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Minor Forest Products - Christmas Trees
Introduction
Christmas is an important moment for most people in Australia and one of the most important parts is the Christmas tree. Christmas trees come in all shapes, sizes and colors for both real and plastic trees. The supply of real Christmas trees every year to the market is the task of many small growers scattered around Australia. While the market is small in size it is very complex and has recently, and will continue to go through major changes.
Christmas tree production in Australia in the past has mainly come from the thinning of commercial state and private plantations (mainly Pinus Radiata). Trees removed for thinning tend to be of bad form and this was reflected in the trees supplied to the market. This provided a small but very important market for plantations owners, where costs of thinning the plantation were significantly reduced. This practice still goes on in some places of Australia, but poor formed trees are only attracting a small royalty if any.
Plantations grown specifically for Christmas tree production have mainly been restricted to one, that is located in the Dandenong’s near Melbourne. This plantation has been operating for around 30 years and has been suppling high quality trees for the Melbourne Market. Being close to a population centre makes an ideal location for the production of Christmas trees. In recent years another plantation has been created on the Nepean peninsula again close to Melbourne, which is also producing high quality trees for the local market. These two Christmas tree plantations are the only major ones operating in Australia.
In many parts of Australia a common tradition still is for people to go into local pine plantations and remove there own Christmas tree. The trees of best form tend to be removed which is a very large problem for the plantation manager. This is especially coming in places like Canberra where plantations are close to population centres. Return to top
The current Christmas tree industry in Australia is now dominated by trees grown only for Christmas tree production, with thinning having virtually no market. The industry is mainly supplied by the two main plantations, hobby farmers and some agro-forestry operations. These operations supply high quality trees that attract high royalties.
Christmas trees plantations are usually grown on a three year rotation with Pinus radiata the only species grown currently. Because of the fast growth rates of Radiata, means only a short rotation of three years is needed. In America rotation length of 7-10 years is common. Because of high transport cost, close proximity to a major population centre is essential in these operations
The main aim of these Christmas tree plantations is to produce trees with a straight stem, uniform taper, with a good branching pattern (Including a leader for the star) and a lush green appearance. Trees like these attract a premium price, which is roughly around $7 a tree, wholesale.
These plantations are usually grown at a very high stocking rate (2,500 stems a hectare) because the trees are never going to get very large. Form pruning is the most important part of these operations, so that high premiums are paid. Every year the trees must be pruned using shearing techniques developed in America. Weed control, fertilisation and Pest and disease control is also very important in the production of high valued trees. For detailed information on the establishment, management and shearing techniques for Christmas trees click here
While the 2 major plantations dominate the Melbourne market, hobby farms are the main supply for trees in other states. These producers have small areas of land on the outskirts of major population centres that provide an ideal location for the establishment of small scale plantations. These small plantations are run on the same format of the larger plantations, but only on a smaller scale. To view a picture of a hobby farm plantation click here. Return to top
Currently in Australia the Christmas tree industry is strong offering good returns for those already in the industry. However with more people entering the market, the industry will face another change. Royalties can only go down with this influx of growers. Because of the low demand in the future it’s likely that large holders, or Co-ops that can dominate the market will control this industry. While Christmas trees may seem simple, the industry behind it is extremely complex.
For further information on Christmas tree in general, how to establish a commercial plantation, or even grow a tree for yourself these two sites I recommend.
http://www.ag.ohio-stat e.edu/~ohioline/b670/index
http://wildfire.for.msu. edu/ExtDocs/xmastree.htm
References
Brown J.H, Cowen W.F and Heiligmam At http://www.ag.ohio-stat e.edu/~ohioline/b670/index
Dornbush J., Konlling M At http://wildfire.for.msu. edu/ExtDocs/xmastree.htm
The role of Trees in Agriculture, ANU forestry Department, Canberra
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Copyright (c) 1998 The Australian National University
Author: Forestry student
Date last Modified: 27th September 1997
URL: http://www.anu.edu.au/Forestry/wood/nwfp/christmas/christmas.html