Will drought impact central Pa. Christmas tree sales, prices?

Heading out to a farm to purchase a fresh Christmas tree is a holiday tradition for many families.

This year, consumers can expect to find plenty of trees, despite drought watches in parts of Pennsylvania. Christmas tree farmers say the lack of rain is not impacting the availability of mature, fresh-cut trees.

In fact, the season will be bright.

"The trees available for this year seem to be doing well considering the drought, dryness and heat we've had," said Mark McCurdy, owner of McCurdy's Farm in Dillsburg . "I'm not worried about this year's sales. They look good and from what I know should be good."

In Pennsylvania, 30 counties are under a drought watch because of an extended lack of rain, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. October was one of the driest recorded in Pennsylvania history .

At Buffalo Valley Produce Auction in Union County, Operations Manager Ben Courtney said they aren't anticipating supply disruptions for the annual auction on Nov. 21 and 22. About 55,000 trees are sold wholesale at what is billed as the "world's largest Christmas tree auction."

"I don't think we are going to be affected by the drought. It has been dry, but the trees have gone dormant due to the cold and numerous frosts," Courtney said. "They aren't as affected as they would be if we didn't have the real cold weather."

The auction sources half its trees from Pennsylvania and the rest from North Carolina, New York, Canada and Oregon.

Growers like McCurdy say the bigger concern is the impact on future seasons.

Of the 8,000 trees McCurdy said they planted on the farm this spring, 5,000 died due to the dry conditions. On average, it takes about eight to 10 years to grow a tree to full maturity, he said.

The losses can be significant, especially if a lack of rain occurs over multiple seasons.

"You're not only losing the dollars, which hurt but you, you lose the time because I can't get the year back," McCurdy said.

Another grower, Gary Thomas, who lives in Millersville and owns Winterfarm in Jarrettsville, Maryland, said he also lost small trees this year due to drought. Larger trees survive better because of their deeper root systems, said Thomas, secretary/treasurer of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association.

"You should expect a really good product (this year)," Thomas said. "[Customers] shouldn't have any problem finding a tree to their liking."

Still, the drought means consumers should take precautions. When buying trees, Thomas advised running your hand over the boughs and don't buy the tree if the needles fall off.

When taking trees home, he suggests cutting about 1/2-inch off the trunk and immediately placing the tree in water.

"They are going to be thirsty. They are going to be ok, but they are going to be a little extra thirsty," Thomas said.

As for prices, tree farms said consumers should expect to pay about the same as last year. McCurdy said average tree prices at his farm are about $85 to $130. The family farm has grown and sold trees for 60 years and plans to open for this year's season on Nov. 29.

McCurdy said buying a fresh-cut tree is a longstanding tradition people don't skip.

"Freshness is the biggest thing and experience is the other. People like to come out and take their once-a-year Christmas tree farm tour," he said.