Improving Christmas Tree Production Through MSU Extension Winter Webinar Series
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EmailWith increasingly thin margins, growers continue to seek methods to decrease input costs, increase efficiency, diversify their cropping systems and look for new markets.
Christmas tree growers across Michigan manage thousands of acres under increasingly complex production conditions, including changing climate patterns, nutrient limitations, pest pressures and shifting consumer expectations. Producers seek reliable, research-based guidance to improve tree quality, adapt management practices and strengthen farm viability. The Michigan State University Extension Christmas tree team developed a webinar series in 2025 to deliver accessible, timely education directly to growers operating in diverse environments. The multi-session series focused on irrigation, nutrient management, insect and pest management, climate-responsive production strategies and Extension-developed tools.
The program reached 567 participants from 34 states and six Canadian provinces, collectively representing 86,472 acres of Christmas tree production. Short-term outcomes were collected through a post-series survey, completed by 74 growers representing 26,852 acres. Long-term impacts were measured through another follow-up survey distributed to all registered participants.
Ninety-seven percent of short-term survey respondents reported learning new information from the series, and 71% planned to make management changes in 2025. Survey respondents rated webinar sessions as beneficial to extremely beneficial across all topics, with nutrient management receiving the highest rating at 85%. Respondents also reported increased confidence in applying irrigation (29%), nutrient management (80%), climate-responsive practices (68%) and pest management strategies (61%).
Feedback from participants further highlights the value of the series for growers:
- “Excellent webinars with useful information and great presenters.”
- “Yes, your webinars have helped us grow better quality trees.
- “I find your webinars interesting and much of it very helpful.”
- “These learnings are so incredibly valuable. Thank you!”
- “These webinars are so very important to us. Thank you for making them possible.”
- “I have found useful information in all the webinars and I think it’s improved my growing trees.”
