NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Real Christmas tree growers face rising competitive and structural pressures as imported artificial trees expand sharply in U.S. markets. With most American families unaware of the decade-long timeline required to grow a marketable tree, the industry is increasingly challenged by weather volatility, labor shortages, and long-term acreage decline.
Production capacity has contracted significantly, says the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Between 2002 and 2022, farms harvesting Christmas trees fell nearly 30 percent, and acreage dropped more than 150,000 acres, a 35 percent reduction shaped by complex economics and slow biological timelines. Retail-ready trees typically require seven to 10 years to grow, exposing farmers to years of insect pressure, disease risk, and extreme weather.
U.S. Imports of Artificial Christmas Trees (2025)
American Farm Bureau Federation
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, artificial trees — 85% to 95% imported from China — have become the dominant competitor, replacing years of real-tree demand with a single purchase. Imports have surged from $170 million in 2000 to more than $500 million in 2024, exerting continuous price pressure on domestic growers.
Cut Christmas Tree Production by State (2025)
American Farm Bureau Federation
Regionally, Oregon and North Carolina lead production, while farms nationwide face rising labor costs, land constraints, and limited risk-management tools that offer little protection from multiyear losses.
Looking ahead, growers say consumer choices are increasingly tied to farm survival, as U.S.-grown real trees support domestic jobs, preserve open space, and sequester carbon throughout their decade-long growth.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Buying a real Christmas tree directly supports U.S. farmers facing rising import competition, long production cycles, and weather-driven risks.
For tight margins, contract grazing leverages existing acres into new income streams and spreads risk. Here are some tips for row crop farmers looking to diversify.
Texas Cattle Feeders Association Chairman Robby Kirkland explains how the ongoing U.S.-Mexico border closure impacts feed yards that rely on Mexican cattle due to the New World Screwworm.
Global nitrogen and phosphate prices remain high despite improved supply fundamentals, with limited Chinese exports and stronger fall applications tightening availability.
U.S. sugar producers and processors should brace for price pressure and challenging export logistics with global sugar supply ramping up — driven by Brazil, India, and Thailand — especially at the raw processing level.
The first-ever “MICHELIN Guide to the American South” awards stars to top restaurants across Georgia, Louisiana, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, and pinpoints the region as a global food destination for the first time.
Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) interval selection—not just participation—drives protection levels as rainfall patterns become less predictable across the South.
ARC/PLC, marketing loans, and crop insurance each matter at different points in the price cycle — and the new Farm Bill strengthens the balance among them.
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.
The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.
