Oregon Maintains Top Christmas Tree Producer Title by Adapting, With Support From OSU Extension

Dec 8, 2025 | AOC Business Partner

Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: OSU Extension Service

It sounds like the setup for a holiday romantic comedy – Priya Rajarapu works as a Christmas tree expert for Oregon State University’s Extension Service, helping Oregon’s 300-plus Christmas tree growers produce a healthy crop each holiday season so that the state can export millions of perfect trees across the world.

But this job is more science than sentiment. In her Extension role and as an assistant professor in the College of Forestry, Rajarapu, who earned her doctorate in entomology, is studying how to keep Oregon’s holiday industry thriving as the climate changes.

“Oregon is a perfect place to grow evergreens because of the climate,” she said. “Our mild summers and wet winters are ideal for native species like noble and Douglas-fir that are traditionally among the most popular Christmas trees in the Western United States.

“If you’re sick you call a doctor. If you’re a Christmas tree grower who has a sick tree, you call me.”

As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the cost to maintain a healthy crop of Christmas trees is rising. And once-rare extreme climate events, like the 2020 fires and the 2021 heat dome in Oregon can have decades-long impacts on forests that affect the holiday tree industry.

“Our goal is to help the current and future growers sustain production of Christmas trees on their land,” Rajarapu said.

Long a sustainable industry, with at least one tree going into the ground for every one cut, Christmas trees are an important agricultural crop for Oregon. Oregon sold 3.17 million trees in 2023 (the most recent year for which federal statistics are available) – making it the top Christmas tree grower in the United States and contributing $118 million to Oregon’s economy.

Industry associations estimate that Christmas tree prices should remain stable this year, averaging about $12 to $15 per foot, and don’t anticipate that tariffs and trade policies will have a significant impact on the tree industry. To support growers, Rajarapu and her colleagues are working at North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora to develop new resilience strategies.

For example, an ongoing study is looking at different mulch alternatives to understand whether any of these mulches boost seedling survival during their first year. Native noble fir make up just over half of Oregon’s Christmas tree sales, but in recent years, OSU Extension experts have also been studying the genetics of introduced species from Eurasia that are potentially more resilient to climate change.

Before his retirement, Rajarapu’s predecessor Chal Landgren personally carried seeds back from Georgia, establishing the new species at the three-acre field site that she now oversees. For example, Nordemann and Turkish fir, both native to Georgia, now make up a small but growing percentage of Oregon’s crop. These new-to-Oregon species can hold their needles longer after they’re cut and displayed.

“They’re drought-and pest-tolerant,” Rajarapu said. “That reduces the need for inputs such as chemical insecticides.”

More than half of Oregon’s Christmas trees are sold in California each year, with other Western states, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Panama, Singapore and Maldives among Oregon growers’ top markets, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

“With consistent water, these new species can hold their needles for four-to-six weeks indoors,” Rajarapu said. Additives like sugar or alcohol that claim to lengthen a tree’s life indoors aren’t backed by scientific evidence, she explained, but lots of water, especially in the first few days, is key to a tree that lasts the season.

“When you buy a real tree, you’re supporting a local business,” said Rajarapu, who is planning to display a noble fir at her home this year. “And it just smells and feels like Christmas.”  

Read this article online: https://beav.es/JYm 

Story by Misty Edgecomb, Oregon State University
Story source: Priya Rajarapu, OSU Extension Christmas Tree Specialist and Assistant Professor, College of Forestry
Photo caption: Priya Rajarapu, Christmas Tree Specialist at Oregon State University Extension explains the characteristics of various tree species.
Photo credit: Oregon State University 

CIS Annual Conference Returns Feb. 25–27, 2026

Dec 8, 2025 | AOC Business Partner

Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: CIS

The dates are set for the 2026 CIS Annual Conference: Feb. 25–27 at the Salem Convention Center.

Each year, CIS brings together Oregon counties for three days of learning, networking, and collaboration. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a familiar face, this is your opportunity to connect with peers, explore new ideas, and gather practical takeaways for your county team.

Now in its 24th year, the conference focuses on what matters most to county government — relevant content, meaningful connections, and strategies that strengthen local operations and services across Oregon.

Attendees can expect sessions on employee benefits, risk management, pre-loss strategies, and other best practices designed to help counties manage risk, support employees, and enhance service to residents.

Flexible Attendance Options

The 2026 conference offers flexible ways to participate. County staff can attend in person in Salem, join virtually, or combine both. For example, you can take part in Wednesday’s Public Safety or Small Members Track on site, then participate in the rest of the event online.

All registrants — whether in person or virtual — will have access to every session on demand through the Attendee Hub, available within an hour of each presentation.

Register Now and Save

Conference registration is now open at cisoregon.org/conference. Attendees who register by Jan. 16 will receive a $50 early bird discount on their registration fee.

The event kicks off Wednesday with two specialized learning tracks — one focused on public safety agencies and another tailored for smaller members where funds are more limited  — followed by two full days covering HR, benefits, legal updates, and emerging risks.

Mark your calendars for Feb. 25–27, 2026, and reserve your spot today for a conference that’s as practical as it is energizing.

Tailored Learning for Counties

Small Members Track

Managing county operations with a smaller tax base often means wearing many hats — and this track is designed to make that job easier.

Sessions will strengthen foundational knowledge across CIS programs and services, with topics such as:

• CIS Essentials: A Complete Overview of CIS’ Services
• Safety & Emergency Management 101
• Property & Liability Claims Basics
• What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: HR Essentials for Small Employers
• Cybersecurity Essentials: Affordable Resources for Small Members
• Maximizing Your CIS Benefits: Tools and Trainings for Small Employers

Whether you’re new to CIS or ready to make the most of your membership, this track offers practical tools and insights you can use right away.

Public Safety Track

Designed for city and county public safety professionals, including sheriffs, sheriff deputies, and jail commanders, this track focuses on risk reduction, leadership, and wellness in county public safety.

Sessions include:

• Fostering Effective Relationships — Learn strategies for strengthening communication and collaboration with elected officials, community members, and partner agencies to build trust and shared understanding.
• Fit to Serve: Fitness for Duty — Learn the legal and practical steps in evaluating and managing fitness for duty in law enforcement and fire agencies.
• Early Detection, Better Outcomes — Discover innovative tools and early-screening practices that help identify health and behavioral issues in custody before they escalate.
• Top 10 Ways to Get Sued — Explore the most common legal pitfalls facing public safety agencies — and how to avoid them.
• When the Call Comes In — Prepare for, respond to, and recover from critical incidents while supporting employee well-being and minimizing risk.
• Navigating Line-of-Duty Loss — Hear from the Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation on how to support families, coworkers, and communities with compassion and care after a tragedy.

Both tracks take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, and include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus full access to virtual and on-demand sessions through the Attendee Hub.

Member Grant Reminder

Each CIS member entity receives a fully paid Member Grant (scholarship) that covers:

• Conference registration fees
• Conference meals
• One night’s lodging

Use your grant to attend in person or apply it toward virtual participation. Visit cisoregon.org/conference to register and learn more.