Oregon's Christmas tree industry faces climate threats

State of play: Oregon Christmas tree farms produced about 3.2–3.4 million trees in 2023, most of which are usually harvested at 6–7 feet tall, meaning they were planted about six to seven years earlier.

Zoom in: Priya Rajarapu, a Christmas tree expert with Oregon State University's Extension Service, works with those growers to keep their trees healthy as extreme weather becomes more common.

• "If you're sick, you call a doctor," she said in a statement. "If you're a Christmas tree grower who has a sick tree, you call me."
• Her team is testing alternative mulches to see which ones better protect seedlings in their vulnerable first year.
• They're also studying genetics and management strategies that could help trees survive events like the 2020 Labor Day fires and the 2021 heat dome.

Between the lines: Part of the resilience strategy is diversifying beyond Oregon's traditional favorites.

• Species like Nordmann and Turkish fir, native to the country of Georgia and neighboring Turkey, can better tolerate drought and pests and keep their needles longer after harvest.

The bottom line: Rajarapu said adaptation will be key to Oregon keeping it's Christmas tree industry healthy.

• "When you buy a real tree, you're supporting a local business," she said. "And it just smells and feels like Christmas."