www.zerohedge.com by TYLER DURDEN
Oregon’s record-breaking heat waves and raging wildfires are set to dent Christmas tree crop output, resulting in supply constraints that may send prices skyrocketing come December.
According toĀ Reuters, who spoke with multiple Christmas tree farm operators in Oregon, one of the top Christmas tree producing states, extreme heat and wildfires are impacting crop yields.
Jacob Hemphill, the owner of Hemphill Tree Farm in Oregon City, estimates he’s already lost more than $100,000 in trees due to the latestĀ back-to-back heatwaves. At one point, temperatures in the area were triple digits for days.
“The second day of the heat, it was 116. I came in the driveway that night and seen the trees were basically cooking. Burnt down to nothing,” Hemphill said.
He said the losses will impact his farm revenue this year but hopes the 2022 season will improve.
“I mean, you just kind of got to roll with the punches, and replant next year… and hopefully make up for the loss that we’re gonna have in the future.”
Reuters spoke to several tree farm operators across the Willamette Valley who said the heat waves haveĀ severely damaged their crops.
On top of the heat waves, the Bootleg Fire in Southern Oregon, spurred by months of drought, hasĀ burned nearly 400,000 acresĀ and is likely to increase in size as no relief is in sight.
Oregon is the top-selling state of Christmas trees which areĀ Douglas fir, Noble fir, Grand fir, and Nordmann fir. This could present supply constraints comeĀ December.
In other words, on the back of alreadyĀ record-high prices,Ā consumers could shell out even more money this year for a Christmas tree if shortages materialize inĀ Oregon. On top of the supply crunch, the cost of everything, from fuel to labor to transportation, has soared and will positively impact prices.
Oh my gosh such a worry. Apt do not allow real trees. People with yard can plant their own. Do not know how we survived in the past on Vancouver Island with summers always May 24 to Sep long weekend every year. Often years with no rain. 1952 2 days of rain.. 1967 no rain May to Sept.. Summer now is about 8weeks. Oh but we’ve never had such a time as this? God is a God of order. Weather used to be a pattern, till man modified it.. God says there is nothing new under the sun, t here is nothing new under the sun.. esp humans.. lol. God says not to bring in a tree n decorate it anyway as some do! We are in a time when obedience to God is way more important than a decorated tree!