Join MSU Extension at the Michigan Christmas Tree Association summer meeting
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EmailSee the latest in all things Christmas tree at the upcoming National Christmas Tree Meeting in July.
The Michigan Christmas Tree Association is hosting their annual summer meeting (Photo 1) “Cowboys and Christmas Trees” in conjunction with the national Christmas tree meeting July 24-26 in Lake City, Michigan. Event details and a full agenda are available. Registration is required. Membership of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association is not mandatory to attend.
The host location of the event will be Northern Pines Nursery, 2458 S Green Road, Lake City, MI, 49651. Highlights of this meeting include multiple farm tours across the Cadillac area. Tours will feature Northern Pines Nursery greenhouse and field production, Dutchman Tree Farms choose-and-cut and wholesale production systems, as well as field tours of Getty Tree Farm and Dutchman Tree Farms fields. Multiple auxiliary sessions will also be offered to discuss marketing, advertising and wreath making. The national tree contest will also be held.
Members of the Michigan State University Extension Christmas tree team will be providing updates on all ongoing Christmas tree projects at this event. Bert Cregg, PhD, will discuss recent results of improving seedling growth trials. Younsuk Dong, PhD, will exhibit research plots showing soil moisture sensor technology (Photo 2) and how that can impact irrigation scheduling. Erin Hill, PhD, will give a demonstration on how to identify weeds (Photo 3) and Deborah McCullough, PhD, will give an update on insect pests in Christmas trees. Two special guest speakers from other universities will also be present, including Gary Chastagner, PhD, from Washington State University and Justin Whitehill, PhD, from North Carolina State University.
New or beginning growers should consider attending the “new grower” track, which will be offered on the afternoon of July 24. This is a perfect opportunity for new growers to learn and discuss some tree production basics prior to the field tours. This session is also a great chance to ask questions in a one-on-one setting. New growers will be prepped for success by discussing topics on tree planting (Photo 4), site preparation, nutrient management, integrated pest management and marketing.
