Christmas Tree Farming 102: The Growing Years

Transcription

1 Christmas Tree Farming 102: The Growing Years

2 Class Overview Years 3 to harvest Weed Control Cultivation Trimming Marketing Pre-Harvest Prep

3 Weed Control Best to start a program when trees are young Less resource competition for trees Easier to harvest Does not give harbor to unwanted rodents/pests

4 Weed Control Know what you are trying to control Each weed has a specific chemical to kill or control it Some chemicals are very broad, others very specific Do not over spray Read your product labels Rotate every 2 to 3 years

5 Weed Control Early season and general control mixes (spray before bud break) Glysophate (Roundup) & Westar Valpar & Goal XL Thistle Stinger or Transline. Spray after ½ grown and before flowering

6 Weed Control Bracken Fern Asulox. Spray in Late July to Early August Blackberry Triclopyr. Spray post berries in early fall Garlon or Element

7 Site Categories: Agriculture and Forestry Pesticide Use Reporting Worksheet - Do Not Mail of FAX This Worksheet to ODA All reports must be submitted electronicly - Business or Individual Name: Date of Use Specific Site (Crop) Location: TRS or GPS Product Brand Name Product EPA Reg. No. or SLN, Section 18, or EUP Amount Units Purpose 9/22/2014 Judd Rd Element 3A Triclopyr 1pt/acre Control Blackberry 10/7/2014 Judd Rd Element 3A Triclopyr 1 pt/acre Control Blackberry 10/10/2014 Judd Rd Buckaneer Glysophate 4% Control Blackberry

8 Site Categories: Agriculture and Forestry Date of Use Time of day Approximate for Application acres treated Weather Conditions (Temp, Wind, ect..) Sprayer Tip Application Method & Setup Other Comments Results 9/22/2014 2:00 to 4:00 3 Hot & Sunny Backpack spot treatment Excellent 10/7/ :00 to 1:30 1 Hot & Sunny Backpack spot treatment 10/10/ :00 to 1: Hot & Sunny Backpack spot treatment

9 Pest Control Aphids Lorsban & Movento (pesticide license required) Lacewings Lady Bugs Praying Mantis Aphidoletes

10 Fungal Bravo Spray when new growth is 1 long or before

11 Fertilizer DO NOT over-fertilize! Start to fertilize in year 3 or 4 as needed It is not necessary to apply every year when trees are young. Every other year is fine. Best bang for the buck: starting 2 years prior to harvest Up to 300 lbs/acre should be enough for big trees. Less for smaller trees (100 lbs/acre).

12 Fertilizer Timing Fall, just as rains begin Washes the fertilizer down into the root zone so trees can access it when they start growing Can have a tendency to be diluted or washed too far away Late winter early Spring More traditional timing so more of the product gets to roots

13 Fertilizer Application Mechanical Spin Spreader A more broad approach Spreads over entire field Can get more washed away Can get into lower tree branches and potentially burn Hand Use a 5 gallon bucket or back pack Apply a small amount right near base of tree Best applied around the drip line of tree More product gets right where the tree can access it

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15 Basal Pruning Why do we basal prune? And why now? Better weed control around base Much easier when trees are small Easier to cut at harvest time Easier to install in tree stand Makes a good presentation to buyers

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17 Basal Pruning Do not prune more than 30% of green material USDA guideline is 1-1/4 of handle for each foot of anticipated tree height (7 tree has 8-3/4 handle) Real world = length of your clippers+ Best done in fall/winter so seedling captures that summer s growth

18 Grading Understanding grading helps you grow trees 5 quarters to a tree Top and 4 sides

19 A good top: Grading Has a good straight leader (natural preferred) Has a full complement of branches around the leader

20 Grading Each quarter has a uniform shape to the adjacent side or quarter, and no holes or voids Premium Tree that has 5 perfect quarters #1 Grade Tree with only 1 defect in any of the 5 quarters #2 Grade A tree that has a 2 defects

21 Trimming Tools Get a good pair of clippers Felco #2 or #11 are widely considered the best Ties Buy them by the case and save money Paper (bread type) ties most common Zip ties for extra holding strength Nursery tape for presentation Other

22 Trimming Tools Bamboo or Stakes Bamboo usually purchased in longer bundles and cut to length (approx 16 ) ½ diameter is ideal Wooden stakes usually hand made Cedar or Fir

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24 Trimming Tops Ask 5 people how to do a top and you will get 5 different answers. Some basic tenets: A natural leader is always better than a corrected one A good top has a good whirl Leaders should have lots of buds

25 Trimming Tops

26 Trimming Tops Timing Grands and Nordman half way through growing season (mid-may to June) Nobles and Dougs when done growing (late July- Aug.) Growing Season Top Work (Grands & Nordman) Trim out the double tops Encourage a natural straight top to form PVC Tubes Sucker Stopper (caution) Careful not to damage buds

27 Trimming Tops Post Growing Top Work (Noble & Nordman) Cut out multiple tops Use bamboo stakes to straighten top Twist tie or zip tie to hold in place Trim to proper length Proper length varies by species and preference Look for buds on terminal leader Where is the natural whirl? How many intermediate buds? Art not science

28 Trimming Tops Post Growing Top Work (Dougs & Grands) Use a single twist tie to straighten Use bamboo if necessary A good shearer can single out the top using their shearing knife

29 Trimming Tops Experiment Learn what happens when you do this! Tag and take photos Return the following year and review results Your best teacher is YOU!

30 Shearing Safety First Chaps Heavy leather boots Lots of clearance NO PETS! Knifes Keep them sharp No notches

31 Shearing

32 Shearing Shape Go around tree swinging away from you Uniform line from top to bottom Avoid Who-ville trees A tree that is narrow at the top and bells out toward the bottom Very few people want a fat tree Keep branches tight to trunk Makes going through trees easier More trees on a truck Lighter trees

33 Shearing Consider using clippers Only/Partial? Use clippers for a more open natural tree Only trim longest branches Use clippers on more natural trees like Noble and Nordman Usually done closer to harvest years Safer Takes longer

34 Holes and Voids Fix early! A hole or open spot on a tree is easier to address when the branches are short Correct when problem is first spotted, i.e. that growing year or the previous Often overlooked, but can add tremendous value Take two branches and bring them to the hole and twist tie together Also can use degradable twine or nursery tape Take a lower branch and tie it up against the trunk

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39 Animal Damage

40 Post-Christmas Trimming Remove bamboo in the spring before trees start growing again Never leave the bamboo in over the summer Save the bamboo sticks to re-use next year Take the trash with you; it makes for a cleaner farm If trees were left loose, tighten them up Some trees may be left intentionally loose or given a light shearing to avoid excess blunt ends on branches and make for a more natural tree for potential harvest Re-shear to skinny up the tree and avoid fat trees Fix holes

41 Trimming Contractor How much trimming do you have to do? How much time do you have to do it? How much money will it cost? Hiring a contractor Get references and look at their work Cheapest option is not always the best option Build a long term relationship Everyone has a different style

42 Trimming Contractor Pay by the hour or piece? Piece Basal pruning, shearing Hour Tops, holes, spraying, general labor Get an itemized bill if possible Know what you are paying for

43 Winter Chores Clean up your fields If you harvested at all, you are likely to have some debris in the field Great time to pile brush for burning Clean fields are easier to work in Clean looking fields are more attractive to buyers Clean looking fields tell buyers you care and have a better product to sell

44 Winter Chores Walk fields during wet weather You may have more low lying areas than you think Use cones or flags to identify seasonally wet areas of your field Know you may need to make adjustments in these areas Remove trees, harvest early in cycle, replant with different species

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46 Winter Chores Repair Roads During winter or at harvest, access roads can get damaged Make repairs when weather permits (dry) Do them so they have a chance to freeze/thaw allowing them to harden over

47 Speaking of roads... If you have not thought about roads, it s about time How do you into and out of your field? How much traffic over a specific area? Slopes degrade first in winter Use rock if necessary Give grass road at least 2 years to harden over properly

48 Landing Staging area where trees are sorted and loaded Should be a tough surface, usually rocked Make sure access from paved road is good, i.e. rocked Will you have semi truck traffic? Fully loaded semi truck is 80,000 lbs You will need a thick layer of rock

49 Expenses Don t overlook the cost side of the business Do not under estimate how much growing trees is going to cost Labor costs only seem to go up. Plan on $10- $15/hr Fertilizer prices are tied to oil prices Fuel can cost up to 5% of your annual sales Biggest annual expense is trimming

50 Bookkeeping Get yourself a good accountant! Keep good track of your expenses Consider using Quickbooks or some other business accounting software Take a class on how to use it at your local Community College

51 Marketing Maybe more important than growing! How do people know you have trees for sale? Start early Network with other growers Join the PNW Tree Growers or Oregon Christmas Tree Growers Association or other Create a webpage Start a Facebook page for your business Don t just talk about your farm on your personal page

52 Marketing Start showing your farm to potential buyers as soon as you can Don t be afraid to show your farm to people any time of year Knowledgeable buyers know what they are looking at Ask for their input I get some of my best ideas from customers Maybe they want a tree grown a specific way

53 Marketing U-Cut Signage Tell them when you will be open i.e. Open in Fall of 2018 Start buy selling other products early Wreaths, boughs, and ornaments Build that audience on Facebook Work with non-profits to drive people to your farm Discount coupons if sold by the Boy Scouts $5 saves them $10, etc.

54 Pricing Start checking with other growers on prices Don t just check with one Pay close attention to those in your same market niche Keep up with market trends in the industry Are Grand fir really going away? Do people want fuller Noble fir or more natural?

55 Harvest Prep Start thinking about who will harvest Start looking for used equipment Most is advertised near harvest season Equipment likely needed: Chainsaws Baler Elevator Trailers More to come in Christmas Trees 103 in 2017 at Clackamas Tree School

56 Thank You! Questions? Contact info: Tom Norby Trout Creek Tree Farm

57 Year 3 Implement a good weed control program Good time to basal prune Clean out dead trees Check fields in fall for blackberry and brushy weeds (Fall is the best time to control) Build a website

58 Year 4 Continue weed control (rotate spray mix assuming you have been doing the same thing for 3 years now) Basal prune if you have not already done it Cut out dead trees Watch for patterns of dying trees Spray brush in fall Build harvest roads now Gives grass roads time to harden up Start a business Facebook page

59 Year 5 Continue weed control can consider cutting back on sprays or spot only Cut out dead trees Spray brush in fall Maintain harvest roads Build a main landing Start showing fields

60 Years 6 and 7 Continue weed control (rotate spray mix) Cut out dead trees Spray brush in fall Maintain harvest roads Build a main landing if you have not already done so Create a price list Don t forget to get the word out about your farm, i.e. Facebook, website, Twitter, Instagram