Christmas Trees Suffering in Wake of Drought

Christmas trees are a magical part of any family’s holiday traditions. However, with the recent drought some families may be crying “bah, hum bug,” at their chance for a real Christmas tree. It is no secret that the lack of rain late last month put the pressure on local farmers, but the drought is also affected the businesses of Christmas tree farmers, as well.

Experts report that the rainfall deficit for this year was at over 9 inches just a few short weeks ago. Local Christmas tree farmers are informing the public that due to these extreme conditions, not only will there be a shortage of trees, but surviving trees will have a shorter life expectancy than normal. This is why local Christmas tree farmers are seeking the aid of other farmers in areas that are less droughts stricken than here in East Tennessee. Some have resorted to shipping in Christmas trees from these areas to up their own supplies. Fear not. Local farmers say that you can still cut down your family Christmas tree now that we are a little later into December, ensuring that your tree is still green on Christmas Day.

If you are wondering about the price of Christmas trees this year, you might find yourself a bit out of luck. Experts are projecting good sales for the Christmas tree industry this year. However, this can mean more out of pocket cost for consumers, given the somewhat limited supplies and conditions of trees around the area.