Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland i Christmas Tree Growing in Ireland A sectoral report outlining the opportunities and problems SECTORAL COMMITTEE Dr. Conor O'Reilly Mr. David Hasslacher Mr.William Murphy Mr. Eugene Hendrick Mr. Declan Ward Mr. John Sheridan (Co-ordinator) Dr. Denis Kelleher Professor John Gardiner (Chairman) Thanks are due to Ms. Patricia Lynch of COFORD for her work in arranging the document for publication ISBN: 0 9523938 3 2 © COFORD 1997 All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means with prior permission of the publishers. Designed at Language ii Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland Contents Page Foreword iii 1. Introduction 1 2. Silviculture 2 3. Harvesting and Transport 10 4. Marketing of Christmas Trees 11 5. Decorative Foliage Production 13 6. Priority Research Needs of the Sector 14 7. Organisation of Research Funding 15 Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland iii Foreword “The walls and ceilings were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove, from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Decorating homesteads at Christmas time has been associated as much with the celebration of mid-winter and the need to brighten up lives at a particularly dull time of year as it is with the celebration of the birth of the founder of Christianity. Indeed it probably predates Christianity.Within the Irish tradition, the use of evergreen trees in this exercise added a new dimension. The introduction of the Christmas tree into Britain is attributed to the German born prince consort of England, Prince Albert who, in the early 1840s introduced the practice of bringing evergreen trees into households as decoration for the Christmas period. In Ireland this practice did not become widespread until the 1940s. At that time the rough top offcut of Norway spruce thinnings was the usual source of Christmas trees. As the practice became more widespread, the use of Norway spruce tops declined and purpose grown Norway spruce became the norm. Land beneath power lines subsequently became the favoured location for Christmas tree growing. The more wide-spread use of home central heating and the propensity of spruce to shed its needles, led to a move towards fir and pine. Today, the production of purpose grown fir and pine Christmas trees is an important new enterprise. As in all other enterprises, quality and price are key factors in commercial success. Irish Christmas tree production will increasingly depend upon the export market where the extra dimension of reliability will determine economic sustainability. This report is a consensus document. It is one of shared ownership between the Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association and COFORD, and outlines the main information gaps that require filling if the success of the enterprise is to be maintained. It is also a framework programme for Christmas tree research that will address these gaps. A clear manifestation of co-operation between research and industry, it is also an example of their interdependence, where commitment is twinned with focus. I would like to thank the Christmas Tree Growers Association and each individual member of the working party for their diligence and co-operation in the production of this report. I hope that it will be the means of market expansion. The work of the chairman, Professor J. Gardiner, Professor of Forestry at University College, Dublin and member of the council of COFORD is particularly appreciated. We look forwa r d to the commencement of a programme of res e a r ch and innovation that this document heralds. May it contribute to the viability of this particular forest based industry and the joy that Christmas brings. Fergal Mulloy Director COFORD April 1997 1 Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland Christmas Tree Growing in Ireland The Opportunities and Problems In recent years a range of spruces, pines and firs have 1993/4 collated these estimates and it is probable that the become available as Christmas trees, but undoubtedly the area of noble fir currently in existence is in the region of most popular species to emerge has been noble fir (Abies 1500 ha. procera REHD). The popularity of noble fir Christmas trees is due to their symmetrical shape, regular branching Since a recent estimate indicates that total production costs and blue green foliage that does not shed indoors. (including cost of land) could be as high as £25,000 per ha, Experience has shown that due to a combination of it is clear that plantations already established represent an favourable soils and climate, Ireland has a comparative investment commitment of over £50 million in the advantage in producing natural looking noble fir Christmas industry. In addition, there are considerable costs in trees. As a result interest in the business of Christmas tree harvesting/transport/marketing and infrastructure production has greatly increased over the past few years. At development. Best estimates of current output indicate a present a number of well-organised groups and a large home market for 350,000 trees in the current year with number of isolated individuals are involved at the growing 100,000 trees exported. This represents a gross market end. Typically, the smaller growers own something in the value of £6.75 million and export earnings of £1.5 million. region of 3 - 4 hectares (ha) of trees. The large groups may No estimate of employment content is available, but using be aligned with a number of growers. They generally have an American figure of one full-time job per 28 ha, the considerable experience of growing and marketing trees employment content could currently be estimated at 60 into established markets. full-time equivalents. It has been estimated that about 1500 ha of Christmas trees The development of the Christmas tree industry in Ireland have been established in Ireland. However, approximately has enormous potential to contribute to rural development three-quarters of this is owned by five major groups and the in the context of an alternative farm enterprise. It is remainder by an estimated 150 growers. The primary significant that, to-date, the industry has developed in a species grown and the age of plantations are as outlined in totally free market situation. Table 1. The Irish Christmas Tree Growers Association in Table 1: Area (ha) of Christmas Trees Grown in Ireland By Species and Age Species ‘95 ‘94 ‘93 ‘92 ‘91 ‘90 ‘89 ‘88 ‘87 Total Noble fir 405 100 100 136 143 134 71 40 19 1148 Norway spruce 13 4 3 3 3 3 5 1 35 Lodgepole pine 1 2 11 23 6 3 - - 46 Nordmann fir 5 4 4 3 5 2 7 - 30 Colorado white fir - 6 3 - - - - - 9 TOTALS 405 119 116 157 172 148 79 52 20 1268 Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland 2 Section Two: Silviculture 2.1 Site • new field provenance trials established in conjunction with Coillte Christmas Tree The general consensus is that noble fir should be planted Farms on farm properties. on deep free-draining mineral soils (similar to that used for growing malting barley) with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. In In general terms the results from the former show that the judging the suitability of new land for growing noble fir, Oregon Coast Range provenances (Laurel Mount, Mary’s one grower insists on opening a number of soil pits to Peak and Grass Mount) are superior to many Cascade permit profile inspection. Sites for noble fir should origins for Christmas tree production. These provenances ideally be gently sloping with good air circulation and free from the general Siletz River Drainage area, although very from frost hollows. For other species, such as Norway different from each other, combine average to very spruce and lodgepole pine, good quality land, that can be vigorous height growth with good tree shape. Their drained effectively and is not exposed, may be suitable. foliage, however, is greener than the one Danish 2.2 Provenance Research provenance tested (Overguard). This latter is clearly superior in colour and is recommended for glaucous blue Provenance is undoubtedly one of the key factors in Christmas trees and/or foliage production. Other growing good quality Christmas trees or producing provenances from the Siletz River Drainage area which foliage. Most of the seed used in Irish nurseries to may be worth testing include those from the Riley/Fanno produce Christmas tree plants is imported through Coillte area and Cascade provenances such as Mount Defiance Nurseries. All of the material is of certified origin and the and McKinley Lake. In discussing provenance the certificate is issued to nursery managers on purchase. The following potential problems emerge: issues for most small scale growers would appear to be that they are not aware of the importance of seed origin • the wild sources of noble fir in the Pacific or provenance and, they are not asking nursery managers Northwest may be coming under threat for specific origins. At present, most of the noble fir seed from several fronts, comes from one of few major sources: • the Danish industry may be reluctant to continue to supply a valuable resource to a • collected seed from the Pacific North West major market competitor. (generally wild stands), •Danish sources - the result of many years Arising from these is the recognition that considerable of selection, genetic potential already exists in noble fir stands in •Irish, home collected seed from selected Ireland and the need to safeguard and develop this stands - all from the above provenances potential as a seed source.