Christmas tree farms becoming more scarce

MAXWELL — A pair of blue spruces seem to oversee one of the two main fields at The Christmas Tree Farm, in sort of a supervisory stance.

However, the farm, located southeast of Maxwell and northwest of Baxter, is supervised by one person. In fact, that same person does a great deal of the year-round work involved in keeping a Christmas tree farm in a state that readies trees for the short window of time when people come out to the farm for fun and tree-harvesting.

Some farmers have extremely short seasons in which to inventory, market and sell their crop. For farmers who specialize in Christmas trees, such as Sandra Hunter, that time is really, really short.

“There’s really only about four weeks out of the year (to sell Christmas trees),” said Sandra Hunter, owner of The Christmas Tree Store, as she examines a fungus-affected area. “January and February are really the only ‘down’ months, and I plant seedlings in late March, or whenever the ground thaws out.”

The workload and time commitment of running a full Christmas tree farm, combined with a typical small return on the investment, doesn’t leave a huge profit margin for most tree farmers, Hunter said. The small-but-productive business allows her to derive a modest portion of her annual income from tree sales —but there is also the payback in the form of the smiles and wide-eyed happiness of children at Christmastime.

“It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding,” said Hunter, who added she has many Jasper County customers.

Hunter has been working to maintain the livelihood of the farm since the early 1990s. She bought out her ex-husband’s share of the business, and there have been many agricultural trials and tribulations along the way.

“I planted about 750 of those blue spruces over there in the 90s,” she said, gesturing toward what is now a small grove of the large trees. “Now, I only have the really tall ones.”

The drought years of 2012 and 2013 naturally had an impact on the health and color of the trees. A harsh winter of 2013-14 led to the yellowing of certain species, and a wet, storm-filled summer of 2015 led to fungus proliferation.

Chlorosis — a condition in which a condition leaves don’t produce enough chlorophyll — is a common obstacle for tree farmers. Overspray for aerially applied pesticides, intended for nearby fields, is also a regular concern.

Deer rubs are the abrasions of tree bark caused by male deer rubbing the velvet off of their new antler growth onto trees during mating season. The process leaves behind a scent that communicates a challenge to other male deer and can attract females, but it can also cause cosmetic damage to trees, along with damaging conditions, such as girdling.

A row of trees called concolors features a variety of trees that are at various stages of their lives. Some are taller than people and look full and healthy; others look like there is some recovery needed, and others were just planted within the past few years.

Hunter pointed to one tree that was planted last spring, and has yet to show much promise.

“That’s the ugly duckling of 2015,” she said.

Many types of pines are tough to grow in Iowa. The front part of The Christmas Tree Farm property has a small enclosure filled with medium-size pines recently shipped in from North Carolina.

However, many Iowans cherish the ritual of cutting down their own tree and taking it straight back home. That’s what Bob and Anne Buck of Ames did Friday at The Christmas Tree Farm, locating a seven-foot tree they had tagged earlier.

The Bucks have been coming to The Christmas Tree Farm for years, and Hunter recognized them and welcomed them into the farm’s lodge with hugs. She pointed out to them where Santa Claus would be sitting on the following day, greeting small children, next to a decorated tree and across from a larger centerpiece concolor.

It isn’t clear what the future holds for Iowa’s Christmas tree farms — especially acreages run by a generation of family farmers whose children most likely won’t want to take over. Hunter said she’s very grateful for the help that her daughter, Amber Darby, and others provide seasonally, but her daughter has expressed no interest in continuing the business in the decades ahead.

Hunter and other tree farmers can take comfort in knowing they and their predecessors provided many generations with the lasting, glowing memories of going to get the tree each year. The small tree that Hunter placed next to where Santa Claus will sit might not be full or photogenic, but it will help be a part of a magical experience.

“This one will work for Santa,” she said. “This is my Charlie Brown tree.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com