Released February 10, 2009
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma-grown Christmas tree sales have been sliding for years, but things are looking up after a successful 2008 season.
While there is annual variation in state Christmas tree sales, members of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association (OCTA) reported sales of 8,680 trees in 2008 compared to 6,714 in 2007.
Oklahoma-grown Christmas tree sales were at their peak in the mid-1990s with an all-time high of more than 21,000 trees sold in 1995. Annual sales figures are based on information provided by Craig McKinley, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension forestry specialist.
The decline in sales can partly be attributed to the lack of Christmas tree growers in the state.
“We have a number of growers who used to be in the business that just aren’t anymore,” McKinley said. “Quite a few of them are reaching the age that they just don’t want to work with it anymore.”
McKinley, who puts together the sales report for the OCTA, indicated that there were 64 growers in the state in 1995, compared to 20 in 2008 who reported selling trees during the past Christmas season.
To encourage landowners to consider growing Christmas trees, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has provided a number of educational programs and activities relative to owning and operating a tree farm.
“It’s a viable alternate agriculture enterprise,” McKinley said. “It does provide a secondary income for a lot of people.”
The OCTA also provides assistance for those interested in establishing their own tree farm. An ongoing Web site at http://www.okchristmastrees.com offers information on which species of trees will grow best in Oklahoma, how to get started and contact information for questions and comments. In addition, marketing flyers are distributed to each OSU Cooperative Extension county office before the selling season.
The OCTA also holds two meetings each year and is co-hosting a regional meeting for Oklahoma and surrounding states in 2010. In 2007, the OCES provided three workshops for new and existing Christmas tree farmers. A similar workshop was also presented in 2008.
“We had really good success with these workshops,” McKinley said. “We covered topics ranging from species selection to insects, diseases, marketing and taxes. We were basically attempting to provide a brief introduction to the Christmas tree industry and what it takes to become a grower.”
Response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. A similar workshop is planned for 2009.
“We’re trying to make use of the land and the climate, which are resources,” McKinley said. “There is an economic impact. It’s not huge in the overall scheme of agriculture, but it can make a difference.”
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Contact: Sean Hubbard, 405-744-4490, sean.hubbard@okstate.edu
