1
Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association
W9833 Hogan Road
Portage, WI 53901
http://www.christmastrees-wi.org
info@christmastrees-wi.org
Ph/fax 608-742-8663

Interesting Facts About Wisconsin Christmas Trees  

 •	Over 657,000 Christmas trees were sold in 2014 (2)	
 •	Over 600,000 wreaths made each year in Wisconsin (estimated) 	
 •	$16.2 million Annual Wisconsin Christmas tree sales (2)	
 •	23,651 Acres of Christmas trees in Wisconsin (1)	
 •	383 Licensed Christmas tree farms in Wisconsin (DATCP license list, Nov. 2018)	
 •	Principal trees grown in Wisconsin:  Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine and Spruce
 •	White House Christmas Tree for the Blue Room came from Wisconsin in 2017, 2016, 2011, 2003, 1998, 1988, 1976, 1970, 1966.
 •	Rank 5th in Sales of Christmas Trees in the U.S. (2)
 •	Rank 5th in Number of Trees Cut (1)		
 •	Rank 5th in Acres in Production (1)	
Rank 7th in Farms in Production (1

 •	)Size of farms (1): 	51% of farms (441) have less than 10 acres 
				20% (176) have 10-19 acres
				19% (167) have 20-49 acres
				10% (84) have 50 or more acres

Christmas trees are grown as a crop for you, just like pumpkins and flowers, with the intention to cut them. They are grown in rows with six foot spacing between the trees.
Christmas tree farming is sustainable – 1 to 3 trees are planted for every one that is cut.
Trees are locally grown, providing jobs each and every year of growth (planting, digging, re-planting, shearing, picking cones, mowing, harvesting, delivery, sales, machine maintenance, wreath making, office personnel).
Tree farms provide green space and habitat for wildlife. These farms are maintained in an early succession forest with young trees and plenty of ground covers. This provides habitat for deer and bear, ground birds such as turkey and quail, rodents which bring in predators such as hawks, foxes, and bobcats, and flowering plants that help feed butterflies, bees and all manner of insects. 
Real trees are good for us – they utilize carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and are recyclable through decomposition.
Celebrating the holiday season with a real Christmas tree is a long-standing tradition.  In 1856, Franklin Pierce, our 14th President, brought the first Christmas Tree into the White House.

Information is taken from the  (1) 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture, (2) 2014 USDA Census of Horticultural Specialties
R.11/2018