In December 2023, a small landowner came to the Ballard County Extension Office looking for information on starting a Christmas tree farm.  Ballard County ANR agent Tom Miller gave her several publications available from the horticulture and forestry departments as a starting point.  It just so happens that an episode of “From the Woods Today” in December featured Tara Watkins, a Commercial Ornamentals Extension Associate  for Nursery Crops, Christmas Trees, & Cut Flowers.  After the program, Mr. Miller emailed Tara and asked about her availability to talk with the possible new Christmas tree producer and set up a phone call.  

Emails were exchanged, zoom calls set up, soil tests performed and a planting schedule and weed control program were developed.  As a result of these meetings, the grower has now planted the trees this spring and after several years of growth and management will hopefully have a commercially viable product to sell.