GEORGIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION, INC. TREE TALK December 2010 Edition Tommy and Denise Thompson, owners of Thompson’s Tree Farm in Lawrenceville, pose with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Santa visits their farm each year on the first Saturday of December. Published by the Georgia Christmas Tree Association, Inc. 120 Cordele Hwy., Hawkinsville, GA 31036 Volume 25, No. 4, December 2010
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GEORGIA CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION, INC.
TREE TALKDecember 2010 Edition
Tommy and Denise Thompson, owners of Thompson’s Tree Farm in Lawrenceville, pose with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Santa visits
their farm each year on the first Saturday of December.
Published by the Georgia Christmas Tree Association, Inc. 120 Cordele Hwy., Hawkinsville, GA 31036
Volume 25, No. 4, December 2010
Table of ContentsAssociation Officers 3
The GCTA Welcomes new members 4
Membership Application 5
Notes from Executive Director 9
September Meeting Minutes 10
Financial Report 12
Managing Needle Blight in Leyland Cypress 13
Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism 19
How many Christmas trees 37
Advertiser Index
7G’s Farm 20
Bass Trees & Supply 7
Byron Lakewood Nursery, LLC 25
Cinco Plastics Inc. (Stands) 27
Evans Christmas Products Back cover
Kelco Industries 23
Neddie Mountain Farms, Larry Wise ( Fraser Fir) 31
Oak Pond Nursery, LLC 14
Roan Valley Tree Farm (Fraser Fir) 36
Southern Christmas Trees Nursery (Bill Murray) 21
Veldsma & Sons, Inc. 11
Wagoner’s Fraser Knoll 26
2
Association Officers
President--
Chuck Berry -- 2010185 McCord St. Covington GA 30014. 770-786-1370 Email:berryplace-yahoo.com
President Elect --
Greg Smith -- 20112375 Old Kings Bridge Rd.Nicholson GA 30565 706-757-3560 Email: gjasmith-windstream.net
First Vice President --
Vacant
Past President --
Tommy Thompson -- 20121829 Prospect Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. 770.513.2552. Email: tstrees-bellsouth.net
Executive Director --
Linda Wilson -- 2008120 Cordele Rd, Hawkinsville, GA 31036. 478-919-TREE (8733)Email:treefarm-pstel.net
National Director --
Gordon Hunter 201114680 Wood Rd, Milton, GA 30004. 770-475-0713 Email: gordonhunter-bellsouth.net
Northern Directors Liz Kinsey--20127171 Jot-em-Down Rd, Gainesville, GA 30506 770-887-5541
Position vacant -- 2011
Central Directors
Position vacant -- 2013
Jim Butler -- 20123850 Hwy 81 West, Hampton, GA 30228Email: jim-christmastreehome.com
Southern Directors
Rick Palmer 20116899 Thompson Pond Rd. Tarrytown GA 30470, 912-529-3702 Email: secretforest-planttel.net
Lacy Jackson 20103452 Pateville Rd, Cordele, GA 31015 229-273-5748
Webmaster: Jim Butler 3850 Hwy 81 West, Hampton, GA 30228, 770-707-0584 Email: jim-christmastreehome.com
Tree Talk Editor
Natalie Cooper, 40 Spring St, Buford, GA 30518, 404-642-1101, Email: twougaalums-bellsouth.net
Advertising RatesFull page ---- $150.00! Page ------ 75.00⅓ Page ------ 65.00" Page ------- 45.00Rates given are for black & white ad copy. Spot color or color strip $10.00 additional. Full color ads are available at double the base price. Contracts on four or more consecutive ads are discounted 10%. New ad submission deadlines are the 1st of month preceding the issue date. For design assistance contact Coy Dillahunty, 770-884-0022 Email:dillahuc-bellsouth.net
Published Quarterly, March, June, September, and
December.
Georgia Christmas Tree Association, Inc.120 Cordele Rd,
Hawkinsville, GA 31036 Phone 478-230-3646
Email: treefarm-pstel.netVisit our web site at
www.gacta.com
Established 1961Note:
Volume numbers on this issue corrected to reflect first issue as volume 1, number 1 was printed in March 1986. Numbers were correct to 2000. No newsletter printed in 1990. Volume No.
This is an organization of Christmas Tree Growers and lot operators organized to promote the sale of Real Christmas Trees. We maintain close contact with researchers at the University of Georgia experiment stations and at many universities in neighboring states. Membership dues are $100.00 per year with reduced rates for new members, as indicated on the application. Persons interested in joining the association can complete this application form and mail dues check to:
Georgia Christmas Tree Association120 Cordele Rd.Hawkinsville, GA 31036
Benefits Of Membership
ANNUAL MEETING - is held in September and includes visits to tree farms. You will have a chance meet and learn from fellow growers, foresters and university professors specializing in fields of interest to Christmas tree growers and marketers.
WEB SITE - membership includes a website for your farm, with links from the Farm Finder map and Member list pages of the Georgia Christmas tree association website. Members have access to an easy to use website editor, where they can upload pictures and create their own website with up to 20 custom pages. Each website includes a Map page that will show your farm location and a Contact us page, for customers to send you email without exposing your email address to spammers. If you start your own website, it will likely cost more than the membership dues and you will not have the links for people to find your website.
MEMBERSHIP DUES - support research and the promotion of real Christmas trees.
NCTA WEBSITE LISTING - When you become a full member of GCTA, part of your dues will go to the National Christmas tree association, which provides a link to your website from www.christmastree.org.
TREE TALK MAGAZINE - is published 4 times a year and mailed to members. This provides timely information of concern to Christmas tree growers. An archive of past issues of this magazine is available in PDF at the member area of the web site.
YOU ARE JUST A PHONE CALL OR EMAIL AWAY - from years of valuable experience. If we can't answer your question, we know someone who can.
Hawkinsville GA 31036Phone: 478-919-TREEPhone: 478-919-8733
This form is available on internet at http://www.gacta.com with ability to send. If you do not have internet service mail this with your check to address above.
Dues: select the dues box that applies to your operation$25 new member or have not sold any trees$50 after first year selling trees$75 after second year selling trees$100 after third year selling trees
Farm or Company name:____________________________________Last name:______________ First name:______________________ Spouse:__________________________________Street: City:_____________State: ______ Zip:____________ Home phone:__________ Farm phone:___________Mobile: _______________ Your email:__________________________________________________________Your Web site URL: Are you a National Assoc. Mbr: Farm Address:__________________________________________Farm County:__________________ Farm City:______________________Information below is for Choose and Cut Listing and web site.Complete if you desire this advertising.Directions to Farm:
Select the tree varieties that you have for sale?
Continued on next page
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CypressLeylandMurrayBlue IceCarolina Sapphire
CedarRedDeodarBurki
PineVirginiaWhiteSpruceSand
FirFraserBalsamCanaanConcolor
SpruceBlueNorwayWhite
OtherGreen GiantCryptomeria
Select other sales and services that apply to your operation?
If you have other trees, sales or services not listed above, list them in comments below.Comments:
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SellBalled or potted treesWholesale treesGarlandJams and jelliesPumpkinsWreathsTree StandsSnow flocking
Association President’s Letter As always, I hope that your selling season is going well. It is hard to believe that
it is already half over and headed down the home stretch. I have heard mixed comments
as to how the 2010 season is panning out. I have received word that some are up in
sales and some are down. We are running fairly close in line with 2009 which is ok
considering the battles the “real tree” industry is still facing.We had a great showing at the Georgia National Fair in Perry again this year. A
big “THANK YOU’ goes out to Paschal and Judy Brewer for their hard work with the
contest. With over 40 trees entered, the GCTA was well represented at the fair. As
always, there is room for more. So keep the fair in mind for next October and begin now
grooming your “perfect” tree for the contest.“Real trees” are in the Capital and at the Governor’s Mansion again this year. I
spoke with someone at the Georgia Building Authority and was informed that they now
have a team in place that actually searches for the state Christmas trees. Both trees this
year were harvested from a resident’s yard. I hope to pursue this further next year in
hopes of getting trees in the state facilities that have been grown on Georgia Christmas tree farms as was done in past years. We need to keep our product in front of as many
people as possible.
Over the last several years, the Governor has hosted and agricultural awareness
week during January or February. If this event continues with the new administration, I
would like to see us participate as an organization. I will let you all know if this will be occurring and any help that might be needed for us to make a presence.
In reference to our statewide marketing efforts and the grant monies we have
received, the four 14’ x 48’ billboards were installed in late October and will remain up
until the end of the year. I have had several people tell me that they have seen the
billboards while traveling the state. As part of the 2010 grant, we will be developing a new full-color “choose and cut” guide similar to the one used by the Georgia Farm
Bureau’s Certified Farm Market Program. We have already received the money for the
printing and need to spend it as soon as possible. As soon as Christmas is over, you will
be receiving a survey of the information needed for the guide. Please complete the
survey promptly and return it so that we can compile the information and have them printed. Each member will receive an allotment as will the Welcome Centers across the
state. Anyone wishing to receive extras can request them as well. Once the guide is
complete, we will then focus on the “Story of the Georgia Christmas Tree” video, which
is also part of the 2010 grant funding.
Trees for Troops was also a huge success again this year and I am sure all of our military families that received a tree as part of the program are greatly appreciative of
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the gesture. Thanks to everyone who donated trees, the farms who hosted a pick-up
point, and to Greg Smith for his continued dedication to the program. I know it brings
many smiles to children and families that we never get to see, and that is what the
season is all about.
I hope each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe and happy planting come January and February. Feel free to call me with
any questions, concerns, or ideas. 770-602-6003
Notes from Executive DirectorLinda Wilson
Many of you opened this last weekend. From what I’ve read on Facebook, you seemed to
be doing well. We have already had many calls to the Association looking for a farm near them. I have had two calls from families in Florida headed this way to buy a tree. I
think it’s going to be a good season.
Our family is still busy putting out decorations, getting the hay for the wagon, looking
for hot chocolate on sale and thawing out the turkey. We have been very busy since September in preparation for opening but somehow it always comes down to the last
few days. Company is on their way (volunteer workers) and the cash register is open.
The trees are as pretty as they ever will be. They are tagged and ready to be in some
family’s home for Christmas.
As we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this week, I am reminded again of all my
blessings. One of them is being able to do this every year and meet such great
customers. I look forward to seeing them again every year. Also, I am grateful for the
privilege of getting to know all of my fellow tree growers. You are a generous, hard
working group.
I wish you all great sales and lots of joy doing it.
Linda Wilson
Executive DirectorPS Don’t forget to pay your dues
Please note our new GCTA phone number is (478) 919-TREE (8733)!
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September Meeting Minutes
Georgia Christmas Tree Association, IncSeptember 18, 2010
Fall meeting
After a farm tour in the morning, the membership met at the Calvin Center. The
meeting was called to order by President Tommy Thompson. Dr. John Frampton
discussed experiments his department is conducting with Fraser Fir and Virginia Pine
using vegetative propagation (rooting cuttings). He was followed by Dr. Dennis Hazel
who spoke on the experiments his department is doing with the use of herbicides,
They discussed an upcoming event they are planning. It is to be held at the Calvin
Center, May 22-25, 2011. It will be titled ‘Southern Regional Christmas Tree
Conference’. It will include workshops on grafting, ground cover management, GPS
mapping of your farm and one specifically for new growers.
Judy Brewer announced the times that farms could submit their trees for judging at the
fair. She also asked for volunteers to sign up to man the booth.
After lunch, Chuck Berry introduced Dr. Mark Czarnota who discussed the use of
herbicide selectivity. He had a slide show to demonstrate the different strengths and
application methods.
Chuck Berry gave a gift certificate to Tommy Thompson for serving as President for the
last two years.
Linda Wilson asked and received a motion to accept the minutes from the previous
year’s business meeting as well as the financial report submitted. She also reminded
members that we pay $20/member to NACTA. This allows their name and information
to be listed on the National website for additional exposure. She said anyone who has
not paid their dues by June 15 of the following year (or indicated they will be paying at
the meeting) will not be included in the 2011 listing. Greg Smith gave a report on Trees
for Troops. He will be organizing the pick up/ drop off sites again this year.
Rob Petry says to be away of land conservation breach claims made by our local tax
assessors. His local board said he had breached the conservation contract by selling
Christmas related items on his farm. He is fighting it but wanted to warn everyone to be
aware.
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Sarah Murray wanted to remind everyone that this was the 500th year of the decorated
Christmas tree. Chuck asked for volunteers to replace Gordon Hunter as the National
Director. Earl Worthington nominated Chuck Berry. He agreed to serve. Greg Smith
will serve as President-elect and Lacey will continue as a Southern Director. It was
voted to approve the slate.
Bill Murray showed a sign that he will be displaying that read “Real Christmas trees are
made in America by God not made by OPEC Oil”. Tommy Thompson asked that we
adopt Bill’s motto. It was approved with the Board of Directors to discuss the exact
wording and use.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Wilson
Executive Director, Georgia Christmas Tree Association, Inc
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Financial ReportLinda Wilson
Cash Flow - YTD:2 1/1/2010 through 11/30/2010 Category Description 1/1/2010- 11/30/2010 INFLOWS Dues 8,537.00 Grant Money 7,288.32 Meeting Income 2,517.00 Sales Ads 2,970.00 Subscription 12.00 TOTAL INFLOWS 21,324.32 OUTFLOWS Ad Sales Commission 673.00 Bank Charge 10.00 Bookkeeping 2,400.00 Corporation Registration State 30.00 Donation 100.00 Meeting Expense 2,605.59 Phones 116.96 Postage 419.36 Software 109.67 Supplies 2,183.30 tip nacta program 1,620.00 Tree Talk Editor 270.00 Webhosting 413.89 Website 103.99 TOTAL OUTFLOWS 11,055.76 OVERALL TOTAL 10,268.56
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Managing Needle Blight in Leyland Cypress
Unedited NCSU Christmas Tree Note Draft – To Be Reviewed
Leyland cypress has quickly grown in popularity on choose ‘n cut farms throughout the south and has eclipsed production of many more traditional species such as Virginia pine and white pine in some areas. Leyland cypress is prone to several fungal diseases including Seiridium canker, Botryosphaeria canker, needle blight, and several root diseases. The canker and foliar diseases can be spread through cultivation practices such as shearing damp infected trees, which can spread spores of the fungus to other trees resulting in potentially significant damage and financial loss for growers. In site surveys for disease on farms in North Carolina, only needle blight was found on a regular basis and Georgia growers recently identified it as their most significant cultivation issue. Many growers have experienced mild to severe infection on their Leyland cypress, and in some cases trees had to be destroyed.
The name of this needle blight pathogen has changed several times there is evidence that it may be caused by more than one fungus. Passalora sequoiae is the current pathogen name. Earlier names included Cercospordium, Cercospora, and Asperisporium.
Historically, disease management recommendations for controlling needle blight involved the application of foliar fungicides applied when new growth was emerging and continuing at regular intervals throughout the entire growing season. Few growers are able to maintain or can afford, such a rigorous treatment regime. However, close observation of spore production over the growing season and treatment trials at several North Carolina farms have demonstrated that needle blight can be managed such that damage to foliage is light. If treatments are applied early, limiting the number of new infections, infected tissues may even green up before the end of the growing season. Additional fungicide applications in mid-summer may be necessary to treat any new infections that develop.
Needle blight is capable of causing new infections on the tree throughout the growing season. In the spring (about mid-May to mid June), fungal spores are produced on needles and secondary lateral branches that were infected the previous year. The spores are then windblown or splashed by rain or carried by shearing tools to multiple new sites within the same tree or neighboring trees. Reddish-brown lesions of dying tissue
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develop on infected twigs. Infected needles turn yellow and eventually brown (usually observed in August-September). The fungus will reproduce inside these lesions and infected needles by producing more spores. These spores are then capable of causing another round of new infections on the tree. Spores also continue to be produced in the older lesions, in turn causing more new infections. This results in a snowball effect of spore production, leading to high populations of the fungus by mid summer. The production of spores continues into November, but whether or not these spores are causing new infections this late in the season is unknown.
There is a delay between when infection occurs, and the development of visual symptoms on the tree. Although we do not know for certain how long it takes from infection to symptom expression, observation suggests that it takes about two months for tree symptoms to develop. In other words, new lesions that appear in August are most likely from infections that occurred back in June. The key to successfully managing this disease is to limit the number of new infections in the spring, thereby reducing the population of spores and new infections later in the summer. This is done by carefully scouting the trees beginning in mid-May, looking for signs of fungal sporulation on old, infected tissue from last season. Fungicide applications should be initiated when sporulation is first observed. This process is repeated again in early to mid August, scouting old infections, as well as looking for new lesions that have developed in the current season.
Confirming the Presence of Needle Blight:
Symptoms visible without magnification: Passlora needle blight usually first infects the interior lower foliage and with time spreads both outwards and upwards. For early symptoms, look first for discoloration on lower branches. Symptoms can range from yellowish to reddish to brown foliage and on severely-infected branches foliage loss. In general terms, symptoms include: defoliated secondary lateral branches and tan to reddish-brown areas (lesions) along with needle browning in the interior, lower portion of tree. The tips of the affected twigs will be green.
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Figure 1. Early signs of needle blight on lower branches. Mostly yellowing and tips still green.
Diagnostic Symptoms Visible with a Hand Lens: If you have a good hand lens, more effective scouting can be done as follows: Begin scouting in late June.
∞ Examine lower, interior branches∞ Look for abnormal or damaged tissue on last year’s growth∞ Look for dark, raised “bumps” on dead tissues∞ Look for greenish-gray tufts of spores
For late-season scouting:∞ Examine lower to mid, interior branches∞ Look for abnormal or damaged tissue on past and current year’s growth∞ Look for tufts of sporulation in dead tissues
The often olive green tufts emerging from infected (discolored) needles and secondary branches are the structures on which the spores are produced. The presence of these fungal tufts does not confirm that fungal spores are present (which requires laboratory confirmation), but it will tell you if the fungus is active and spore production is likely to be occurring.
To verify presence of needle blight at a laboratory or clinic: 1. Collect pieces of branches that have brown or discolored needles that are still
attached, along with the bordering branch tissue that is still green and healthy-
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Figure 2. Symptoms of more advanced infestation including some loss of foliage.
Figure 3. Discolored foliage from needle blight on Leyland cypress.
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Figure 4. Tuft-like spore-producing fruiting bodies of needle blight on Leyland cypress
appearing. Collect from multiple sites (~4-5) on the tree and/or trees. Combine the branches as one sample.
2. Ask your county agent to submit the collected foliage samples to your state’s clinic. For North Carolina, it is the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at North Carolina State University. You can submit samples directly ($30), but charges are reduced ($20) when samples are submitted through County Agents or Extension Specialists.
Initial Treatment if Needle Blight is Detected:
At the first sign of sporulation (mid-May to June):• Make 2 applications of a systemic fungicide:
– Quadris = Christmas trees; Heritage = nursery stock (azoxystrobin):use 4 oz/100 gal applied 14 days apart
∞ Rotate by making 1 or 2 applications of one of the following protectant fungicides applied 14 days after the last application of systemic fungicide:
– Daconil Ultrex (chlorothalonil) 1.4 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)– Fore (mancozeb) 1.5 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)– Kocide 2000 (copper hydroxide) 0.75 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)
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Applications should soak the interior of the tree. Visibly infected trees and those immediately adjacent to them should be sprayed.
Late Treatment Based on Scouting for Sporulation in New Infections:
At the first sign of sporulation in newly developed infections sites (August to September):
Make 1 application of:– Heritage or Quadris 4 oz/100 gal
Rotate by making 2 applications of one of the following:– Daconil Ultrex 1.4 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)– Fore 1.5 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)– Kocide 2000 0.75 lb/100 gal (7-10 days)
Planning and Managing Your Fields to Reduce Needle Blight Incidence
Like with many fungi, needle blight is promoted by moist conditions. For Christmas trees, these are conditions that increase or prolong foliage wetness from rain or morning dew or where moist air settles. These conditions include: close spacings, planting close to dense wood lines, planting north slopes, planting next to drainages, or especially combinations of these. To reduce incidence of needle blight, consider the following:- Plant species other than Leylands on north-facing slopes, immediately adjacent
to dense woods, next to drainages or water, or where moist air settles at night.- Use wider spacings for Leylands in incidence-prone field portions.- Avoid shearing when foliage is wet, especially when disease symptoms are
present.- Cut down and remove severely infested trees.- Where infestation is very visible, but only on lower branches, and where that tree
will be marketed in the coming season, trim away infected foliage thus creating a longer handle.
Colleen Warfield* and Dennis Hazel***Nursery Production & Floriculture Advisor, University of California Division of
Agriculture and Natural Resources**Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry and
Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University
A Note from Coy:Don’t confuse the actual ingredient with weight of product in package. Recommendation is .75 pounds of active ingredient as listed on label. Actual ingredient is 46/47% range. This means mix of the powder should be at least 1.5 pounds per 100 gallon. Some members used the .75 lbs per 100 gal. of product a few years ago and had bad results.
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Note from the editor: I know I continue to provide articles on agritourism
each Tree Talk. I can’t help but think these articles would benefit a great
many of you. When we first started our farm we only did choose-and-cut
trees. Over the years we’ve added a U-Pick blueberry farm (my uncle
owns it next door), a petting zoo of goats and cows, hayrides, s’mores,
Santa Claus one weekend, a pumpkin patch in the fall, and year-round
field trips with local school children. We also sell at a local farmers
market and can over forty cases of jams and jellies each year to sell in our
gift shop. All of these things have without a doubt increased our yearly
sales and I continue look at more things to add. I hope you take time to
read this wonderful article from the National Sustainable Information
Service (ATTRA) as you plan for your farm in the upcoming year. If you
would like to go to this article online so you can see the links, the address
is: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/entertainment.html .
Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism
Business Management GuideNational Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Katherine L. Adam
September 2004
ATTRA Publication #IP109
Introduction
Joel Salatin, innovator in small-scale agriculture and proprietor of Polyface Farm in
Virginia, has published a handbook for beginning farmers.(1) In it he offers a
perspective on an important dimension of the future of American farming—education
and entertainment. Salatin believes that opportunities for education and entertainment
are what the public currently wants and will pay for.