent; produced bareroot seedlings to waterlogged soils or by splashing range = 0 to 75 percent) in 58 out-of-state-grown planting rain, subsurface water flow, and Fraser fir plantations sampled in stock, Phytophthora root rot con- run-off water. Heavy rains and the same 5 western North Caro- tinues to have a major impact on flooding conditions accelerate lina counties. As in the earlier Fraser fir plantations, and new the spread. In addition to water survey, all isolates from the field Phytophthora species have re- movement, Phytophthora species sites were identified as P. cinna- cently been found on Fraser fir. can be introduced into new fields momi, except for one isolate of by infected planting stock, con- an unidentified Phytophthora Emergence and Spread of taminated agricultural tools, ve- species. In the more recent Phytophthora Root Rot hicle tires, field workers’ shoes, study, nursery transplant beds As Fraser fir planting in the re- and animals. In nurseries, Phy- were also sampled and had a gion expanded during the 1960s tophthora species can infect all mean disease incidence of 2 per- and 1970s, growers began to rec- plants if the irrigation water is cent (range = 0 to 12 percent). In ognize a number of disease and taken from contaminated addition to P. cinnamomi, P. cac- insect problems. Particularly streams or surface water and not torum Schröeter, P. dreschleri challenging was Phytophthora sterilized or filtered prior to use. Tucker, and an unidentified Phy- root rot, a disease first reported Irrigation and rain can splash tophthora species were found on on Fraser fir in 1963 on nursery contaminated soil from one in- Fraser fir seedlings sampled in seedlings in Penrose, N.C. fected seedling onto surrounding the nursery transplant beds. Phytophthora are fungus- seedlings, which may also be- In 2014, another study con- like organisms belonging to the come infected. In the nursery, ducted across the Southern Ap- class Oomycetes (water molds). seedlings experience optimal palachian region revealed that P. cinnamomi is exotic to the re- conditions (i.e., they grow in the diversity of Phytophthora

JANUARY 2018 PAGE 5 Phytophthora species in Fraser fir Christmas vided to the contracted out-of- mately 18 percent higher than tree plantations had increased. state grower. what was reported in the 2006 Six Phytophthora species were In spring 2015, a survey was North Carolina Christmas Tree isolated from infected roots sam- conducted at five different Pest Management Survey. pled from 82 sites in 13 counties Christmas tree grower meetings On average, 64 percent of all (North Carolina, Tennessee, and in western North Carolina to de- growers surveyed were using Virginia). termine how many growers use out-of-state material, with larger out-of-state Fraser fir seedlings scale growers more likely to do Fraser Fir Planting Stock and for how long they have done so. About 83 percent of the sur- As regional Christmas tree grow- so. A total of 89 growers from 13 veyed growers with more than ers became more knowledgeable counties took the survey. 50 acres of Christmas tree pro- about the distribution and occur- Twenty-two of the growers duction were using out-of-state rence of Phytophthora root rot, had Christmas tree farms in Fraser fir planting stock and 46 they wanted to reduce the risk more than one county, resulting percent of these growers were associated with contaminating in 123 farms from North Caro- purchasing seedlings from more clean fields with diseased plant- lina, Tennessee, and Virginia than one state. The out-of-state ing stock. Growers gradually included in the survey. Of the Fraser fir planting stock was stopped producing their own growers surveyed, approximately bought from Oregon (41.2 per- planting stock or buying from 88 percent reported that they cent), Washington (18.6 percent), local sources and began to im- had Phytophthora root rot caus- Pennsylvania (17.5 percent), port out-of-state sources of plant- ing mortality in their Christmas ing stock. Often seed was pro- tree fields. That is approxi- Continued on page 6 PAGE 6 JANUARY 2018 Phytophthora Continued from page 5 logical and economic damage sanitation practices to prevent when they are introduced to a Phytophthora species spread Michigan (17.5 percent), and new environment. from infested areas via equip- Maine (5.2 percent). Clearly, a Regions from which Fraser ment, vehicles, boots, water variety of locations produce the fir planting stock is imported drainage, and other means. out-of-state material being (the Pacific Northwest, Great Recently, a number of re- planted in the Southern Appala- Lakes, and Northeast) are gional Christmas tree growers chian Mountains. known to have different Phy- have begun greenhouse produc- Of the growers using out-of- tophthora species afflicting fir, tion of containerized Fraser fir state Fraser fir planting stock, including P. cryptogea. seedlings. This movement is in 30 percent perceived an in- Christmas tree growers its infancy and involves much creased incidence of Phy- must be watchful to detect experimentation with cultural tophthora root rot in their fields symptomatic plant material aspects such as media, contain- since they began using out-of- prior to and after planting. ers, lights, irrigation, etc. The state material, 47 percent said Symptomatic seedlings should results have been variable but that the incidence of Phy- be discarded; the cost of planting some attempts are clearly on the tophthora root rot had not stock is inconsequential com- path to achieve economically vi- changed, and 18 percent said pared to the cost of losing Fraser able production systems. These that the incidence had decreased fir production on a site due to efforts are encouraging and may in their plantations. the introduction of Phytophthora provide a route to minimize the Although there is evidence species. Today, suspect plant introduction of additional Phy- that this exotic pathogen had material can be evaluated with tophthora species to the region previously been introduced into easy-to-use kits designed for while also providing local in- the region, undoubtedly the in- rapid field-diagnosis of Phy- come and reducing the cost of dustry has contributed to its tophthora species. The North planting stock. spread, especially through the Carolina State University Coop- P. cinnamomi. movement of infested plant ma- erative Extension Service has There is a need to evaluate terial. Once infested, land re- been training regional Christ- the resistance of alternative mains unsuitable for Fraser fir mas tree growers on how to use Christmas tree species to the cultivation indefinitely. As these kits. Symptomatic seed- newly found Phytophthora spe- Christmas tree growers under- lings may also be sent to a plant cies, as well as to develop Phy- stood the problem, they shifted disease clinic for further verifi- tophthora-resistant Fraser, ei- toward importing out-of-state cation and possible Phy- ther via genetic engineering or a material to reduce the risk of tophthora species identification. hybridization and backcross pro- contaminating sites with Phy- Growers must also employ good gram. tophthora species. Despite pur- suing this strategy, Phy- tophthora root rot remains a menace to the regional Fraser fir industry. Of particular concern is the increased risk of introducing new Phytophthora species via importation of seedlings from nurseries where containerized plants have been transplanted into outdoor beds. Most Phy- tophthora species are harmful plant pathogens that can cause serious and unpredictable, eco-

PAGE 8 JANUARY 2018 Christmas Trees in the News There was plenty of national growers, in western North Caro- ington states, although those in news coverage this past season lina — one of the main produc- Michigan and North Carolina on “The Shortage of Christmas ers” of trees, Bauerlein says. have felt it, too. Trees.” “You’re also seeing fewer Says Tim O’Connor, the ex- An article in the Wall Street growers and [less] acreage in ecutive director of the National Journal helped kick-start addi- Oregon, which is the biggest Christmas Tree Association: tional coverage across the coun- producer; they account for about “Prices fell off the roof and try. NPR, for example, reported 30 percent of the market.” A lot growers were losing money, so that: of growers in Oregon are turn- they didn’t have the incentive — If you usually ring in the ing to grapes for wine and, a and in some cases they didn’t holiday with a freshly cut ever- smaller number, to cannabis have the equity — to invest in green, your reality this Christ- amid the booming marijuana planting seedlings.” mas could very well be a industry, she says. Now it has been another 10 scrawny Charlie Brown tree in- The cost of a Christmas tree years since too-few trees were stead — or you may wind up has more than doubled since planted, and both buyers and paying more for a lush Fraser 2008, according to data from the retailers are feeling the squeeze. fir. National Christmas Tree Asso- There just aren’t enough trees to This year, there is a tree ciation; last year, the average go around, and those that are shortage. Most growers blame retail value for a fresh-cut tree available are marked up signifi- the tightened supply on the was $74.70. cantly. Great Recession, says Valerie The challenge is felt most Bauerlein, who covered the story TreeHugger.com reported that acutely by small-scale, inde- for The Wall Street Journal. the tree shortage may last for a pendent nurseries and vendors, A decade ago, “we were in a long time: which do not have the large con- global economic malaise,” Bau- If you had difficulty finding tracts with Christmas tree farms erlein tells NPR’s Michel Mar- a Christmas tree this year, or that big box stores, such as tin. “And Christmas tree grow- had to pay through the nose in Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, ers couldn’t sell the trees that order to obtain one, you’re not and Costco, hash out years in they had cut, and for the price alone. A widespread Christmas advance. Those big businesses that they had in them, so then tree shortage is afflicting the are the first to receive their set they planted less.” United States, particularly in numbers of trees, whereas the Christmas trees, as magical the Pacific Northwest, where smaller businesses are forced to as they might seem, are still an tree growers are short about 1.5 shop around and increase agricultural crop. “Trees grow million trees this year and un- prices. about a foot a year,” Bauerlein able to meet demand. says. “So eight, 10 years later, An article in The Atlantic Some stories also looked at the there’s a shortage. There's more explains what’s going on. The declining number of tree farms. demand [now] because the econ- problem can be traced back to WOSU in Ohio, for instance, omy's prospering. And there are 20 years ago, when “overzealous reported on one farm that is fewer trees to meet that de- planting” led to a bumper crop closing, Dale Tree Farm, as an mand.” The total acreage in pro- of fir trees ready to be harvested example of the larger issue: duction has dropped at least 30 in the mid-2000s. But that What’s happening at Dale percent since the early 2000s, turned out to be the Great Reces- Tree Farm is playing out she says. sion, when many Americans around the state. The Ohio There is also been a move- were tightening their purse Christmas Tree Association re- ment of growers exiting the busi- strings and not in the market for ports about 160 growers exist ness. In recent years, “you also live Christmas trees. The results today in the state—that’s down saw a lot of dropout of growers were catastrophic for tree- 20 percent, or 40 growers, from themselves, especially smaller growers in Oregon and Wash- a decade ago. JANUARY 2018 PAGE 9 Fair Report

Rich and Stephanie Rockwood at Bethel, VT Redrock Farm for sending along Second place this report about the Christmas Fraser: Redrock tree and wreath competition at Farm, Chelsea, VT the Tunbridge World’s Fair. Best of “other”

categories: white

There were a total of 12 regular spruce from Red- Christmas trees and 2 tabletops, rock Farm, Chelsea plus many wreaths—a very nice Second place display for a relatively small Korean fir: Nichols’s Tree Farm, fair. This included 6 balsams, 4 Orford, NH Frasers, 1 Korean, 1 white Blue ribbon spruce, and the winning wreath Tabletop tree: was made from Korean fir cut- Redrock Farm, tings (we think). The winners Chelsea, VT Single-sided, decorated: Werner Tree included: Second place Tabletop tree: Farm Werner Tree Farm, Middlebury, VT Double-sided non-decorated: Nichols Grand champion tree: balsam fir, Grand champion wreath: Double- Tree Farm Werner Tree Farm, Middlebury, VT sided, decorated from Nichols Tree Other participants: Gilbert Tree Farm, Second place balsam: Bunny Acres, Farm, Orford NH Williamstown, VT and Michael Wal- Bethel, VT Blue ribbon wreaths: Single-sided, bridge from Johnson’s Christmas Trees

Blue ribbon Fraser fir: Bunny Acres, non decorated: Werner Tree Farm in Concord, VT.

PAGE 10 JANUARY 2018 Christmas Tree Promotion Board in the News A Dec. 21, 2017, article on tional strategy that some may Christmas tree industry support capitalpress.com (excerpts be- find confusing or unfamiliar. the checkoff and are excited to low, the extensive article can be The answer will be provided see their crop promoted, said found online in its entirety), dis- next year, when Christmas tree Tim O’Connor, the board’s execu- cusses the future of the Christ- farmers across the U.S. will vote tive director. Regardless of the mas Tree Promotion Board: whether to retain the program. potential generational disconnect The board was launched by Despite his apathy toward social over social media, some growers USDA in 2015 at the request of media, Schaefer said he recog- object to the checkoff for philoso- farmers who wanted to raise nizes the program’s value be- phical reasons. funds for industry promotions cause the Millennial generation Robert Brown, a Christmas and research…. Unlike the — people born between 1978 and tree grower in New York, said young consumers who are tar- 1998 — consumes information he’s comfortable with promoting geted by its promotional cam- differently. his own business over social me- paigns, some farmers who pay “They don’t read newspapers dia but doesn’t like the idea of a for the program are indifferent to or watch TV,” he said. mandatory program. social media. This year, the Retailers have told Schaefer Farmers who support the board invested $1.1 million in the promotional campaign is ef- program see such arguments as promotions. “All these social me- fective, which is important if real short-sighted. Promoting the dia things they’re doing, I don’t Christmas trees are to remain a Christmas tree industry as a have a clue,” said Bob Schaefer, viable retail item, he said. “If whole — rather than farmers manager of Noble Mountain Tree they can’t sell the trees, it’s going promoting themselves individu- Farm near Salem, Ore. to trickle down to the farmer,” ally — is necessary to keep the The question is whether Schaefer said. crop relevant in consumers’ farmers will be supportive of Generally, it appears that minds, according to checkoff continuing to pay for a promo- farmers who are part of the supporters.