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37 °F 5 Day Forecast Monday, December 8, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 25, 2003 Bob�s U-Cut owner Bob Snyder trims Christmas trees in preparation for opening day Friday. Trees for the season Local Christmas tree growers have a good selection for those seeking the ideal Tannenbaum By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Mother Nature was stingy as the Grinch when it came to bringing rain last summer, but Bob Snyder figures it’ll still be a merry holiday season for local Christmas tree farms. "The trees are looking good," said the owner of Bob’s U-Cut, which has been offering holiday trees for folks who like to cut their own for more than 20 years. "The lack of water mainly affects the little guys," he added. "But the bigger trees are in good shape." Snyder, who has about seven acres green with trees, is getting ready for this Friday, the annual opening day for local cut-your-own tree farms. Advertisement Oregon is tops in the nation when it comes to supplying Christmas trees, although the bulk of the commercial tree farms that ship out large quantities are rooted in the Willamette Valley. Oregon tree farms supply about 25 percent of 24 million harvested each year. Oregon trees in 2002 accounted for $160 million, or a 44 percent share, of the estimated $360 million wholesale Christmas tree market, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. High-quality trees grown in Oregon fetch top dollar, giving Oregon a larger share of sales revenue. The average wholesale price, across all species, is about $20 per tree this year. Retail prices at lots are expected to double that price. Locally, some tree farms charge by the foot, others by the tree. Bob’s U-Cut, off Interstate 5 near Blackwell Road, will be selling grand and Douglas fir for $3 a foot. Scotch pine will go for $2 a foot. "We also have a special on big trees, 10 to 20 feet tall," he said, noting those trees will be sold for $20 each. His farm will be open from 10:30 a.m. until dark Fridays through Sundays. "Normally, they cut the tree," Snyder said of customers. But if someone offers a woebegone look, the crew at Bob’s U-Cut will do the chopping, he said. Two Christmas tree farms off Madrona Lane, south of Jacksonville Highway, are also gearing up for Friday’s opening day. "Planting has been a little rough because we’ve had drier years than in the past, but we still have a pretty good crop of trees," said Sharri Griffin, who, along with husband Jim, owns Clark’s Tree Farm U-Pick We Cut at 980 Washburn Lane. The Griffins, who have 12 acres in trees, are offering Douglas firs for $25 each. "People pick them out, we cut them," Sharri Griffin said. "But we also have some fresh-cut Noble firs." The Nobles, from 6 to 8 feet, are selling for $35 to $45 each, she said. Beginning Friday, their tree farm will be open from 10 a.m. until dark Tuesdays through Sundays. "We’re also giving away free baby trees (seedlings) with a purchase," she said. Over at 3491 Madrona Lane, Yuletide Trees, owned by Cindy and Steve Andrews, has about 12,000 Douglas fir trees growing on 15 acres this year. Since the land is irrigated, the dry summer was no problem, Cindy Andrews observed. "The trees are looking great this year," she said. In addition to the Douglas fir, which will be sold for $25 each, the Andrewses also will be offering some pre-cut silvertip firs. Patrons are given a flag to wave once they find the tree of their dreams. "All they have to do is wave the flag and we’ll cut it," she said. Whether it will be a good year for local Christmas tree farms depends in part on the weather in the high elevations, where some folks find their trees the old-fashioned way. "If the mountains are loaded with snow, we’ll be busier," she said. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] For those who want to make getting a Christmas tree an all-day excursion, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are happy to oblige. The agencies are offering $5 permits that provide access on thousands of acres of federal land to cut one tree. The permits can be used in either the Rogue River or Siskiyou national forest or the BLM’s Medford or Coos Bay district. The permits allow harvest of trees only on federal lands designated for personal-use Christmas tree cutting. Trees cannot be cut within 200 feet of state highways, campgrounds or other developed areas. The agencies sold nearly 8,000 permits locally last year. The permits are interchangeable on either national forest or BLM land, said Karen Gillespie, spokeswoman for the Medford District. "There is a large area open to tree cutting so they should be prepared before they go out," she said. "They should be cautious when they are going into the mountains this time of year." In addition to dressing appropriately and packing food and water, they should also let someone know where they are going and when they are expected to return, she said. Tire chains and a shovel are also recommended. The tags must be attached to trees during transport. For more information about the permits, including maps, contact the following: Medford District, BLM, 618-2200. Coos Bay District, BLM, 541-756-0100. Rogue River/Siskiyou National Forest, 858-2200. Applegate Ranger District, 899-3800. Ashland Ranger District, 552-2900. Butte Falls Ranger District, 865-2700. Prospect Ranger District, 541-560-3400. Galice Ranger District, 541-471-6500. Illinois Valley Ranger District, 541-592-4000. Illinois Valley Visitor Center, 541-592-4076. Chetco Ranger District, 541-469-2196. Gold Beach Ranger District, 541-247-3600. Powers Ranger District, 541-439-6200. 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