By Susan Collins-Smith
MSU Extension Service

Mississippians who want to deck their holiday halls with a locally grown Christmas tree will have no problem finding one.

Although weather conditions have tested the state’s growers over the last two years, tree inventory is strong.

“There will be trees to choose from. There won’t be as many to choose from as in years past, but there will be a good variety,” said Mike Buchart, executive secretary of the Southern Christmas Tree Association, which represents tree growers in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Weather has challenged the state’s farmers over the last two years with two significant freeze events and two years of drought conditions.

“Drought has been a real issue for anyone without irrigation,” said Jeff Wilson, horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “Our weather conditions have caused some trees to need an extra year to be sellable.”

Many farmers lost young trees and had other trees damaged or stunted. Those impacts reduced immediate and future inventory for several growers last year.

“Growers have faced challenges in the last couple of years with some serious freezes and droughts in many areas,” Buchart said. “Those events have had some dramatic effects because of the double whammy. Younger trees are suffering, but there were less than 5% of trees across the board that died.”

Brittany Anderson, co-owner of Talson Farms in Laurel, said their family-owned farm has gotten past the setbacks from these weather events.

“Last year was our worst year, but we’ve finally gotten over the hump of it affecting our larger marketable trees,” said Anderson, who began selling trees in 2019. “We did lose some small trees, but we’ve been working on getting our babies established. We’ve set a new policy of planting extra trees.”

2023 drought conditions, which ranged from severe to exceptional across the state, spurred many growers to consider installing irrigation, especially for younger trees, which suffer the most during drought conditions.

“There are several different kinds of mobile systems, including roll-out tape, that can help get moisture to the trees and keep it there,” Buchart said.

Growers did not face any insect or disease problems outside the typical issues they address on a preventive basis each year.

Sales are good, and the market is strong.

“Growers are planting a few more trees to help make up for the losses over the last few years,” Buchart said. “The Christmas tree business is strong even with the challenges we’ve faced over the last few years. Our growers are exceptional. They are out there working hard and doing what it takes to make their businesses thrive.”

Growers sell out of trees, not because they run out, but because they sell only a certain segment of their inventory each year.

“The demand for locally grown trees has increased, and growers only sell a certain number of trees each year,” he said. “They want to make sure they are selling their best trees, and they aren’t going to sell a tree this year that needs another year to be its best.”

Most growers will sell out by the second week of Thanksgiving, and some sell out on Thanksgiving weekend. Some farms offer pre-tagging for customers who cannot make it to the farm during prime selection time. This preselection process allows families to choose the tree they want and return later to cut it down and take it home.

Business hours vary for all tree farms, and not all farms offer pre-tagging. Call to confirm when farms are open and ask if and when they offer pre-tagging.

The average cost for locally grown trees varies. For growers who charge per foot, trees will start around $10 per foot and go up based on height. Some growers charge by the tree.

“For the price you are guaranteed an experience like none other and a fresh tree,” said Buchart, noting that selecting a Christmas tree at tree farms has become a tradition for many families. “Several Christmas tree farms offer other activities and retail opportunities, such as seasonal events, food, gift shops and fire pit bookings.”

Cedar Hill Farm in Hernando has expanded their operation over the years. Since opening in 1996 with a pumpkin patch and petting zoo, the family-owned farm has grown to include a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm. They also host activities and events every season of the year, including brunch and dinner with Santa, a Christmas light display and an Easter egg hunt in the spring.

“Our brunch and dinner with Santa are really popular,” said Alison Hawkins, a Cedar Hill Farm employee. “We’ve only been doing the Christmas light display the last couple of years, but it is also something people enjoy.”

The farm also offers educational field trips for school groups and hosts private events for companies and other large groups.

“Over the last several years, it has been easier to have an agritourism business because of laws formulated by our state commissioners of agriculture,” Buchart said. “These farms have an opportunity to make a living throughout the year if that is what they want to do.

“All of these operations, whether they just grow and sell Christmas trees or offer more activities and amenities, are ambassadors of agriculture and the farming community. They offer an opportunity to people who don’t farm or know anything about farming to understand agriculture.”

To find a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm, visit the Southern Christmas Tree Association website at http://www.southernchristmastrees.org or the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce at https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/website/AgTourism/Venues.