Christmas Trees Are Dying from Drought
Huffington Post (December 4, 2016)

The nation’s Christmas trees farmers have been especially hard hit by drought. Crops have failed, livestock has had to be sold and farmers like Abbott have been struggling to keep the iconic Christmas tree ― typically spruces, pines and firs ― alive.

Fortunately for Christmas tree shoppers, the drought will likely not impact this year’s supply of festive conifers. Even in the driest states, there will likely be enough trees to go around ― though some may be drier and less robust than in previous years. Christmas trees are hardy plants and are usually only sold when they are eight to 10 years old. It’s the younger trees that tend to be the most susceptible to drought.

Because of this, however, farmers warn that the future of the Christmas tree is less assured. Many farms across the country reported losing a significant chunk of their seedlings or young trees this year due to drought. This could mean weaker harvests in the years to come, threatening a quintessential part of a billion-dollar industry.